Chapter 5

“Wait until you’re legally wed before you make any babies,” Father had said.

“D’you mean to tell me that’s how babies are made?”

Thomas frowned at me. “Never tell me you thought the stork brought them.”

“Of course not. D’you think I’m a fool? Everyone knows fairies leave them at the bottom of the garden.”

His eyes grew wide, and then he realised I was having him on, and he poked my shoulder. “Arse.”

“Did he also tell you how to touch a woman?” I couldn’t help feeling a little resentful that Sir Henry would discuss bedroom matters with his son, while my own father avoided any conversations with me when at all possible. I’d had to learn what little I knew by listening in to the grooms talking about it when they were unaware I was nearby.

“No, that was thanks to Bertie. He left a copy of this magazine in his bedchamber.”

“You snoop in his bedchamber?”

“Of course. That’s what younger brothers do.”

I never had. “Very clever.”