Free Brotherhood 02 - Broken Promise by Laura Landon Page A

ready for this, Johnny?”
    The baby kicked his feet, waved his hands, and made some indistinguishable sound. Austin took that as a good sign. He placed his hands on either side of the baby’s waist and prepared to lift him from the blanket. He was sure this was how he’d seen Lady Fledgemont pick him up before.
    He started to lift the babe then quickly lowered him. Damn. His middle came up but his head and feet stayed down. If he continued lifting he’d snap the babe’s back like a twig.
    “I guess that’s not how she did it, huh?”
    The baby squirmed beneath the cover and made more noise. Maybe it was Austin’s imagination, but little Johnny sounded angry.
    “Don’t get upset, fellow, I’ll get this figured out in a minute.”
    Austin studied the babe. Picking up something that size shouldn’t be that difficult. He’d watched his brother-in-law, Gabe, pick up his daughter and he hadn’t had any difficulty. Maybe if he—
    Just then, the babe let out a loud holler and Austin knew he didn’t have a choice. He’d have to lift him out of the basket or he’d wake up Lady Fledgemont, and he couldn’t let that happen. The lady was dead on her feet.
    The baby let out another cry and without thinking, Austin grabbed the babe beneath his outstretched arms and lifted him along with all the covers. Austin ignored the damp blankets beneath the baby’s bum and carried the fussing infant to the chair. The minute he sat, he reached for the bottle Mrs. Pollock had warmed, and stuck it in the baby’s mouth. The speed in which little Jonathan clamped his mouth around the teat made Austin laugh. He relaxed in the chair and let the baby drink.
    Holding an infant so small and innocent caused an odd sensation to settle inside Austin’s chest. Little Jonathan relaxed in his arms as if he had complete trust in the person caring for him. As if he wasn’t aware that the world was a very ugly and terrifying place.
    As he watched the baby eat, a blanket of peace washed over him. He was startled by the calming sensation that spread through him. He didn’t know how it was possible, but the babe in his arms represented everything in life that was clean and good. But even more consoling, the babe was a gift he could give to Lord and Lady Penderly. This tiny child provided him with the chance to make whole the family he’d torn apart. The tiny babe made it possible for Austin to wash himself clean of the death and destruction he’d lived with longer than he wanted to remember.
    He watched in awe as the infant happily waved his arms and kicked his feet. The need to protect a babe so young and helpless tugged at his heart. He didn’t doubt that someone had tried to harm the babe. But he knew that Penderly wasn’t involved in the attempt. There was someone else who wanted the babe dead. And he couldn’t hand Jonathan over until he knew who that was—and eliminated him.
    In the silence that came with darkness, Austin vowed that nothing would threaten the child. When he discovered who wanted to hurt the babe, he’d take care of the threat. Then he’d return Jonathan to Lord Penderly so the child could grow up with the advantages that were due him. He owed it to Lord and Lady Penderly. He owed them a son to replace the one he’d killed.
    His gaze drifted to where Lady Fledgemont slept. She was buried deep between the covers, with wisps of her auburn hair loose from their pins. Heavy curls spread out across the pillow, framing her delicate features in ethereal shadows. Knowing she would hate him when he betrayed her settled inside his chest like an uncomfortable weight.
    He lowered his gaze. The babe still drank from the glass bottle, but his eager gulps had slowed a great deal. Hopefully, that meant he was almost full. Austin didn’t know what he’d do if the lad wanted more. There wasn’t any.
    The babe ate for a while longer then turned his head and released the bottle. A movement to his right where Lady Fledgemont slept drew