The baby grinned, revealing a set of two teeth on her bottom gums. “Da-da-da.”

“Not a chance,” he warned. “We’ll have none of that foolishness. Now cease this noise before someone hears you.”

Her face crumpled, and she screwed up her face to cry.

Stephen closed the distance and lifted her up before she could shriek. He had no doubt that the young imp would not hesitate to wake the household with screaming.

The baby buried her face in his neck, snuggling close. Her soft hair smelled of floral soap. A curious protective instinct curled around him, and he held her at a distance to study her.

She chortled, stuffing a fist in her mouth.

“I don’t suppose you’d know where your Aunt Emily is sleeping?”

“Gah,” the baby replied.

“You are a veritable wellspring of information.” He set her down in the wingback chairs, and she whimpered, holding her arms out to him.

“Go to sleep.”

She looked ready to cry, and so he arranged her sideways in order to rub her back. She gave a soft sigh. After several minutes, she succumbed to sleep.

Stephen tiptoed out, wondering whether “Gah” meant left or right.

The door to one of the rooms flew open, and Emily raced toward Stephen, her face deathly pale. “He’s gone.”

“Who is gone?”

“Royce.” Emily was already running down the stairs to fetch her cloak. “I went to bid him goodnight, and his bed hasn’t been slept in. I think he’s run away.”

“Why would you say that?”

“The other day he told me he wanted to look for his father.”

“He’ll be looking for a long time, then,” Stephen remarked, but Emily did not react to his dry comment.

He prayed that the boy was only hiding, for a small child would not make it far in the London streets without facing danger. He was careful to keep his tone relaxed. “How long has he been missing, do you think?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps hours. His coat and cap are gone.”

Her fear bordered on hysteria, but he needed to calm her. They would not find the boy without a clear, logical plan. Emily had nearly reached the door when Stephen stopped her. “Have you searched the house?”

Emily nodded. “I can’t find him anywhere.” Tears spilled over her cheeks, and she wrung her hands. “What if we don’t find him?”

“We will. But I want to search here first.” Although the boy had an adventurous side, he still didn't entirely believe that Royce would leave the house.

“He’s not in any of the rooms,” she insisted.

“There are many places for a young boy to hide, Emily.” Stephen led her up the stairs again, even as her attention remained upon the front door. “What were his favorite belongings?”