"Is this a legitimate scholarly interest, or is she just trying to prepare herself to have a knowledgeable conversation within his range of expertise?" she asked.

"Oh, this is what she does all day at home," Miranda replied. "I think this is why she likes him in the first place, because he lets her yap at him for hours." She rolled her eyes. "Apparently they both get really, really turned on talking about economic systems, and then they get as close to having sex as possible without actually doing the deed, and then they put their clothes back on and talk about the evolution of language families or something to cool down."

Niabheara boggled. "Is this a common courtship technique where you're from?"

Miranda had to cough to keep herself from laughing so hard she would wake the baby. "No!" she exclaimed.

The baby began to whine, and Mira gritted her teeth. "Sorry," she murmured at the baby. "Sorry, sorry!"

She held the baby up, not certain what to do, as the baby began to fuss and kick.

Niabheara bit her lower lip--for once, to stifle a giggle. She flapped a hand at Miranda. "No no no, don't thrust her away like that. Hold her close to you, let her know you're there. If she doesn't work herself up to a full tantrum, she might go right back to sleep."

Miranda gulped and did what Niabheara said, pulling the baby back to her chest. "Shh," she said softly. "Sh, shh...she's so kicky," she lamented, sounding as if she were on the verge of crying herself.

"You're doing fine," Niabheara said kindly. "Poor little chipmunk." As if drawn by a magnet, she installed herself immediately at Miranda's side. With two fingers she stroked the baby's face and arm. "I'm only qualified to diagnosis milky-mouth, I'm afraid, but it could be you just have a particularly fussy baby. We really must get you a nurse or else you'll ne'er sleep again."

"I don't think she's particularly fussy," Miranda answered, duteously patting the baby's head. "I think I'm just particularly bad at this. She was good when Cormac had her."

"You really are doing about as well as any new mother," Niabheara said. "Cormac's probably been around babies before, is all. Were you too little to look after your sisters when they were small?"

"I was only four when the twins were born," Miranda replied. "I was old enough for the little ones, but it's not the same. You know. Sisters versus your own babies. I could hand them back when they cried."