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Sophia rushed toward them, her cheeks flushed and hair in disarray "Thank God you’re here"

"What the devil is going on?" Toby handed his hat and gloves to a foot cats above-stairs?"

"It’s Lucy," Sophia said "She’s gone into labor"

"Here?" Isabel asked A , and she tilted her head toward its source "Now?"

"Yes" Sophia ushered the them aside for a private conference just before they entered She lowered her voice to a whisper "She and Jeremy had some kind of row, and Lucy left in a fit of temper She drove here in the phaeton, and by the tiun Miss Osborne says it’s not safe to ed a quick glance with his wife "We really should leave"

Isabel nodded "Yes, of course" When another muffled cry floated down the corridor, she turned to Sophia "We’ll come for the Society leaflet another ti Toby’s arm in one hand and Isabel’s wrist in the other "Don’t leave, I beg you"

Toby said, "Surely Miss Osborne has matters in hand Or would you like me to summon another physician?"

Sophia shook her head "It’s not Lucy I’ well, if a bit slowly That’s normal with first babes, she says No, it’s Jerelance toward the salon "He’s already here?"

"Yes Gray and Joss are there with hilad for the co this well, I’ screa-ward

"No," Toby said finally, staring at the sta this well at all"

"Did you say Joss is with thelance passed between the ladies "Oh, dear This ht it rather sounded like Lucy was the one being tortured He hi as how his three sisters had survived ten noisy births, collectively, and he knew Lucy to be hardier than any of theine these were Isabel’s cries of pain He immediately shared Jere like a kick to the gut How much worse for Joss, who had lost a wife in childbirth?

Sophia squeezed his ar him atery blue eyes, she tilted her head toward the salon "Try to convince Jeremy that all will be well Keep his s Just… Toby, just be yourself More than anyone I know, you have a gift for putting people at ease"

Words failed him for ahis character, the woman who’d run away rather than ave ahis arm, Sophia turned to his wife "Bel, would you co fresh linens and supplies"

"Yes, certainly"

Toby watched them disappear up the stairs, hand in hand Remarkable He wished noere the time to really talk to Sophia To ask her why--if he put everyone so at ease--she’d fled halfway across the world rather than speak to hiement But noasn’t the ti all the blithe, irreverent charm he could find, Toby donned a carefree smile and sauntered into the salon "Good afternoon Gray, Joss … Je hilass, he took the decanter over to Jere the pale, drawn htly "I understand congratulations are in order"

Jerelass "Prayers are in order This shouldn’t be happening It’s too soon And it’s all ued, and …" He scrubbed his face with one hand, leaving his eyes heavy and laced with red "I should send an express to Waltha down to a writing desk "She’s at my house, after all Shall I address it to her father or her mother?"

"To her brother, Henry Lucy hasn’t any parents living" When another growling moan sounded from above, Jeremy dropped his head in his hands "Oh, God I can’t endure this"

Toby sat down next to him "It’s perfectly normal, Jem All my sisters sounded the same in labor, or worse And babies arrive in their own ti comes out fine"

"Except when it doesn’t" Joss rose frolared at him, and Joss stared back with hollow eyes

"Don’t, Joss" Gray gave his brother a warning look

"Don’t what?" Joss asked defensively "Don’t prepare athe truth We all knooroaned into his hands

"Yes," Toby said in a matter-of-fact tone, "it happens" He refused to let his annoyance with Joss taint his efforts at reassurance "But this is not so his voice, he spoke to Jeremy "They don’t know Lucy like we do, Jem Listen to me I’ve a mother and three older sisters, all of whom eat adversity for breakfast I’m married to the th of will, Lucy bests theive you a beautiful child And when Lucy’s deter, she does it"

"Jere "If you hearnear ain"

Toby and Jererowl "Never Ever Again"

"You see?" Toby reth "That’s determination for you"

When Jeremy made no response, Toby decided it was tiroup needed "How are the legal studies progressing, Joss?"

Joss stared out the"Fine"

Several moments’ silence followed Well, so much for that vein of conversation