My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley

out of a
pocket by his seat and handed it to her.
    She studied it, finding Salisbury. “Did you travel from Rothgar Abbey?”
    “Yes.”
    “Where exactly is it?”
    “Not far from Farnham.”
    “So at Basingstoke we’ll be off your route?”
    “Yes.”
    “Will we reach Maidenhead tomorrow?” Verity asked.
    “That depends on the roads. I suggest we go north at Basingstoke to
join the Bath road at Reading, then we’ll be on a toll road. It should
be better than this.”
    They seemed disinclined to argue, which surprised him. Was Charles mellowing at last?
    Peace after Bedlam would mellow anyone.
    He looked down at the baby, surprised by how pleasant it felt to
hold the sleeping mite. He’d seen plenty of Hilda’s daughter but never,
as a mere male, been entrusted with her. The soft, pliant weight, the
steady rise and fall of breathing, the dreaming sucking motions of the
full lips all charmed him.
    And this wasn’t a perfect child. He had a rash on his cheek, perhaps
from his tear-dampened blanket. Verity had changed him once today, but
a sour smell rose from him. Cyn didn’t know who the father was, but he
suspected the child would never make his fortune with his face.
    All the same, sweetly, trustingly asleep, the baby caught his heart and made him think again of children of his own…
    “Halt!”
    The summons caught them all unawares. Charles put a hand toward the pistol-holster. Verity reached for her child.
    Cyn held on to the babe. “Look innocent, damn you.” This clearly was
no attempt at robbery, and could only be a military patrol. The door
was sharply opened. Cyn turned toward it with a look of astonishment.
“Please!” he said in a whisper. “The babe is sleeping.”
    The young officer looked abashed, and then his eyes sharpened. Cyn had no doubt he was on the lookout for a mother and child.
    An added complication was that Cyn knew Lieutenant Toby Berrisford very well indeed.
Chapter 6
    “My apologies, ma’am,” said Toby quietly, going red. It was an
affliction that went with his pale skin and red hair, but Cyn knew he
never let it interfere with his duty. “I am ordered to keep an eye out
for a young mother with a two-month-old child. I must ask your
identity.”
    “I’m Sarah Inchcliff,” said Cyn amenably. “‘Mrs. Richard Inchcliff
of Goole, Yorkshire. I confess, sir, that it is true my babe is only a
little over two months old, but I’m flattered you think me young.” He
gave Toby a teasing smile. “I’ll not see thirty again and this is my
sixth. Why do you seek such a pair?”
    Toby frowned at Cyn but more in puzzlement than suspicion. “The
young woman’s wits have been turned by the death of her husband, and
she has run away with her child. It is feared she will do him some
harm.”
    Verity made a little sound. “Yes,” said Cyn quickly, “horrible,
isn’t it? But if she is so deranged, would she be traveling in a
private coach?”
    “She might be befriended by some misguided person, ma’am, and that
person could then be in danger. Who knows what a madwoman might do?” He
was still frowning. “Forgive me, ma’am, but are we acquainted?”
    Cyn faced Toby blandly. “I don’t think so, Lieutenant, but I am told
I bear a strong resemblance to my cousins. My maiden name was Malloren.”
    His face cleared. “That’s it! You have quite the look of Lord Cyn, you know.”
    “I’m flattered,” said Cyn, adding naughtily, “He’s quite excessively handsome.”
    “Isn’t he just?” said Toby with a grin. “And a devil with the
ladies. There’s not a one can resist him. Well, Mrs. Inchcliff,
apologies for interrupting your journey. If you should come across the
poor wretch, put her in the care of the local magistrate. The child’s
guardian and the woman’s father are both in the area, and will care for
them.”
    Lieutenant Berrisford then slammed the door and William set up a
squawk. Cyn saw his friend turn red as he made quickly for his horse.
Cyn gave the