The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale

Author:Laura Kinsale [Kinsale, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9780380761319
Google: _cWoIrQukjkC
Amazon: 0380761319
Barnesnoble: 0380761319
Goodreads: 802151
Publisher: Avon
Published: 1991-09-28T00:00:00+00:00

Leda felt that her recent encounters with Mr. Gerard had not been entirely satisfactory. She had a great urge to meet with him in a situation of which she was the mistress, in order to show how very collected and temperate she was, not at all inclined, as a rule, to overindulge in brandied cherries and lean back for support against bachelor gentlemen.

He managed, however, to startle her out of her sobriety by appearing—damp, and with part of a dead leaf in his glittering hair—just as she exited the library on her way to convey the new week's place settings for dinner to Sheppard.

"Where is Lady Kai?"

No greeting, just that brusque demand, as if she were a footman. His gray eyes held hers only an instant.

Leda pressed her notebook against her breast. "In the nursery."

"The nursery!" His mouth tightened. "Why?"

"She and Lady Tess are taking stock of the furnishings, to see what will do for the baby."

He looked at her with a slight, chill narrowing of his eyes. "Miss Etoile, will you be so kind as to step into the library a moment?"

She clutched the notebook much harder and ducked her head, obeying him with a sense of apprehension very far from the dignified composure which she had hoped to produce. As he closed the door behind them, she turned and reopened it. He waited until she had moved to a chair and seated herself before he reached around without looking and swung the door shut again with a resounding boom.

"Miss Etoile, I would like to make it inflexibly clear to you that this infant is your responsibility. Not Lady Ashland's. Not Kai's. Yours, if you wish to keep it here."

"Certainly." She swallowed down her distress. "But—"

He turned away and addressed the bookcases. "You will locate a wet nurse, and arrange for whatever else it happens that a baby requires. If the nursery wants refurbishing, and Lady Tess consents to it, you will see to the work. Bring me a list of what you believe it will cost, and whatever bills you incur. Is that clear to you?"

She lifted her head, indignant that he seemed to think she had neglected her duties. "It is quite clear, Mr. Gerard."

Her offended gravity appeared to be lost on him. He gazed at a row of leather-and-gilt bindings with their Latin titles, as if that were preferable to looking Leda in the face. "If they wish to amuse themselves with the infant, that is their privilege."

"His name is Samuel Thomas."

"The name is a matter of indifference with regard to what I'm saying to you, Miss Etoile."

"Lady Kai calls him Tommy."

He looked around at last, one eyebrow lifted. He might be angry, but he was not at all a stupid man.

"She's taken to the child?" There was a faint surprise in his question.

"Mr. Gerard, if you wish to win Lady Kai's admiration, you will find that you went a very great way toward it with your decision this morning. You are presently wearing shining armor."

"Only for saying you might keep it?"

" 'He,' Mr.

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