for your talent with children. That wee bairn has hardly stirred and seems quite at home with you.”
She looked up and smiled. For a brief moment, a connection sparked between them, and he pictured her sitting upright in bed, cradling a baby with brown eyes and a shock of red hair…
The moment passed, and she looked away. She might profess not to aspire to motherhood, but the need radiated through her body until he could almost taste it. The need to be loved, unconditionally, and to love in return.
They spent the rest of the afternoon in companionable silence, Fraser polishing the silver, aided by Will, and she tending to the baby. As Fraser was placing the last of the knives into the box, Mrs. Forbes entered the kitchen.
“I see you’ve completed your task,” she said. “Delilah, dear, your tea’s waiting in the parlor.”
Fraser pulled out his pocket watch. It was almost four o’clock. “It’s time for me to leave,” he said. “Mrs. Forbes, I thank you for your hospitality and trust I may be of service to you again. In the meantime, I have a token of my appreciation for you.”
He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a small flask.
“What’s this?” Mrs. Forbes asked.
Fraser lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I trust you won’t turn me into the authorities, Mrs. Forbes,” he said. “This is if I say so myself, a rather fine malt.”
“And it’s not legal?”
“It is now the Excise Act has been passed,” Fraser said, “but this particular whisky was, as we say, distilled under the light of the moon.”
She opened the flask and sniffed at the contents. Then she lifted it to her lips and took a sip. Almost immediately, she spluttered and set the flask down.
“Ye gods! It’s burning my throat!”
“It is a little warming, to be sure,” Fraser said.
A snort came from his left.
“Miss Hart, are you well?” he asked. “Perhaps you’d care to join Mrs. Forbes in a taste? Unless you think it would be too much for you.”
She fixed him with a stern look, reached for the flask, and took a gulp. Her cheeks reddened, and her eyes glistened as she returned the flask to Mrs. Forbes.
“Well?” he asked.
“An acquired taste indeed.” Her voice came out in a hoarse whisper. “Might I suggest, Mrs. Forbes, that you reserve it for your apostle spoons? If you dipped them into this, it would remove any tarnish at a stroke. Though be careful, it might dissolve the metal if left in for too long.”
He clutched his hand to his chest in a gesture of mock hurt. “You impugn my product, madam. But I will confess this particular whisky is a little smoky on the palate. The whisky we’re currently producing will be a little sweeter, to cater to the English palate.
Miss Hart wrinkled her nose. “I doubt my palate will ever see fit to enjoy whisky.”
“But you were willing to taste it,” he said.
“I’ll try anything new, Your Grace.”
He rose to his feet and gave Mrs. Forbes a bow. “Today has been an education,” he said. “I hope you’ll permit me to visit you again.”
“Of course,” she said. “And no, Miss Hart will see you out. Delilah, dear, make sure he leaves by the back door.” She turned to Fraser. “I mean no disrespect, but I trust you understand our need for discretion.”
Miss Hart handed the baby to Mrs. Forbes, then led Fraser to the back door.
“May I accompany you home?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Thank you, no. I promised Mrs. Forbes I’d help prepare supper.” She opened the door, and he breathed in the rush of fresh, evening air.
“Do you have safe passage home?” he asked.
“Dexter is sending his carriage later.” Her face softened, and she lifted her lips into a smile.
“Your brother is a little stern,” Fraser said, “but he seems a good man.”
“Despite his appearances, he loves us all and wants what’s best for me, even if we disagree on what that is.”
“There’s no shame in being loved by another.”
“And…” she hesitated… “are you loved by another?”
“A man has no need to be loved.”
“We all need love,” she said. “A soul without love would wither and die. I believe the root cause of the evils of the world is the absence of love.”
“And on what do you base your argument?”
“One only has to look at those whom we despise.”
“Such as?”
“Your predecessor is the most obvious example,” she said. “The twelfth duke lacked a mother’s love because she died giving