Christy carried Christian on her hip as she poured a cup of tea for Simon. The sun had barely risen, but the men had to get back to the Home Office.

“Where is the nanny?” asked Simon, after thanking her. He took a bite of toast. Christian was fussing on her hip and she bounced him a little.

“She left at first light,” Christy said tightly. She was still furious about the young woman’s desertion.

“Why?” Christian tried to grab Simon’s toast, and Christy scolded him. She very nearly dropped the teapot.

“I imagine the three of you and what you got up to last night probably scandalized her,” Hastings said, grabbing a piece of toast from the tray on the table.

“What did you say?” Simon asked, putting his tea down.

Christy was so tired she couldn’t even take offense. “He’s right,” she said. “She informed me she wouldn’t live in a ‘house of ill repute’—her words—and that if people found out she’d never get another job. So I wrote her a letter of recommendation and she left.” Christy tucked a piece of hair that Christian had pulled loose back into place. “And now Cook has taken to her room, as well.”

“Christy, I’m sorry,” Simon said. He looked devastated. “Here, let me.” He reached for Christian, and Christy handed him over gladly. She loved him, but he was quite impossible this morning since he hadn’t slept enough last night either.

“Why is he drooling?” Hastings asked with a frown. “Is there something wrong with him?”

“He’s teething.” Simon tore off a chunk of toast and handed it to Christian, who immediately began to gnaw on it happily. “I remember when one of Very’s was going through this. She said the toast worked wonders.”

He took a bite of what was left of his toast and watched Christian. The baby reached for his nose and Simon dodged his little fist with a laugh. “Oh, no. I’m wise to that trick,” Simon told him.

Christy felt tears prick her eyes, and she turned away before Simon could see them. Robert was quietly standing in the door, watching them. He smiled at Christy, and she knew he was thinking the same thing. How wonderful it was to see Simon and Christian together. The baby was just what Simon needed. Someone new and innocent and trusting. Someone who would love Simon as they did, with no judgment or hesitation.

“So Nanny Beth has gone?” Robert said as he entered the room.

“You don’t need her,” Hastings said, surprising Christy with his vehemence. “She was far too judgmental. She would only have warped little Christian, mark my words.” He tossed down his napkin. “I’ll find you a nanny.”

Robert and Simon both got a very alarmed look on their faces. “No, really, that’s not necessary,” Robert said.

“I’m sure Christy would prefer to hire her own nanny,” Simon added. “Isn’t that right, Christy?”

Christy hid a yawn behind her hand. “Oh, yes, of course,” she said. “But I do appreciate Mr. Hastings’s offer of help.”

“You should both be ashamed of yourselves,” Hastings said, glaring and Robert and Simon. “These gentlewomen haven’t got that kind of stamina, you know.” He stood up. “Here now, you and the baby should have a rest today. Come on, lads, let’s go find some villains.”

He marched out of the kitchen and Christy looked curiously at Robert, who looked at Simon, who just shrugged.

“I haven’t any idea what’s gotten into him today,” Simon said. He took a sip of tea and Christian tried to grab the cup, but Simon expertly dodged that, too.

“You’re very good with children,” Christy told him.

“You have seen how many children Very has, haven’t you?” he asked. “I was trained by the most devious brats in London.”

“Actually I only just met Mrs. Tarrant yesterday,” Christy told him. “I went around to see her because I needed her help with Daniel.”

“What’s wrong with Daniel?” both men said at the same time. They looked at one another in dawning comprehension.

“Do you think Daniel had anything to do with this?” Simon asked suspiciously. “He did send me to help you.”

“I asked him yesterday and he said no,” Christy told them. “He claims it was the furthest thing from his mind. But you know—”

“Daniel,” Simon finished for her. “Yes, we do. Why did you need help with him?”

Christy bit her lip. “Well, I wasn’t going to tell you because I didn’t want to worry you, what with this mission and all, but his leg isn’t healing and he’s not doing well. I sent for the doctor yesterday, but he was an ineffectual potion peddler, as Daniel called him. And I was at my wit’s end. So, I went to see the infamous Mrs. Very Tarrant. From her letters she sounded as if she could handle Daniel. You know Harry lets Daniel walk all over him, and with everything going on between us, and Christian, and the agents, I just couldn’t take on one more thing. Does that make me a bad person?”

“No,” Robert said. He came over and kissed her brow. “I don’t know Mrs. Tarrant, but I’m sure she can handle Daniel. He’ll be fine.”

“Very could handle Armageddon, and probably does on a daily basis around that house of hers,” Simon said as he got up, carrying Christian. He came over and kissed her cheek. “Daniel can be a beast when he doesn’t feel well. I’ve been on the end of that whip of a tongue of his. Let Very and Harry handle him and I’m sure he’ll be up in no time.”

He handed Christian back to her. “I’m sorry, love. We’ve got to go. You know,” he said as he was leaving the room, “I was wondering why Daniel hadn’t shown up to inquire about the investigation. It’s not like him not to interfere. I should have gone by to check on him.”

“I should have as well,” Robert said. “Perhaps later today we’ll have time to stop by.” He kissed Christy’s cheek. “Hopefully we will see you tonight, but I can’t make promises. This case is a mess, I’m afraid. But I’ll send a note if we’re delayed again.”

After they left Christy sat down at the table, feeling as if all the air in the room had rushed out with them and she needed to sit down to catch her breath. She was going to have to take a nap with Christian today to make up for the sleep she’d lost the night before. But as soon as she had her wits about her, she’d direct her thoughts toward putting her house in order. And that definitely included Simon.