Free Secret Pleasures by Cheryl Howe Page B

realized it until it was too late.
    “Ivy is considering my proposal. ” He shrugged with a slight apology for his quick tongue . He had never realized how much their broken engagement had strained Ivy’s relationship with her sister . “We haven’t made amends quite yet .
    “You must not take no for an answer. ” Red splotches shone on her cheeks, only emphasizing the wan pallor of the rest of her exhausted features . “If Ivy married, especially you, Gerome might think she had seen the error of her ways and let her see the girls at least.”
    “Gerome, that’s your husband, isn’t it ? ” Darien stiffened and tried to rein in his temper . “Tell me about him.”
    A faint wailing drifted down the hall, growing increasingly louder . Darien slipped to the entryway that linked the kitchen to the rest of the house . A door had been propped open and he nonchalantly kicked at the iron rabbit doorstop to shut the damned thing . Quite likely, Ivy would rather not introduce her little secret to Faith under such circumstances .
    “Have you seen my new carriage? ” Darien braced a hand on the threshold, blocking Faith’s view, while he had to give the rabbit another forceful shove to clear the door’s width. “You shan’t have to worry about Ivy not being seen in style.”
    “Gerome does not like a lavish display of riches . Style is definitely to be frowned upon . Is that a baby’s cries?”
    “Darien, could you help me search for Melody’s tincture? ” Ivy appeared at his back giving him a hard nudge to clear her way . “It’s in a small brown bottle with a clear glass stopper . Hurry. ” Her little bundle of joy sucked in a wet gasp.
    Darien stumbled forward not wanting to risk being an obstacle to Ivy’s determined stride with the child in her arms.
    “Faith. ” Ivy stilled the moment she spotted her sister . “How good of you to drop in . My seamstress came by to show me her daughter . Isn’t she adorable?”
    Ivy held Melody away from her chest as if admiring her for the first time and the infant’s earsplitting scream of complaint instantly numbed Darien’s hearing.
    “Good Lord!” Faith said, appalled . She searched the kitchen, spotted the bottle and rushed to Ivy.
    “Here, give her to me,” Faith insisted.
    “I can do it. ” Ivy pulled Melody passionately closer . She took the bottle from her sister, shifted Melody to open the container then aimed the drops.
    Faith and he watched with rapt attention, as if the event was intended for entertainment . Darien thought to help but knew he would only make matters worse . Ivy missed getting the first drop into Melody’s mouth, which only infuriated the wee lass more . He glanced at Faith to plead with her to do something . She gripped her hands and bit her lip, obviously determined not to interfere.
    Melody smacked when the first drop reached her mouth and her scrunched face softened to reveal wide dark eyes . She quieted, waiting for another . After the third drop, her breathing normalized . S he quieted except for random post-tantrum hiccups.
    “There.” Ivy pressed Melody to her chest with a sigh of relief . “Jenny will be glad she quieted.”
    “How sheltered do you suspect me to be, Ivy ? Who is the — ” Faith pressed the back of her hand to her lips . She glanced at Darien, took a deep breath and said, “I cannot believe I have to ask this of my own sister, but who is the father?”
    Ivy said nothing, her gaze downcast in an unfamiliar gesture Darien did not care for . Ivy had always looked everything and everyone square in the eye.
    “Or do you know?” Faith continued, obviously not recognizing or not caring how much her words hurt her sister.
    “Someone who has more noble blood than your squalling brats ever will. ” Darien strode to put his arm around Ivy.
    “Darien! ” Ivy glanced up at him in sharp rebuke , but he thought he caught a hint of a smile in her eyes.
    “I suppose that answers my question. ” Faith’s