“Are you all right?” he asked, dropping to sit on the side of the bed, and hard-pressed not to take her hands in his. He couldn’t, however, without dislodging the baby she held, so he touched her hip instead, wanting the contact to reassure himself despite her nod.

“Don’t you want to see your child?” she asked when he continued to just stare at her. She seemed nervous, he noted with a frown.

“Of course he does,” Suzette said, bending to unwrap the blanket a bit so the baby was more easily viewed. “My lord, your daughter, Lady Sara Maitland.”

“I thought it would be nice to name her after my mother,” Lisa babbled quickly. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, of course not,” he murmured, glancing to the small red-faced child. She was absolutely beautiful, of course. But how could she not be, with Lisa for a mother, he thought. Reaching out, Robert brushed one finger against the baby’s soft cheek, smiling when one waving hand shot up and grasped it, trying to draw it to its mouth.

“The first girl in the family,” Richard murmured, moving closer to get a better look.

“Hmmm. She shall be spoiled rotten by her doting uncles,” Daniel promised with a grin.

“And terrorized by her male cousins,” Christiana said with amusement.

“No doubt,” Lisa murmured.

“Can I hold her?” Lord Madison asked, moving up between Christiana and Richard.

Lisa nodded and held the baby up and the old man took her as carefully as if she were made of spun glass.

“Little Sara,” he cooed, rocking the child slightly as he walked a little away from the bed. “You shall grow up to be as lovely as your grandmother was. I shall tell you all about what a wonderful woman she was.”

Robert smiled faintly at the words and then glanced back to Lisa as the others followed the old man and baby like they were rats following the siren song of the pied piper. But seeing the concern still on Lisa’s face, he frowned.

“What is it, my love?” he asked, taking her hands in his now that they were free. “Is something wrong? You are okay, aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course,” she assured him quickly. “I just—are you very disappointed?”

Robert frowned with confusion. “Disappointed with what?”

“Well, I know most men want a boy rather than a girl, and . . .” Her words died as he chuckled softly.

Shaking his head, he squeezed her hands gently. “My love, I am happy to have a girl. The Langleys have produced only boys for centuries. ’Tis time a little girl joined the ranks and I am proud to provide her.” He bent to kiss her gently, and then sat up and added, “I guess this means the curse definitely is ended. I can hardly raise a daughter to be a woman hater.”

“You are not a woman hater, my lord,” Lisa said, smiling and relaxing now that she knew he was pleased to have a daughter.