Page 76 of Stolen and Seduced By the Duke

"Adequately." His answer was so solemn that Margaret nearly smiled.

"How encouraging."

Pierce's eyebrow lifted. "You appear remarkably cheerful this morning."

"I am attempting to be," she replied, moving towards Hugh's crib. "It seems preferable to glowering."

His mouth twitched. "I do not glower."

Margaret looked pointedly at him. "Of course not."

Pierce cleared his throat and gestured towards Hugh. "You were going to demonstrate your method."

Margaret nodded, though she was suddenly aware of his close attention. She lifted Hugh gently and settled him against her shoulder before beginning the familiar little routine that usually soothed him.

She murmured softly, rocked him, and then carried him towards the table where his breakfast waited.

"There we are, darling," she coaxed, offering him a small spoonful. "Just a little, and then you may decide whether you wish to throw the rest at your father."

Pierce gave her a dark look. "I would prefer you did not encourage him."

Margaret smiled. "Then he must learn that throwing food is a privilege reserved for dukes."

But Hugh refused the spoon, turning his face away and beginning to fuss.

Margaret frowned, trying again, yet nothing seemed to work. Then she glanced around the nursery and noticed the heavy curtains drawn tightly across the windows.

"Wait," she murmured, suddenly remembering. "The sunlight."

Pierce watched her curiously as she crossed the room and pulled the curtains apart, but the morning was unusually grey, and very little light entered.

Margaret frowned. "He needs to be outside."

Pierce immediately shook his head. "Margaret, the schedule…"

She turned towards him and held his gaze. "Trust me."

He hesitated, his expression severe, but finally sighed. "Five minutes."

Margaret smiled. "That will do."

* * *

The morning air was cool enough that Pierce immediately questioned the wisdom of allowing Hugh beyond the safety of Ravenfield House. He stood rigidly beside Margaret while the servants kept close, his attention fixed upon every movement of his son as though danger might emerge from the hedges at any moment.

Home meant safety, walls, locks, servants and rules, whereas the garden offered open space, unpredictable weather and a hundred things Pierce had not yet thought to guard against.

"This is becoming a waste of time," he muttered, glancing towards Margaret. "And potentially a dangerous one."

Margaret continued watching Hugh with maddening calm.

"He has been outside for approximately two minutes, Your Grace."

Pierce frowned. "Two minutes is quite sufficient for something dreadful to happen."

He was already preparing to order everyone inside when Hugh suddenly made a bright, bubbling sound that stopped him cold. Pierce turned towards the child, scarcely believing what he had heard, and then Hugh laughed again, his little face brightening beneath the morning sun.

Pierce froze. He had never heard that particular sound before.