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of the time to look for ways to change Bey's mind about marriage.

She definitely had to gain access to the libraries here, but was afraid to damage her image as a rather silly woman. She doubted she would ever find conclusive proof that he could never father a deranged child, though. Such a thing was surely unprovable. So, she had to convince him in some way that the risk was tolerable.

She suppressed a sigh, sure that in his mind, no such risk was tolerable when by self-denial all risk could be avoided.

She could plead her own pain. Another suppressed sigh. He knew. Complaining to him would be to twist the blade in the wound.

The arrival of Lady Durham with her two-week-old baby was a welcome escape from these thoughts. The queen had apparently demanded the visit, for she loved babies, and she immediately insisted on holding the tiny creature, cooing to it in German.

Diana hovered with the other ladies, as charmed and enchanted as anyone. She rarely saw such new babies, and this was very tiny. Six pounds, the mother said, but healthy.

The baby girl was sleeping when she arrived, but soon obligingly opened huge dark blue eyes, and didn't cry to see a strange face hovering. Diana was surprised by an intense longing to hold the child, but not surprised to instantly think how magical it would be to hold Bey's child, him her loving husband close by.

A shadow fell over her shoulder.

"Lady Arradale," said a man behind her.

Though disappointed, she turned to greet Lord Randolph.

She would rather stay to watch the baby, but the queen urged her to step apart with him.

He carried her hand to his chest with embarrassing ardor. "Lady Arradale. A perfect bloom in a perfect garden. I vow, my lady, you have stolen the blush from the roses!"

Diana kept her smile in place and thanked heavens for a man who would never spout such nonsense. She had no choice, however, but to permit Lord Randolph to court her in his absurd fashion, so she tried to balance mild encouragement with suppression of his smug confidence.

It was a relief of sorts when the baby began to cry, but less of one when the crying wouldn't stop. Diana turned to see the queen trying to sooth the babe while Lady Durham and her nursemaid hovered, clearly wanting to take the child but not willing to snatch it from royal arms.

"The dear thing is cold," declared the queen. "Bring a blanket!"

The dear thing was now red-faced and warbling newborn outrage.

Very unwisely, a lady picked up a blanket that belonged to the prince. He shrieked and turned red-faced too, creating far more volume than the tiny baby.

"Herzleib, nein!" cried the queen, finally passing the baby to the anxious mother. "Bring my darling to me. Lord Randolph, run instantly for another blanket!"

Diana thought for a moment that Lord Randolph would refuse this menial task, but he bowed and did take off at a run. The prince's nursemaid brought him over to the queen, but he squirmed and shrieked in a thorough tantrum, probably because his mother had been holding another child so long.

"Lord Rothgar!" The queen suddenly spoke in the tones of one who has seen the Second Coming. Diana whirled, and indeed, he was there, at the edge of the garden.

"Come," cried the queen. "You will know what to do for my poor child!"

For some reason, the prince chose that moment to turn silent, staring at the still man. Thus, the frantic baby's squawks were the only sound.

Bey turned and walked away.

The queen gaped, and for a moment everyone stared after the man who had just broken every courtly rule. Snapping out of shock, Diana cast reason and caution aside, picked up her skirts, and raced after him.

She had to pursue around the house, out of sunlight into shadows, before she found him, standing completely still.

She halted beside him, slightly out of breath. "What is it?" she asked, even though she guessed.

He breathed, and if it were not impossible, she'd think it was the first breath he'd taken in minutes. Still looking ahead, he said, "I cannot endure distressed babies. A weakness..."

His sister. His mother. "It's just hungry."

He turned to her, looking almost normal, but pale. "I know."

"You have offended the queen."

His lips twitched a little. "I believe I understand the ways of royalty."

Diana took a deep breath herself. "Well then, at least this will put you far back in the competition for my hand."

She was rewarded by