Page 140 of Harpy of the Ton
She shook her head. “It matters not. There’s nothing of mine in the cottage. At least, nothing I care to take home.”
Jonathan let out a wail, and Roberta took him into her arms.
“Mama!” William said. “Don’t go!” He ran toward her, but the footman caught his arm, yanking him back. William gave a cry of pain, and Lawrence charged forward.
“Keep your filthy hands off my son!”
The footman let out a laugh, then released William, pushing him aside.
“Papa—please stop her from leaving!” the boy said.
“There’s nothin’ I can do, lad, if she’s wantin’ to leave us.”
For a moment, Bella looked as if she was going to wrench free of Dunton’s grip and rush toward the children, arms outstretched, professing her love for them. Then she turned away, and Dunton led her toward the carriage, pushed her inside, then climbed in.
The footman closed the carriage door then clambered onto the back. With a crack of his whip, the driver set the horses in motion.
“Papa!” Roberta cried. “M-make them stop—please!”
Jonathan wriggled free from Lawrence’s arms and chased after the carriage. “Mama!” His screams of anguish ripped through the air and tore at Lawrence’s heart. “You said you’d stay forever. You said mothers never leave their children!”
The driver cracked his whip again, and the carriage gained speed. Jonathan tripped and tumbled to the ground, shaking with sobs.
“Jonathan!” Lawrence ran to him and tried to scoop him up, but his son pushed him back.
“No, Papa! It’syourfault!”
“Jonathan, I—”
“Bobby!” the child wailed, and Roberta ran over then embraced him, stroking his hair, as Bella had done. William joined her, and the three children sat in the middle of the lane, comforting each other.
“Children, I—”
“Go away!” Roberta said. “We don’t want you—we want Mama.”
“She’s not your mother,” Lawrence said. “She never was.”
“Yes, she was,” William replied. “Andwelove her, even if you don’t!”
“I do love her,” Lawrence said. “I love her more than anything.”
“But n-not enough,” Roberta said. “If you loved her enough, she would have stayed with us.”
“Mama!” Jonathan let out another wail.
“Come on, Jonny,” William said, “let’s get you inside. Roberta and I can make you some hot chocolate, just like Mama did.”
Between them, the twins helped their brother up. Roberta brushed the dust from his breeches, William took his arm, and they led him inside without even a backward glance.
Chapter Forty-One
Bella leaned backin the carriage, willing her headache to subside. But the pain only worsened as a cacophony of images and memories crashed into her mind.
A high-pitched scream of anguish cut through the memories, and she snapped her eyes open. Through the window, the trees whipped past as the carriage gathered speed. Then the voice screamed again.
“You said mothers never leave their children!”
She sat up and leaned toward the window. “Jonathan!”
