"Hello, Michael." Her eyes twinkled as she extended her hand. "It's very lowering-I feel exactly like a mother cat standing guard over her kittens. My friend Marged assures me that in another month or two, I shall become more sensible."

"You're always sensible." He kissed her cheek with deep affection. By her mere existence, Clare was an example of all that was good and true about womankind. Releasing her hand, he glanced into the crib. "Incredible how tiny fingers can be."

"Yet he has an amazing grip," she said proudly. "Give him a chance to demonstrate it."

Michael leaned over the crib and gingerly touched the baby's hand. Kenrick gurgled and locked his miniature fist forcefully around Michael's fingertip. Michael found himself unexpectedly moved. This minute scrap of humanity was living proof of Clare and Nicholas's love, with his father's wickedly charming smile and his mother's vivid blue eyes. Named for his paternal grandfather, Kenrick was a bridge from past to future.

There might have been a child of Michael's, who would have been almost five now…

Unable to bear the thought, he gently disengaged his finger and straightened. "Is Nicholas home?"

"No, but he should be back anytime now." Clare's brows drew together. "Has something happened?"

"Napoleon has escaped from Elba and landed in France," Michael said flatly.

Clare's hand went to the crib in an instinctive gesture of protection. From the doorway, there came the sound of a sudden intake of breath. Michael turned to see the Earl of Aberdare, his dark hair beaded with moisture from riding in the mist.

His mobile features uncharacteristically still, Nicholas said, "Any word on how the French people are receiving him?"

"Apparently they are welcoming him back with wild acclaim. There's an excellent chance that within the next fortnight, King Louis will run for his life and Bonaparte will be sitting in Paris and calling himself emperor again. It isn't as if Louis has endeared himself to his subjects." Michael pulled the letter from his pocket. "Lucien sent this."