Harry lifted his chubby little hands in the universal command for "pick me up immediately." His fingers opened and closed like a small starfish.
Ines laughed. It was impossible to resist him. She scooped him up. He felt solid and warm, smelling of milk and the expensive soap Edith used for his bath.
Harry let out a squeal of triumph. He grabbed the lapel of her traveling habit with one hand and patted her cheek with the other.
"My, you look dashing, Your Grace," Ines said, smoothing his dark hair which was sticking up in a defiant tuft at the back. "You look like a proper gentleman ready to conquer the ton."
Harry babbled something that sounded suspiciously like "Biscuit," but Ines chose to interpret it as agreement.
"Aunt Edith really did a good job," Ines continued, turning to the maid who was fastening the straps of a travel bag. "Making you look so handsome for me. You will surely steal all the hearts in London."
She leaned in and kissed his nose.
