Page 7 of His Improper Lady

“Quick! Quick!” Brigid crowed when she saw him, reaching out to him. For some reason, the two moppets seemed to have a particular fondness for him. Tom suspected it was because of his name; quick was a word perfectly suited to Theo and Megan’s little girls.

Tom took the child and rubbed noses with her in their customary greeting. Athena ran over to throw her arms around his legs in a hard hug, then abandoned him to return to her game. Tom shifted Brigid to his hip. “I see you have a new puppy.”

That statement was a mistake, for Brigid’s face clouded and her chin began to tremble. “Rufus went to heaven.”

The aging dog had passed on six months ago, but clearly Brigid was not yet over it. Tom felt a moment’s panic at what to say. “Um, yes, I’m very sorry. I’m sure Rufus is looking down on you, and he’s glad that you have a new puppy to love. What’s the little dog’s name?”

“Rufus Two-fus,” Brigid replied, brightening. “Where’s Two-fus?” She looked around and wriggled down from his arm.

“Let’s find Rufus!” Athena joined her sister, and the two tore out of the room.

“I better go save the poor puppy,” Megan said and started after her girls. “Nice to see you, Tom.”

Aside from the Greats, Megan was the Moreland with whom Tom felt most at ease. She was from the States, and, like other Americans, lacked a proper understanding of class distinctions. Moreover, she had grown up in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood of New York City, more akin to Tom’s own background.

“Likewise,” Tom said as Megan walked out the door. He turned back to the four people left in the room. The black-haired, green-eyed twins, Constantine and Alexander—given the appellation of the Greats because of their names—were almost like younger brothers to Tom. It was hard to be in awe of someone when you’d taught him how to pick locks.

“Sit down,” Alex said, sweeping a hand at the empty chairs. “Want some breakfast? It should still be warm.”

“No, thanks. I already ate.” In fact, the roll he’d grabbed from the bakery hadn’t erased his hunger, but Tom had long been reluctant to accept the food the Morelands frequently offered. It was foolish pride, he supposed, but he hated to appear that he was using the family in any way.

“Could I get you some coffee, then? Or tea?” Lilah, whose plumper face and rounded stomach were finally beginning to show her pregnancy, started to rise from her seat.

“No, no, I’ll get it.” Con patted her arm and jumped up.

Lilah rolled her eyes. “Con, I’m not an invalid.”

But Con was already at the sideboard, pouring a cup of coffee and handing it to Tom. “What brings you here this morning?”

“Well, I wanted—” Tom was interrupted by the entrance of a servant, cradling a blanket-wrapped baby in her arms.

“I think Miss Marjorie has decided it’s time to eat,” the nanny said, and Sabrina, Alex’s wife, rose with alacrity to take the child from her.

“Tom, you must see the baby. You won’t believe how much she’s grown.” Alex, beaming, went to stand with his wife and gaze down with delight at the baby. “How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”

“A fortnight, I expect,” Tom answered, going dutifully over to look at the baby. Tom was of the opinion that the baby was prettier than most infants even though her tiny head was bald as a billiard ball, but he always found it hard to see the changes in growth that the proud father proclaimed. It was easier and kinder, however, to agree. “Ah, yes, she has grown. She’s a beauty.”

He held out a finger, which one wildly flailing hand latched onto and tried to drag to her mouth before realizing that it wasn’t food, at which point she screwed up her face and began to howl.

The nurse and Sabrina quickly left the room, but Alex dropped back into his chair. “I’m of utterly no use there.”

“I believe she’s louder than even Athena,” Con said with something like pride.

“Just wait. Yours will be louder still,” Alex retorted. “It’s only fitting.”

“I was not a loud child,” Con protested, to everyone’s amusement.

“Boys,” Lilah said. “Let Tom tell us what he came to say.”

“Yes, Mum,” Con replied, taking her hand and smiling at her in a besotted way before turning back to Tom.

“Someone broke into the office last night.”

“Moreland & Quick?” Con’s brows shot up.

“Yes, the agency.” He glanced over at Alex. “No one got into yours. I don’t know if I caught her before she could make her way down to it or—”

“Her?” Lilah interrupted. “The intruder was a woman?”