Read Online Lord Romney's Exquisite Widow by Jenni James - Free Book Online
Authors: Jenni James
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they belonged. However, this time, as his room had already been cleaned, Joshua quickly dispersed several toys about the floor, and the two of them giggled as they tidied the nursery back up.
How she longed for an endless gaggle of her very own children. It was one of those secret longings she craved most, yet did not have the heart to reveal to anyone. Nevertheless, having her own children was one thing, and being gifted a baby was something else entirely. Certainly, Chaffney was mistaken . . .
She changed from her frothy morning gown into a much more serviceable gray muslin—something that could withstand whatever Lord Hamson had thought to bring her—and headed back to the less-formal family parlor.
"My butler said you have brought me a baby!" she announced as she walked over to Lord Hamson and held out her hand. "Clearly, the basket is large enough. However, I am not sure how to respond to such a gift, if it is indeed an infant."
Lord Hamson bowed over her hand and came up with a mischievous gleam in his eye as he attempted a faux pout. "And what if you have just dashed my very expectations? Whatever am I to do with the babe now?" He held the red cloth-covered basket close to his chest and wrapped an arm around it. "You were my last hope."
Catherine shook her head and allowed a small grin to form. "And what tomfoolery would ever allow you to suppose I would take such an outlandish gift from you, you reprobate? Now come and show me what you have brought, for the movements under that blanket have me more curious than ever before."
"Alas, my lady, you wound me," he exclaimed, presumably attempting to keep up the charade. "I have searched night and day for help with this particular scamp, and have no one to turn to but you. Will you not have a change of heart and consider accepting the thing before I show it to you?"
"What sort of black-guarded nonsense is this?" She put her hands on her hips. "Now, out with it. What are you hiding in there? Whatever it is, it is most definitely becoming distressed. Do you not hear the muffled noises within? Let it out so it can breathe properly, and stop frightening the poor thing."
"Very well." Lord Hamson turned his back to her and then said over his shoulder, "But if you are to know the truth, I must warn you now, I have brought this as a peace offering."
"You brought a peace offering? For what?" Though she knew perfectly well why, it was best to hear it all from him in its entirety so she did not accidentally jump to even more conclusions of her own.
"Because I am a knuckleheaded rat who deserves whatever fate has decided to throw his way." He slipped the red cover off and then turned to allow the most charming of all gray kittens to peep his head out of the basket and mew most adorably at her.
"Lord Hamson!" She had not one notion go through her mind except for perhaps to note just how adorably the kitten's fuzzy ears had the blackest of tips on them, or how exceptionally pretty its blue eyes were. "Wherever did you find him?" she finally asked, her fingers itching to clutch the tiny thing to her. "I cannot believe you have had him hidden away in that basket this whole time. The poor thing must be scared out of its wits."
"Here. Mayhap you will be able to appease the pitiable fellow." He collected it by the scruff of his neck, its short white legs tucking near to his chin forming the tiniest of balls, before plopping it into Catherine's eagerly awaiting hands.
The warm, sweet ball of fluff scurried up her arm and snuggled into her neck as Catherine giggled at the sudden tickling sensation. "I cannot believe you have brought me a kitten for a present."
Lord Hamson grinned. "He seems to like you very much."
Indeed, the little guy purred profusely into her ear. Its soft fur felt like little strands of silk beneath her fingers. Oh, how she had always longed for a kitten of her own. Something to curl up in her arms while she read a book and keep her company on rainy
How she longed for an endless gaggle of her very own children. It was one of those secret longings she craved most, yet did not have the heart to reveal to anyone. Nevertheless, having her own children was one thing, and being gifted a baby was something else entirely. Certainly, Chaffney was mistaken . . .
She changed from her frothy morning gown into a much more serviceable gray muslin—something that could withstand whatever Lord Hamson had thought to bring her—and headed back to the less-formal family parlor.
"My butler said you have brought me a baby!" she announced as she walked over to Lord Hamson and held out her hand. "Clearly, the basket is large enough. However, I am not sure how to respond to such a gift, if it is indeed an infant."
Lord Hamson bowed over her hand and came up with a mischievous gleam in his eye as he attempted a faux pout. "And what if you have just dashed my very expectations? Whatever am I to do with the babe now?" He held the red cloth-covered basket close to his chest and wrapped an arm around it. "You were my last hope."
Catherine shook her head and allowed a small grin to form. "And what tomfoolery would ever allow you to suppose I would take such an outlandish gift from you, you reprobate? Now come and show me what you have brought, for the movements under that blanket have me more curious than ever before."
"Alas, my lady, you wound me," he exclaimed, presumably attempting to keep up the charade. "I have searched night and day for help with this particular scamp, and have no one to turn to but you. Will you not have a change of heart and consider accepting the thing before I show it to you?"
"What sort of black-guarded nonsense is this?" She put her hands on her hips. "Now, out with it. What are you hiding in there? Whatever it is, it is most definitely becoming distressed. Do you not hear the muffled noises within? Let it out so it can breathe properly, and stop frightening the poor thing."
"Very well." Lord Hamson turned his back to her and then said over his shoulder, "But if you are to know the truth, I must warn you now, I have brought this as a peace offering."
"You brought a peace offering? For what?" Though she knew perfectly well why, it was best to hear it all from him in its entirety so she did not accidentally jump to even more conclusions of her own.
"Because I am a knuckleheaded rat who deserves whatever fate has decided to throw his way." He slipped the red cover off and then turned to allow the most charming of all gray kittens to peep his head out of the basket and mew most adorably at her.
"Lord Hamson!" She had not one notion go through her mind except for perhaps to note just how adorably the kitten's fuzzy ears had the blackest of tips on them, or how exceptionally pretty its blue eyes were. "Wherever did you find him?" she finally asked, her fingers itching to clutch the tiny thing to her. "I cannot believe you have had him hidden away in that basket this whole time. The poor thing must be scared out of its wits."
"Here. Mayhap you will be able to appease the pitiable fellow." He collected it by the scruff of his neck, its short white legs tucking near to his chin forming the tiniest of balls, before plopping it into Catherine's eagerly awaiting hands.
The warm, sweet ball of fluff scurried up her arm and snuggled into her neck as Catherine giggled at the sudden tickling sensation. "I cannot believe you have brought me a kitten for a present."
Lord Hamson grinned. "He seems to like you very much."
Indeed, the little guy purred profusely into her ear. Its soft fur felt like little strands of silk beneath her fingers. Oh, how she had always longed for a kitten of her own. Something to curl up in her arms while she read a book and keep her company on rainy
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