Jake's square fingers caressed the baby's placid forehead. "Yes, I know," he said.
Maud uttered a faint sigh. "And so—according to the law of the Medes and Persians—he is not going to sleep with his mother any longer. He is to be banished to the nursery. But I thought I would put him to sleep first."
Jake's look came to her face. "There's no law that I know of," he said in his slow way. "Keep him in here if you want to!"
She lifted her eyes to his—beautiful eyes, deeply violet. "Thank you,
Jake. But it's all settled, and he won't mind."
"He doesn't matter so much," said Jake.
She smiled and laid her cheek against his arm. "No, it's all right. Nurse understands him. I won't have him again unless he's ill. I should have to then."
"Of course," said Jake. He bent down. "Let me have him! I'll take him to the nursery."
"Ah, don't wake him!" she said.
Jake's arms encompassed the little bundle and lifted it from her. The baby made a small noise that sounded like a protest, but he did not open his eyes.
"Don't you come!" said Jake. "I'll fix him."