If only she knew.

Only a paragraph in, Drue’s head flopped forward, halfway to the table before he caught himself. He shook his head in an effort to keep himself awake, but as soon as she started reading again, it fell forward again. This time, Lord Bryant caught Drue’s head in his hand, and Drue drowsily scrambled into Lord Bryant’s lap. Diana kept the words flowing from her mouth as well as she could. Lord Bryant was stiff for a moment before finally relaxing enough for Drue to settle against his chest.

“You could take him to Mama’s chair,” Tommy said, pointing to the rocking chair.

“He is fine. We’re almost done with this story.” Diana should read faster. Lord Bryant must have more pressing things to do than sit with a child in a nursery.

“You just started,” Tommy said. “Drue sleeps better in the rocking chair.”

Lord Bryant put an arm under Drue’s legs, leaned the boy’s head against his other arm, and then stood. He rolled each foot carefully while stepping over the rug and then adjusted Drue’s head once he arrived at the chair. A knot formed in Diana’s throat. All that strength and power cradling little Drue’s head. Lord Bryant sat down awkwardly, landing hard in the seat. Drue stirred, but Lord Bryant rocked the chair slow and steady until Drue settled into a deeper sleep.

How was this the same man who rocked London with scandals every year?

“Continue with the story.” Lord Bryant’s voice made her start. “Drue and I will make ourselves comfortable here.”

Heat rose to Diana’s face. She had been watching the two of them for far too long. She would rather he watched her gallop about the room again than see that she was affected by him. She turned back to the book and Tommy. Softening her voice so she wouldn’t wake Drue, she persevered. When she finally finished, after what seemed like the longest reading of a story, Tommy gave her a strange look.

“I think Lord Bryant was right.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the fisherman and his wife traded for more and more stuff—bigger stuff—but they were never happy. Just like Hans, they had nothing, but I don’t think they were happy about it. If you are going to have nothing, you might as well be happy about it.”

Wise words for a five-year-old. She turned in her seat to hear Lord Bryant’s thought on the subject, but his head was slumped to one side. Drue lay still on his chest, and they were both fast asleep.

“He fell asleep,” Tommy said.

“I guess my reading wasn’t entertaining enough for him.”

Lord Bryant was completely still, and for once, she could watch him without needing to hide her thoughts. How strange that she had been so comfortable with him tonight. They had been spending more and more time together, so it made sense that he would become more familiar to her. But in this moment, she wanted to memorize his face, enough so she could draw him again, this time without any mistakes.