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“I’ll keep my distance, then.”

“No.” She looked up at him and her blue eyes caught him off guard as they always did. “Just wash before you come near her next time. Mrs. Pemberton says that babies have sensitive noses.”

Next time. As if this were normal, the two of them in a nursery at midnight, discussing infant care.

“How were things at the club?” she asked. “Felix didn’t cause too much trouble, I hope?”

“He told half of White’s about Evie.”

“Ah.” She didn’t seem surprised. “I thought he might. He always thinks it’s better to control the story than let gossip run wild. Was he right?”

“Probably.” Owen moved into the room but maintained a little distance from the rocking chair. “Ashford wants to discuss business. Apparently, family men make better investment partners.”

“How practical.” Something flickered across her face too quickly to identify. “I’m glad it’s working to your advantage.”

They fell into silence. Evie had drifted off. Her tiny chest rose and fell with each breath. Iris made no move to tuck her into her cradle.

“You could put her down,” Owen suggested. “Get some rest.”

“I will. In a moment.” Iris traced a finger along Evie’s cheek with infinite gentleness. “Sometimes, I just like to hold her. To know that she’s real. That she’s safe.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” he said carefully.

“No?” She looked up at him again. “Can you promise that? Can you swear that nothing will take her from us? No illness, no accident?”

“Duchess…”

“I know it’s foolish.” She returned her gaze to the baby. “I know I can’t protect her from everything. But when I hold her like this, I can pretend, just for a moment.”

The raw honesty in her voice made his chest tighten. He wanted to offer comfort, but what did he know of loss?

“You should sleep,” he said instead. “You’re exhausted.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not. You barely ate at dinner, despite my efforts. And you’ve been up since dawn with her.”

“How do you know that?”

“Mrs. Pemberton mentioned it. She’s worried about you.”

“Everyone’s worried about me.” A trace of her earlier fire returned. “I’m perfectly capable of managing.”

“No one said you weren’t.”

“Then stop hovering like I’m about to collapse.” She stood up slowly holding Evie securely in her arms. “I’m stronger than you think, Your Grace. I survived a year alone. I can survive this, too.”

The accusation in her words was subtle but unmistakable. He’d left her alone, and she’d survived. If she didn’t need him then, she certainly didn’t need him now.

“I know you’re strong,” he acknowledged. “I’ve never doubted that.”

Something in his tone must have surprised her because she paused on her way to the cradle. “Haven’t you?”

“No. It takes strength to stay when someone gives you every reason to leave.”

She tucked Evie beneath the blankets with practiced ease and adjusted them just so. When she straightened, she kept her back to him.

“I had nowhere else to go,” she said simply. “Your name was my only protection from a worse fate.”