Page 97 of Hearts Aweigh
His unruffled demeanor evaporated. “You’re not staying here!”
A gleam entered her eye. “Where better to spend time with my precious family?”
“We’re no longer family,” he ground out. “You haven’t so much as called Madeleine since she moved to New Orleans.”
“I made sure a fabulous present was waiting at the house when you took her home.” Priscilla crouched to Maddie’s height. “Did you like the doll Mommy sent you, darling?”
Maddie nodded, adoration on her face.
“Marvelous. But …” Priscilla took stock of the little girl. “I’m not sure what you’ve been doing to my daughter, Spencer.” She smoothed Maddie’s disheveled hair and fingered the stained collar. “Have you been dressing Madeleine yourself? A decent governess wouldn’t let her leave the bedroom this way.”
Abby!Spencer’s eyes shifted to the table. In the shock of seeing his ex-wife, he’d forgotten all about the nanny. She must have heard the entire exchange.
Maddie pointed to the dining area. “My nanny is hiding.”
“Hiding?” Priscilla straightened. “Dear me, Spencer. I hope you aren’t mistreating the staff.”
Maddie skipped to the table and ducked her head to peer underneath. “Abby!” She clapped. “I found you.”
The chair legs squawked against the tile as Abby emerged. She crawled out and stood, tucking her polo shirt into the waistband of her khaki shorts. “I apologize, sir. I didn’t mean to … to intrude on family time.”
Family time? Even during their marriage, Priscilla and he had never been a family. He might have objected, but Priscilla spoke first.
“An employee under the table.” Her laughter pealed. “How unconventional. But I’m glad you’ve hired someone to care for our daughter on your vacation.” Her eyes narrowed. “Her uniform tells me she must be temporary. Which explains Madeleine’s unkempt appearance.” She flicked a dismissive hand. “Please help her tidy up, Miss—”
“O’Brien,” Abby said. “I’ll help Maddie change.”
“Maddie?” Priscilla’s lip curled. “How quaint. Yes, please helpMadeleinechange into a more presentable outfit.”
Maddie grabbed Abby’s hand and swung their arms back and forth as they made their way to the stairs. She giggled, not in the least concerned she was leaving her mother behind.
On closer inspection, Spencer realized the black outfit Priscilla wore was a flight suit. It suggested she’d made use of the Rothschild connections to find her way to the ship and discover his room number. “What are you doing here?”
She motioned to her apparel. “Don’t you find it the slightest bit touching I commandeered a helicopter to come see you and Madeleine?”
“I would if that were your only motive, but somehow I doubt it.”
She took in the surroundings. “I need to touch up my lipstick. Where’s the bedroom?”
He drew himself tall. “You arenotstaying here.”
“Don’t be so fussy. I’m just teasing you.” She tapped him on the arm. “I reserved my own suite, and let me tell you, it wasn’t easy to do at the last minute. But I want to spend time with Madeleine first. Perhaps we three can have dinner together.”
“Not until you answer me. What are you doing here?”
She stuck her right hand in a pocket. “I’m sure you’ve heard I’m running for office in New York.”
“It surprised me. Don’t you have to be a resident for five years to qualify?”
“Legally, I never transferred to Louisiana. Since I kept an apartment in New York, the state still considers me a resident. I even filed my taxes there.”
The information pricked Spencer. After all this time, it shouldn’t matter. But it did.
“That explains why you always insisted on filing separate forms. I suppose you had an exit plan from the beginning.”
A flicker of hurt, so small he almost missed it, crossed her face.
“That isn’t fair,” Priscilla murmured. “I was raised in a politician’s home. You knew it was my world. When you and I married, your father promised me your political career was in the near future.”
