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“Mr. Graham says the boy is in excellent health, and Lady Morgan is doing well under the circumstances.”

“This seems strange. When I left yesterday, Lady Morgan was laughing about the child keeping everyone on their toes with the delay.”

“Maybe I should not say this, but it was less than an hour after you left that my mistress’ water broke, and we sent for the midwife and Mr. Graham. I heard Lady Matlock say she had never seen a baby born so quickly after he made up his mind to be.”

“Is my mother available? I would like to speak to her. Of course, if she is needed upstairs, I can wait.”

“I shall be glad to ask her.”

She dropped a quick curtsey, turned and hurried away.

Before too long, Lady Matlock came down the stairs holding the baby. As she approached Richard, she pulled back the blanket to give him a peek. “I love newborns. The smell of their skin when you kiss them ... well, just everything about them.” She smiled at her son. “It is regrettable that they grow up to be rascals you cannot influence or even like most of the time.”

“Thank you for sharing that observation, Mother,” Richard said wryly. “It is good to know my own mother does not like me most of the time.”

“I am just being honest, my boy,” she quipped, smiling.

“I assumed that since he is newly born, he would be crying.”

“He likely would be, had he not just fed. Being full, he fell asleep and wild horses will not wake him until he is hungry once more.”

Trying to ascertain whom the child favoured, Richard leaned in closer. “I have heard that all babies have blue eyes when they are born and their eyes gradually change colour later. Are his eyes blue?”

“Of course.”

“He certainly does not have his mother’s light hair or fair complexion, though. Did you ever meet Lord Morgan? The maid mentioned that Miss Catherine thinks he favours his father.”

“If memory serves, I met Lord Morgan once; however, it was so long ago that I cannot recall exactly what he looked like, other than he was short and already balding. I think his hair and eyes were brown, but do not hold me to that.”

The babe looked so content that Richard could not help smiling. “Well, at least until this young man is a good deal older, he will be referred to as beautiful, as are all babies.”

A tired Lady Matlock switched the child to her other arm. “I will say this! Master David is much heavier than I recall any of my children being when they were born, or maybe I am getting too old to carry babies about.”

“Master David?”

“Lady Morgan named him after his father. He is David Russell Morgan.”

“A very distinguished name.”

“Indeed.”

“Hand him to me,” Richard said, reaching to take the child. “Let me see if I recall how to do this. It has been quite some time since Georgiana was this small.”

“It will come back to you quickly, in any case.”

Lady Matlock sat down on a large, upholstered sofa, and Richard chose to occupy the chair directly in front of it. Suddenly a maid bustled into the room with a tray containing a pot of tea and some scones the cook had made for breakfast.

“Set it there,” Lady Matlock declared, motioning to a table beside the sofa. “And please pour me a cup with two sugars. I believe I am too weary to help myself.” To Richard she said, “Would you like a cup?”

“I shall drink one later,” he answered. “Presently I fear spilling it on the babe.”

“Would you like the maid to take him upstairs to his cradle?”

“Actually, I am enjoying holding him.”

Soon after dismissing the maid, Lady Matlock took a sip of the warm tea as she watched Richard admiring the sleeping child. Suddenly, a thought came to mind. “You really should think of marrying and having children of your own. The estate your grandmother left you is small, but your father has managed to increase the income every year, and you know that we will help you all we can.”

“To be truthful, I have been giving marriage some thought, Mother, but please do not start matchmaking just yet. I currently have too much on my plate to give it the attention it will require.” Quickly changing the subject, he asked, “Will you still remain here now that the child is born?”