hy must you do this on the day of Genevieve's christening?" roared James at the older man before him. "We've guests in our home celebrating this joyous occasion, yet here you are, rehashing this ridiculous accusation rather than taking pride in your new granddaughter!" 

     He turned and walked angrily to the study window. He tried to calm his temper by looking out over his wife's lovely gardens in full Spring bloom. As he listened for the birds to bring calm to his temper, he heard slow footsteps behind him and the sound of a chair at his desk being pulled across the intricately woven rug. With a sigh, he watched the fluttering butterflies bounce from purple and pink flowers to yellow and blue ones, and he tried to remember this was not the day to allow anger to cloud his heart and mind.

     "I already have a granddaughter," the man spoke up from the desk. His tone was calm though weighed heavily with intolerance and criticism. "Audrey is the child of my real son. This girl you've sired is nothing to me. Nothing from a bastard could be anything more than a stranger on the street."

     James spun around on the heel of his high-shined shoe and glared at the old man.

     "How dare you speak of my child in such disregard?" he seethed. "Is it not enough you've painted my mother as an adulteress? If you wish to refer to me as a bastard, you may do so. I've grown numb to it after a lifetime of being nothing more. You will not, in my home, besmirch my own child's name."

     "A name that is not mine," his father said with a sneer. "You know very well the reason I refused to give you my name. I only have one son. Aldis. Had his blessed mother not died, I wouldn't have had a bastard son. 

     Your mother used my heartbreak over the death of Olivia to weasel her way into my fortune. Isolde may have dressed as a proper Lady, but I learned she was nothing more than a common schemer. A widow, she told me, so I would feel a kinship with another who lost a devoted spouse. 

     The whore was never married. She was a strumpet servicing men from the soldiers' camps to the portside taverns." 

     "Quiet!" James growled loudly, then calmed as he stared at the door in memory they were not alone. "I've heard this lie all my life. You use it to justify your favoritism for Aldis. You use it to justify keeping from me what is mine. Regardless of what you say of my mother, I am still your son. Your name is on the documents of my birth. Had you suspected Mother of infidelity, it was your opportunity to declare it and cleanly cut me from my inheritance." 

     His father glared and huffed as he struck his ivory cane against the floor. "You know quite well that I kept the secret for the benefit of the king. As his first cousin and with how influential I have been in his court, such a scandal would have brought shame to him and damage to his reputation in the Church. He was the one who warned me about your mother, but I was too distraught and lonely to listen."

     James watched him relax against the high-backed, embroidered chair and stare at the lion engraved on the gold handle of the cane. 

     "My royal cousin created a scandal when he lowered me to a mere Viscount, but your mother left him with no choice. A bastard could never be in line for the throne, but no one could know that's what you were," the elder man continued. "He couldn't simply banish you and that harlot, nor could he demote you as long as you were the son of a Duke. No, no..." he snickered spitefully. "Questions would have arisen. Instead, he falsely accused me of mishandling treasury funds, so I was the one who lost my title. 

     Your mother stole the decency of my heart and you stole my power and wealth. Expect nothing more from me than my tolerance of your existence. Expect nothing of me for that child who has no bearing on my blood." 

     "You speak as though you live in squalor, Father," James chastised. "His majesty returned your title years ago. The only man to blame for your disgrace among the nobles is you.

     Oh, let us not forget Aldis. His gambling and questionable business with delinquents is going to cause another scandal and force the king's hand to strip him of his title, too. How will he endure life of a Baron as I have when he's been spoiled as the favored son of a Duke?" 

     His father quickly stood from his chair and waved his cane in the air toward James. "Never speak of my son with such vile gossip. Never call me 'Father' again. Never dare to have that child of yours refer to me as her grandfather. I'll have nothing more to do with you than is necessary in the king's court. We are nothing more to each other than colleagues. You are nothing more to His Majesty than a royal servant. 

     Assure that Rorik is a fit and proper godfather to that child because I'll not come to her aid should tragedy strike you or your lovely wife." 

     James' fists clenched in rage as he watched his father storm out of the room. 

     "Duke Alexander Van Larsen," a voice from the corridor called out. "Such a pleasant surprise to see you, my lord!" 

     The voices faded away and a moment later, Mina hurried in. James shook his head wearily and held her as she brought the baby to him.

     "Did you hear, Darling?" he said softly. 

     "I did," she answered with her cheek against his chest. "James, dear, don't fret. He's a ridiculous, pompous old man who hasn't a friend in the world. He's jealous of how the people love you. He wants it for his Aldis, but he knows they'll never be warm to such a scoundrel." 

     She leaned away and smiled up at him as she handed him Genevieve. "Your daughter has made a fuss since the moment you left the celebration. I believe she's chosen her favorite between us." 

     He smiled as she laughed in her delicate fashion. Cradling his daughter in one arm, he caressed his wife's cheek with his other hand. 

     "Are the guests leaving?" he asked. 

     She nodded. "Many have gone but a few await your return to say their goodbyes." 

     "Then I shouldn't make them wait any longer," he told her. "Come, wife. Let us hurry these friends of ours along so we can tuck our daughter into bed. I believe a safe enough time has passed to try for a sister or a brother." 

     Mina gasped when he lightly slapped her backside as they walked. She blushed and shook her head in humor. 

     "Mina," he called her back quietly. He stopped them before they walked too close to where the guests had gathered to deliver their farewells. "Clear your schedule with the ladies' group this week. I want to teach you everything about finances and my duties in court. I want you to be prepared in case anything happens to me so no one can take what is ours and Genevieve's." 

     Her smile faded from his earlier teasing as she looked up into his worried gaze. 

     "All right, dear," she replied. "I'll be a proper student." 

     He returned her smile and gave her a quick kiss on the lips before continuing to their guests.