“I know that, Pippa.” Sophie’s eyes were dancing. “But what if I have a baby and it’s a little boy? He may not wish to wear dresses forever.”

“You won’t.” Pippa was absolutely positive. “You’ll have a little girl, just like us. Do you think you’ll have one soon, Lady Sophie?”

Charlotte giggled.

“No!” Sophie said hastily. “No, I’m not planning to have any babies, girls or boys, in the near future.”

“Why not? Katie said that the party Mama gave was for your ‘gagement ‘cause you’re going to move into your own house, and then you’ll have lots of room for a baby. Who are you marrying? Is he nice?”

Sophie sat down in a chair, her eyes twinkling at the little girl leaning on her mama’s knee.

“I was planning to marry a very nice man named Braddon.”

From the corner of her eye Sophie saw Charlotte’s head swing up, her eyes narrowed.

“Well, won’t nice man Braddon want to have a little girl right away?”

Charlotte laughed, breaking in. “Pippa will persist all night once she’s got hold of an idea, Sophie.” And then: “Did you say was planning?”

“The truth is, Pippa,” Sophie said, carefully not looking at Charlotte, “I’ve changed my mind about marrying Braddon, so he’ll have to find a baby somewhere else.”

Charlotte grinned exuberantly, and Pippa stopped her line of questioning and clambered over, on her knees, to pat Sophie’s hand.

“You know, Lady Sophie, since you’re not going to have your own little girl soon, perhaps Mama would let you take Sarah home. Since she’s got two girls, she could give you one.”

“Pippa, I told you to stop offering to give Sarah away!” Charlotte wrinkled her nose at Sophie, her eyes twinkling. “I’m afraid you aren’t the first recipient of Pippa’s generosity. So far she’s offered Sarah to Katie’s sister, to most of the servants, and, several times, to my mother.”

Sophie tried hard not to laugh at the unrepentant child before her. “If I do have a little girl someday, I’ll borrow you occasionally. You could visit us and teach her how to keep her dresses clean.”

Pippa scrambled to her feet, revealing the creased and messy front of her dress. “I can do that, Lady Sophie! When you do decide to get married, I’m going to wear my best dress and be very good.”

The nursery door opened and Katie’s plump face appeared. “Here’s the little lamb now, my lady,” she crooned, cradling a sleepy bundle. “Just woke up.”

Charlotte stood up and lovingly took Sarah. “Time to feed you, sugarplum. And”—she swung around and leveled a mock glare at her best friend—”I would like to speak to you, Sophie York. So why don’t we take tea in my sitting room?”