Page 91 of A Whisper of Desire
Maitland had muttered something about ladies interfering, but what was there for Hadley to be upset about? She was sure Hadley would be very happy to see his first love and hear her pitiful tale.
—
A few hours later, Marisa sat back and relaxed as Maitland rowed the girls and her across the pond in Hyde Park. The pond was like glass. The only ripples were from Maitland’s oars. The girls sat in the middle of the rowboat, giggling and running their fingers through the water as they leaned over opposite sides.
Both Penelope and Antonia were coping well with their mother’s “accident.” The first few nights after Priscilla’s death Marisa had slept in the girls’ room with them, but after a few weeks the tears were now flowing less often and they tried bravely to deal with their loss. Simon and Clarence helped them by talking about how they coped with losing their own mother.
Marisa wanted the boys to be honest with the girls. There was no point hiding the realities of life from them. The poverty the boys had to overcome shocked the two girls and made them realize they were luckier than most.
She and Maitland made the girls their priority over the coming weeks, spending as much time with them as possible, given their intensified hunt for the villainess.
She looked at her husband as he both rowed and conversed with Penelope. He was so handsome, especially as a smile was now permanently on his face when they were together. Penelope had the look of a Spencer, especially around the eyes. Antonia was very much like her mother, being that she had a different father.
“When can we go home to The Vyne?” Antonia suddenly asked.
Marisa smiled warily. “I’m not sure. Do you not like London?”
“I miss my friends and my pony.”
She noted the look of sadness in the wee girl’s eyes. “And your mother, I suspect?”
Antonia’s tears began to flow. “Yes. I have miniatures of her in my room at The Vyne. There are no paintings of her here. I want to see her face. I feel like I’m losing her all over again.”
Marisa looked over the little girl’s head at Maitland. They couldn’t leave just now. Not until their enemy had been dealt with.
“I promise we’ll go to The Vyne soon. Your brother has some business in London that can’t wait. How about I send a missive to The Vyne and ask then to send you the miniatures of your mother and we transport your ponies here too?”
Antonia’s tears dried and a smile returned. “Would you? Thank you,” she said, and sighed.
Out of the blue, Penelope asked, “Maitland is our brother. What does that make you?”
“I’m Auntie Marisa.” Because of De Palma, she was destined to only ever be an aunt. Her stomach clenched and she saw the sadness flicker in Maitland’s eyes.
They had explained to the girls that they would live with them. They were Maitland’s sisters and his family.
“What will happen when you have children of your own? Will we be forgotten?” Penelope asked anxiously, looking between Maitland and her.
Marisa couldn’t help it. Her hand went to her stomach. “The accident I had means I cannot have children. You are my family,” she said softly.
The two little girls looked at her and then at Maitland, who had stopped rowing.
Antonia, being the eldest, understood what this meant. “But you won’t have a son.” She looked at her brother. “Mother always said you needed a son to pass the title to.”
“Passing on a title means little if you lose the one you love,” Maitland explained. “I almost lost Marisa, and that would have devastated me more than not being able to have a son.”
Marisa couldn’t help it. Her eyes began to fill with tears at the love and emotion evident in his words.
Antonia clambered over the seat to sit next to her. She put her arms around her waist. “You can’t have children, and we have no mother.” She stayed silent for a moment, hugging Marisa tightly. “We are perfect for each other. We can pretend that you are our new mother and you can pretend we are your children. Then all of us won’t be so sad.”
Marisa kissed the top of Antonia’s head. “I’d like that, if you are sure?” She looked at Penelope.
Penelope beamed a smile. “Mother would like that too. She wouldn’t want us lonely, or you either. She loved us all too much to see any of us so sad.”
Maitland started rowing again. “You’re quite right, Penelope. Priscilla had a generous heart and wanted what was best for you and me. She would be proud of both of you.”
Once back on dry land, the girls skipped ahead as they walked back through the park.
“Are you all right?” Maitland asked. “You’re very quiet.” He patted her hand where it rested on his arm.
