“You are dismissed.” He said, stepping to the side so that she could leave the room.

Once she was gone, he turned his attention to Elizabeth who was seated in her crib crying.

Leaning down, he took her in his arms and cradled her against his chest. “There, there precious,” he cooed, trying and failing to ease her tears.

Tightening his hold on her, he turned and made his way to the veranda, the warm afternoon breeze welcoming them both as he settled on the single rocking chair and placed Elizabeth on his lap. “Miss Riverside shall be here shortly,” he assured, forcing a smile to his lips as he tried to calm the hysterical child.

Elizabeth, who was having none of it, only seemed to intensify her protest and for a brief second, Ethan considered sending someone into town to locate Gretchen and bring her back. But as quickly as the thought went through his mind, he shoved it aside; it would be unfair to drag Miss Riverside back to the manor after weeks of being trapped with nothing to do but care for Elizabeth. Gretchen needed the break, and he needed to spend some time with his daughter.

Settling on the wooden floor, he placed Elizabeth before him and buried his hand in his breast pocket until he found his pocket-watch. Pulling it out, he dangled it before her eyes, her cries immediately ceasing as her eyes began to follow the back and forth movements of the watch.

“See?” He smiled, thankful his tactics were working. “You want this, Elizabeth?”

She sniffed, reaching out suddenly with chubby hands as she tried to take captive of the watch. Her fingers barely brushed it when he shifted back a little, a smile on his face. Elizabeth frowned but was quick to crawl toward him and reach for the watch again. He had to laugh at the baby's forgotten displeasure of her missing nanny and newly found mission to take captive of the pocket-watch.

After several tries, Elizabeth now held the pocket-watch between her chubby fingers and was biting on it.

He rose to his feet, carrying her in his arms as he did. Grinning, he threw her up in the air, his hands open to retrieve her. Elizabeth let out a delighted giggle as he threw her up once more, her short, black curly hair bouncing in the air.

Ethan spent his entire afternoon with Elizabeth. He took her on a slow horse ride through the entire property, fed her, and told her a few stories he could remember from his childhood. He was only starting to take pleasure in her presence when Gretchen returned from her trip to town, immediately regaining Elizabeth's attention.

Ethan felt a stab of jealousy as the two females sat together at dinner, knowing full well that Gretchen had captured the heart of his infant and no one else could take her place in Elizabeth's life.