Page 145 of A Baby to Seal the Duke’s Fate

“Her father probably decided distance was preferable to a prison cell,” Barnaby said dryly.

Leopold gave him a look for that.

“I am not criticizing his instincts,” Barnaby said, shrugging. “Merely observing them.”

“And the newspaper?” Leopold asked, glancing at the next paper in the stack.

“The Morning Post story is losing traction,” Barnaby said.

“It was that simple?”

“Because a birth record is difficult to argue with,” Barnaby said, laying another sheet on the desk. “The solicitor’s statement helped considerably.” He set down a third paper. “And three families in the county have publicly vouched for the Bellamys, as well. It seems their letters were published this morning.”

“The families published their letters?” Leopold asked, looking at him. “I thought they would simply write to the magistrate, or perhaps to the authorities.”

“Sabina organized most of it,” Barnaby said, and his mouth curved slightly as he said her name.

He had said it with rather more attention than the sentence strictly required, and Leopold noticed at once.

“You like her,” Leopold said.

“I did not say that,” Barnaby replied, his expression remaining perfectly calm.

“You did not need to say it.”

“The public version of events is shifting regardless,” Barnaby went on, ignoring him entirely. “People are far more interested now than ever in why your parents did what they did.”

“That is as it should be,” Leopold said, looking down at the papers spread across the desk.

“The worst of it appears to be passing,” Barnaby added.

“Good.” Leopold closed the file in front of him. “Stay for dinner.”

“I cannot,” Barnaby said, looking at him apologetically.

“Why not?”

“I have supper with the Montrose family.”

“Again?” Leopold asked, frowning.

“Yes.”

“Is that not the third time this week?”

“The fourth,” Barnaby said, picking up his gloves from the desk.

Leopold’s gaze sharpened quickly on his friend. But before he could say more, Barnaby was closing the study door behind him.

Leopold sat alone for a moment afterward. He had never once known Barnaby to develop such enthusiasm for repeated estate business. And he had not missed the recent instances where Barnaby had paid Sabina attention beyond what her brief visits and encounters required. I will address this with him later, Leopold thought with a tired smile.

***

That evening, Leopold went out onto the terrace outside the library. Honora was already there. She stood at the railing exactly where he had found her weeks earlier, the night before everything between them had changed completely. The lamp from inside the library threw a warm strip of light across the stone beneath her feet.

“You came out,” Honora said, looking over her shoulder when she heard him approach.

“I did,” Leopold answered. “Is Cecily in bed for the night?”