“I hope you’re comfortable here.” Natasha set the suitcase on a cherrywood trunk at the foot of the bed.

“It’s charming.” The room smelled of the cedar wardrobe against the wall and the rose petals scattered in a bowl on the nightstand. “I’m very happy to meet Mikhail’s sister, and the wife of an old friend. I’d heard Spence was teaching music at a university.”

“He teaches at Shepherd College. And he composes again.”

“That’s wonderful. He’s tremendously talented.” Feeling awkward, she traced a finger over the wedding ring quilt. “I remember his little girl, Freddie.”

“She is ten now.” Natasha’s smile warmed. “She tried to wait up for Mikhail, but fell asleep on the couch.” Her chin angled. “She took Ivan with her to bed, thinking I would not strangle him there. He dug up my petunias. Tomorrow, I think…”

She trailed off, head cocked.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s Katie, our baby.” Automatically Natasha laid a hand on her breast where her milk waited. “She wakes for a midnight snack. If you’ll excuse me.”

“Of course.”

At the door, Natasha hesitated. She could go with her instincts or her observations. She’d always trusted her instincts. “Would you like to see her?”

After only an instant’s hesitation, Sydney’s lips curved. “Yes, very much.”

Across the hall and three doors down, the sound of the child’s restless crying was louder. The room was softly lit by a nightlight in the shape of a pink sea horse.

“There, sweetheart.” Natasha murmured in two languages as she lifted her baby from the crib. “Mama’s here now.” As the crying turned to a soft whimpering, Natasha turned to see Spence at the doorway. “I have her. She’s wet and hungry, that’s all.”

But he had to come in. He never tired of looking at his youngest child, that perfect and beautiful replica of the woman he’d fallen in love with. Bending close, his cheek brushing his wife’s, he stroked a finger over Katie’s. The whimpering stopped completely, and the gurgling began.

“You’re just showing off for Sydney,” Natasha said with a laugh.

While Sydney watched, they cuddled the baby. There was a look exchanged over the small dark head, a look of such intimacy and love and power that it brought tears burning in her throat. Unbearably moved, she slipped out silently and left them alone.

She was awakened shortly past seven by high, excited barking, maniacal laughter and giggling shouts coming from outside her window. Moaning a bit, she turned over and found the bed empty.

Mikhail had lived up to his promise to sneak into her room, and she doubted either of them found sleep in the narrow bed much before dawn.

But he was gone now.