JT had already hung up his coat and hat and was crowding in next to Gloriana at the fire. “I’m so cold.”

“Well, pull up your stool and sit.” She looked back at Luke. “Would you please put some of the milk in one of the bottles? I’m not convinced it will help, but we must try. She seems determined to starve herself. I wish we could get the wet nurse back for just a little while.”

“Abigail said she’d try to find us someone else, but . . . well, she made another suggestion.”

Gloriana shook her head. “What? Anything to help.”

Luke flushed. “She suggested . . . well, that you could, um . . .”

“Out with it.” Gloriana grew more frustrated, and as she did, so did Sally.

He turned away and poured the milk in one of the bottles. “She said to try putting the bottle under your arm, very close as if . . . as if you were feeding her from . . . your . . . ah . . .”

Gloriana caught on. “I see.” She looked at the baby and then at her breast. “I hadn’t considered trying to fool her.”

“Abigail said the warmth of your skin against the baby’s face might also help, so you could open your . . . well, you know how it would need to be.” Luke brought her the bottle, capped with a leather nipple.

“At least we got rid of that nasty-tasting rubber,” Gloriana said, looking at the bottle and then the baby. “Do you want to say hello?”

Luke took the swaddled baby and held her up to his face. “Hello, Sally. How’s my darling girl?”

Gloriana got to her feet. “I think this will work better if I feed her alone. You and JT stay out here, and I’ll go to my room and see what I can do to hide the bottle close to my body. Supper’s in the oven, so you might check it in a few minutes, and then when I’m done with Sally, we can eat.”

“What am I checking for?” Luke asked, his expression confused.

Laughing, Gloriana reached for Sally. “That it isn’t burning. If something looks too brown or smells burnt, take it out of the oven, please.”

Luke handed her the baby, and Gloriana made her way to the solitude of her bedroom. She placed Sally on the bed long enough to unbutton the front of her dress and unfasten the ties on her corset cover. This wouldn’t be easy, but if it helped the baby feel more comfortable and actually eat, it would be worth any amount of trouble.