Page 77 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
“I think we might have a little trouble keeping him from becoming spoiled,” she said, covering her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
Edward rolled his eyes, but he was grinning from ear to ear.
“I know we will,” he said. “Have you seen all the boxes filled with presents in Mother’s parlour?”
Serena nodded, biting her lip.
“She says she is saving them for her birthday and Christmastide,” she said softly. “But, just this morning, I caught her opening one of them; it is another, smaller, bear.”
Edward put a hand to his face and sighed, still smiling.
“Yes,” he said. “It will be impossible to keep him from being spoiled.”
Serena nodded. She leaned over the crib, pulling the pale-green blanket up over her son’s tiny body. He cooed in his sleep, melting Serena’s heart when he reflexively reached up and grabbed her finger. Edward put his arm around her, resting his head on hers as they stared down at the perfect little human they had made together.
“He looks just like you, darling,” she whispered, turning her head to kiss the hand resting on her shoulder.
Edward nodded, and she could hear him sniffing.
“If he turns out just like me, it’ll mean plenty of trouble,” he said proudly.
Serena playfully nudged him.
“With all the ladies, certainly,” she said, raising a teasing eyebrow at him.
Edward’s grin widened as he gestured for Serena to lead the way out of the room to let the baby sleep.
“That is precisely what I meant,” he said, winking.
Serena could not help giggling aloud as she closed the door behind them.
The following morning, Serena was the first to head downstairs. She heard soft mumbling and cursing coming from the dowager countess’s parlour, and she hurried to the room, concerned. When she reached the doorway, however, it was all she could do to not burst into laughter.
Her mother-in-law stood there, her hair uncombed, still in her robe, kneeling by a colorful rocking horse that was only partly assembled. She had her hands on her hips, and she was shaking her head, cursing under her breath.
Feeling guilty for spying, Serena cleared her throat. The dowager countess leapt up off the floor, whirling around and staring at Serena with wide eyes.
“Serena, dear,” she cried, putting a hand to her chest. “You scared me half to death. I was just. . .” she trailed off, realising she had been caught in the act of preparing to spoil the baby. She blushed deeply.
Serena laughed loudly.
“What are you up to, Grandma?” she asked.
The dowager countess threw up her hands in exasperation.
“I specifically told the shop that I wanted the horse to be painted blue and green, not red and brown, ” she complained. “And this is what they’ve sent me.”
Serena giggled, walking over to her mother-in-law. The rocking horse before them was identical to those found in toy shops all over London. She was hardly surprised that the dowager countess had asked to have one custom painted.
“Well, that is a disappointment,” she said, taking the older woman’s hands. “But we can easily have it repainted the way you want it. We could do it together. And, maybe, we could let little Austen put his little handprints on it.”
At this, the dowager countess beamed.
“Oh, darling, that is a wonderful idea,” she said, clapping. “I will go into town and pick out the paint after breakfast.”
Serena laughed again.
“We could send one of the servants, if you like,” she said.
