Charlaine shook her head. “Oh, no, you’ll not hide them from me a moment longer.”
Pierce scoffed. “I’m not hiding anyone.” He paused. “Although, at times, I admit that locating those two can be quite a challenge.”
Charlaine laughed and then stilled as the echo of children’s voice drifted to her ears. Her arm slipped from Pierce’s and she moved onward without thought, drawn to the innocent joy in their voices, beckoning her forward.
Only a few more steps down the hallway and Charlaine came to a wide-open door that led into a spacious room. Tall windows provided enough light despite London’s tendency for gray skies, and she stopped in the doorway, her gaze sweeping over an upturned toy chest, a tent made from sheets and blankets as well as a hairless doll tied to a table leg. Two young girls were kneeling before said doll, their heads bent—one dark and one light—their nimble fingers trying to loosen the knots.
“We need to hurry!” the dark-haired one whispered with some urgency. “Or they’ll capture us as well.”
“I cannot loosen it,” the other, blond-haired girl mumbled under her breath. “It’s too tight. We need a knife.”
“We don’t have a knife,” the dark-haired one stated, no small measure of disappointment swinging in her voice. “But perhaps…we can steal one.”
Charlaine sensed Pierce step up behind her a moment before his booming voice all but shook the room. “Or you could not!”
The girls flinched and spun around, staring at them wide-eyed.
“No knives!” Pierce stressed as he stalked into the room, looking from one girl to the other. “I do believe we’ve already discussed this at great length, have we not?”
Sighing, the dark-haired girl sank down onto the floor, her legs crossed under her dress. “Yes, Father.” Her eyes rose to meet his. “Then how do you suggest we undo the knot? After all, we’ve got to save Mary.” Her hand whipped out, pointing at the hairless doll.
“You must be Daphne,” Charlaine said as she stepped into the room. “It is such a pleasure to meet you. I must say you’re a girl after my own heart.”
“Charlaine!” Pierce grumbled, a warning note in his voice she chose to ignore.
The dark-haired girl scrambled to her feet, her wide eyes sweeping over Charlaine. “You’re our visitor,” she whispered in awe before eager joy danced across her face and she shot forward, grasping Charlaine’s hand. “You must tell us everything. Father says you come from an island. Are there pirates there? Have you ever seen a shark? Where—?”
“Slow down and give our guest a moment to catch her breath,” Pierce intervened with a smile as he beckoned an equally wide-eyed Susan forward. “Charlaine will be staying with us for a long time,” he said as he smiled at her, “so there’ll be plenty of chances for you to ask her all you wish to know.”
“Hello, Susan,” Charlaine greeted the slightly smaller, blond-haired girl. “Knots can, indeed, be quite vexing. Who tied it?”
Susan swallowed, as of yet undecided what to make of their new guest. “I did.”
“And you did a marvelous job,” Charlaine exclaimed, kneeling down and examining the knot at great length. “I don’t think anyone could untie it. It’s such a fine knot.” Susan beamed with pride. “We may need a knife after all,” Charlaine concluded, turning to Daphne.
A triumphant smile lit up little Daphne’s face as she looked up at Pierce. Then her gaze returned to Charlaine. “Perhaps we can get one from the kitchen.”
“That’s a good idea,” Charlaine replied, ignoring the way Pierce’s jaw dropped in disapproval.
Susan stepped forward, her little hands still a bit shaky. “But we’ll have to move quietly,” she whispered with a glance at the door, “or my mother will catch us. She doesn’t like us playing with knives, either.”
“That’s true,” Charlaine agreed with a smile, remembering all the mischief she and her siblings had done long ago. “Perhaps I should take off my shoes. They do make a lot of noise. Who wants to be the lookout?”
Two little hands snapped up into the air.
Shaking his head, Pierce threw up his hands. “Why do I even bother?” Still, the corners of his mouth quirked ever so slightly when his eyes met hers. “You’re worse than both of them together.”
Charlaine grinned. “Life is too short to worry about everything.” She slipped off her shoes, delighted to see the two girls following suit. “Do you want to join us?” she dared Pierce. “It’ll be fun. I promise.”
Closing his eyes, Pierce shook his head in utter disbelief. Still, the hint of a smile played over his face. “I’d rather not,” he told her with arched brows. Then he turned to look at the girls. “Where is Miss Glass?”
Susan’s little mouth opened, however, Daphne was quicker. “She went to fetch us some milk and biscuits.” Her gaze moved to meet Charlaine’s. “We need to hurry. She could be back any second.”
Charlaine felt a wide smile steal onto her face, bringing with it that wonderful feeling of weightlessness and innocent joy. Her heart beat faster, stronger and lighter somehow, and some of the colors returned to the world, whispering of possibilities yet untold.
After all, good things happened.
All the time.
Everywhere.
Chapter Three
A Life Turned Upside Down
Nathanial could not deny that leaving Boston behind did feel somewhat liberating. No longer did he see others look at him with pity, all aware of what had happened. No longer did he need to fear that his path would cross Abigail’s. No longer was he forced to continue his days as though nothing had happened.
Unfortunately, though, even England could not make him forget completely.
And for a very simple reason.
One he had foolishly not seen coming.
Descending the stairs, Nathanial proceeded down a corridor toward the breakfast parlor. In its doorway, however, his feet pulled to a sudden halt when his eyes fell on Zach and Becca seated perpendicular to one another at the breakfast table. Their hands were linked, their eyes only seeing the other as they whispered to one another like love-sick youths. Such joy stood in their eyes that Nathanial wanted to turn on his heel and leave.
The sight of them was sickening.
And painful.
Dear heavens, was it painful!
Over the past few days observing his brother and new sister-in-law, Nathanial had been forced to realize something utterly devastating. For the truth was that he could not see Abigail and himself in them. Never had they been quite like that. Never had he felt as connected to her. Never had the world stopped turning when she’d entered a room.
Not like this.
He’d loved her; Nathanial was certain of that. He still did love her for his heart still hurt as it had the day she had broken their engagement. Had she ever loved him though? If she had, would she have been able to betray him the way she had?
Nathanial could not help but wonder about all that had eluded him, all that he had not seen. In his mind, he replayed moment after moment he had shared with her, trying to glimpse signs of her true feelings. And yet, even in retrospect, he could not.