Juliet.

Chapter One

One month later

Angry cries of an unsatisfied child echoed throughout the building, evoking frustrated murmurs from the lips of the household staff and tears from the eyes of the poor maid who was saddled with the responsibility of caring for a baby who was proving more and more with every second that ticked by, to be impossible to please.

Adeline released a frustrated groan and dumped the child on her belly in the crib —this child was simply the devil's spawn! Adeline was certain that if you looked really closely, you could see tiny horns sticking out of the forehead of the little demo—

She bit down on her lower lip to stop her thoughts from driving her crazy.

The child had already had two wet nurses and three maids in two weeks, all of whom quit after only a few days spent with the child.

Abandoned by her mother and mostly avoided by her father, Adeline was left to care for a child who simply refused to be consoled. It didn't matter that Adeline had fed her, changed her, rocked her and even pleaded with her; the baby appeared to be on a mission to drive Adeline crazy, and unfortunately, Adeline had had enough!

Beyond frustrated, Adeline threw the towel in her hands to the floor, tears filling her eyes as she turned from the wailing child and to the door. She made her way out of the nursery, through the halls, down the stairs and to Lord Williams’ study.

Throwing caution to the wind, she shoved the door wide open and stepped in, immediately earning herself Lord Williams’ attention. He sat behind his desk, frowning at her rude interruption of his time alone.

Well, it was so unfortunate for him because she was about to hit him with some more disconcerting news that was sure to deepen the frown on his face.

“Is something wrong with Elizabeth?” He asked, referring to the baby. Seeing as her mother hadn't bothered to give her a name or had simply neglected to include a name in the note, Ethan settled on Elizabeth —a name Adeline secretly didn't even like. Or was it the baby? Perhaps it was both.

Adeline wanted to yell in frustration but thought better of it. “She is being Elizabeth, the insatiable child, and I simply cannot continue with it, my lord. I'm going raving mad with a child who refuses to be pacified. She fusses too much, she cries all the time, eats too little, and she never sleeps! Who would have thought that such a small creature was capable of producing so much noise?” She squeaked, tears running down her cheeks. “I must admit to having enough...”

“...no...” Ethan rose to his feet then, horror filling his eyes as he shook his head. He almost appeared to be begging but Adeline knew she was done with caring for little Elizabeth even if Ethan groveled before her.