They had obviously never seen him sleeping.

She set the package that had just arrived on the bookcase and silently made her way to her husband’s side. She pushed the fallen lock of hair off his forehead and traced her finger along his brow and down his perfectly straight nose. His eyes opened with a blink, and the corners of his mouth curled upward at the sight of her.

“Sorry to wake you,” Diana said. He shook his head slowly to let her know it was fine. “Let me put Hope to bed. You are spoiling her, you know. She needs to learn to sleep in her cradle.”

“I know,” Everton said with no remorse in his eyes. He may have known it, but he wasn’t about to change his daily routine of rocking with Hope in the afternoon. Diana couldn’t blame him. And besides, if he did stop, she wouldn’t have the pleasure of watching the two of them sleep.

“We just received a parcel from Baimbury. I assumed it would be for me, but it is addressed to both of us.”

Everton nodded, but his eyes started to close again. “And were you able to visit with Mrs. Cuthbert?”

“I was.”

“Any news?”

“She did mention that coprolite has become a sudden rage. Apparently Lord Silverstone gave Lady Emily—Lady Silverstone now, I suppose—a ring with an enormous polished chunk of it set in a crown of diamonds. They had found it together on their estate. She seems to be quite proud of it.”

Everton chuckled, sleep finally starting to leave his eyes. Diana bent over to pick up Hope. The past two months with her in their lives had opened both of their hearts in ways she hadn’t realized were possible. She placed a kiss on Everton’s forehead, then wrapped her arms around her daughter.

Hope stretched her arms and neck with a few soft, squeaking groans. Her green eyes, a deeper shade than Everton’s, blinked open for a moment just before she settled into Diana’s arms.

She crossed the room and laid Hope down in her cradle. By the time she returned, Everton was standing by the bookcase. He picked up the parcel and examined it. “What would Nate and Grace be sending us?”

“Let’s open it and see.” Diana took the package from him and untied the string. Inside the outer box was a smaller one. One corner of the interior box was smashed, and the top was indented. She put the packaging back on the bookcase and showed Everton the fragile box. His eyes widened as he took the box from her. It was small enough to fit into the palm of his hand. His fingers softly caressed the broken edges.

“Do you know what it is?” Diana asked, leaning forward so she could see.

Everton nodded. He opened the top of the box, but the only thing she could see was a folded piece of paper. He opened the paper and glanced at it, a quirk of his lip turning up before handing the note to her.