Chapter 63

Ian took the wriggling bundle in his hands. 

The baby seemed to look at him with a little anger, his face red, her eyes very brown, and a tiny lock of black hair on her head, soft as a kitten's fur.

“Hello, little Miss Boyle," he told her, feeling stupid.

She must have thought so too, because she closed her eyes and began to cry. 

“Thank God you're not a boy." He tried to find other emotions in himself than this one relief.

“Pass her to me, Milord," said Mrs Kingston. “I'll hold her while Gwen and Marie look after Milady.”

“No, no, let me," he replied. 

“I'll take her into the boudoir for a few minutes.”

“ Shh, shh….You are going to have to learn to do what your daddy says.”

He rocked her gently as he spoke. 

The baby calmed down and half-opened her eyes, as if soothed by the deep voice.

 "Daddy? Yes, I have to get used to being called that. I've got to learn to love this little red-faced pers