Page 45 of Sir Durham’s Disarming Asset

Gus grinned. “She gave birth to a son minutes after five this morning. She did so very well. I was so proud of her. Halsey is beside himself. He’s giving out coins to all his servants.”

She wrapped her arms around Zeph’s shoulders. “My butler tells me you come with some luggage. We will take it up at once. Nothing matters but that you are safe and warm and happy. You are welcome here. Always. You know this.” She cupped Zeph’s cheek. “Tell me everything.”

As much as her pride would allow, yes, she could state her needs. “I am here because I think it appropriate that I be with a good friend.”

Gus blinked at the last word, then took her to sit.

Zeph hurried on, avoiding questions she did not wish to answer. “I interviewed a few young women to be my companion, but I liked none of them. And the result of my inquiry with Rothschild’s clerk is that I have so much money I will never be able to spend it.”

“And Rafe? Did you argue?”

Zeph would be frank but terse. To be more could shake her resolve to be composed. “He suggested I come to you. I took his advice. I hope you might have me for a bit, at least until I learn more about London. I will take up my own house, I will, but at the moment, I am at a loss as to where that should be, and—”

“Dearest,” Gus whispered, “I’m delighted you have come to us. Kane and I are thrilled to have you. We can do so much to help you become better acquainted here.”

“I do not wish to be an imposition. I want no events in my honor. I am—shall we say?—shy in that regard. I simply want to be able to enjoy myself, preferably with you and Kane. The children, too. I like them. They like me, you may remember?”

“I do, my dear. You helped so many lonely little girls learn to enjoy themselves at school. My children are a handful, I will say. And if you can tame our Victoria, I will never let you go anywhere without us.”

“I want to be with people I can enjoy. Perhaps we could call on Amber. Liesel and Viv. But rest assured, I will not be a bother. I ask nothing of you to disturb your lives.”

“Except fun, eh? That we shall have. Now…” Gus looked like a conspirator. “Have you had breakfast?”

“No.”

“Well! A whiskey, then?”

“How could you guess?”

Gus scrambled to her feet. “Instinct. Come with me. Kane is finishing his coffee, but I know he will be thrilled to see you.” She locked her arm through Zeph’s and headed for the hall. “What happened with Herr Rothschild?”

“So much. It seems I am worth more than fifty thousand pounds.”

Gus halted, her face blank, her mouth dropping open.

“I know.” Zeph gave a laugh, the first levity she’d felt in hours. “Shocking! I am an heiress of extraordinary means.” With someone attempting to impersonate me to Rothschild. She shivered and pretended the reaction was glee.

Gus blinked, recovering her equilibrium. “We will have the world knocking at our door for you.”

“Not soon, I hope!”

Gus patted her hand. “Not soon at all. First thing, we will send two footmen around to Rafe’s to get the rest of your belongings. And we will open the guest suite and make it yours.”

Chapter Twelve

October 25, 1806

“Tea, ma’am?”

“I am honored, Lady Victoria.” Zeph put a hand to her chest, acknowledging the invitation of the second-eldest child of Gus and Kane, a two-and-a-half-year-old black-haired beauty with an authoritative presence so like her mother.

Miss Victoria Augusta Whittington—or simply Vic, as she and her parents called her—was a pudgy-faced darling with short ringlets, a rosebud mouth, and an attitude of indestructible authority.

Vic served Zeph tea most afternoons at two. Then, as her two siblings—one a year older and the other a year younger—took their naps and she refused to, the two ladies sat at a small table in the fireside alcove in the nursery and sipped imaginary tea and nibbled real buttery biscuits Cook had supplied.

“Lady Vic, I am so thirsty.” Zeph loved to humor the child, and indicated her “empty” cup.

The little girl smiled graciously, bowed her head in homage, and bent to her work. With the flourish of her free hand, she put her tiny Delft teapot to the very small matching blue porcelain cup and poured just so. With so much practice of late, she had perfected her abilities and knew she was an expert.