The Young and the Ruined - Annabelle Anders Page 0,6

even my own, if you must return.” By then, the noise in the atrium had magnified to such a level that it was difficult to even think.

Somehow, she heard him. Her earlier blush from her distress had faded. “Thank you.”

Nell finally relaxed once she’d reached the nursery. It was nerve-wracking to discover that she’d interrupted a house party that was designed for James to find another wife. Just the thought made her heart clench into a painful knot. He still had the ability to turn her world topsy-turvy.

All she had to do was survive the next hour as her groomsmen prepared one of the duke’s carriages and transferred their luggage. Then she and Christa could be on their way and hopefully leave her memories of James Richardson behind.

She blew out a breath. That would never happen.

The nursemaid, Miss Owens, set the table so Nell and Valentina could eat. They munched on chicken and diced vegetables. For dessert, they both ate a large slice of almond cake with fresh cream.

“My lady, couldn’t you stay for a night?” Valentina lifted a miniature teacup to her doll Abigail’s lips, then wiped the doll’s mouth with a serviette that matched the play tea set.

“I need to return home, I’m afraid.” Nell couldn’t take her eyes off the little girl sitting across from her. She was delightful and full of laughter and cheer. Her earlier moodiness that she’d exhibited in front of her father had disappeared as soon as they’d left the guests behind and made their way to the nursery.

Valentina walked to Nell’s side and climbed upon her lap with Abigail in tow. “I want you to stay.”

The soft words caused Nell’s heart to melt as she wrapped her arm around Valentina’s waist and pressed a kiss upon the child’s black curls. Without a doubt, heaven was holding this child in her arms. “I wish I could. I’d like nothing more than to stay with you and play together every day.”

She closed her eyes and savored the moment. Though it was pretend, she might never come this close to being a real mother for the rest of her life.

“And Abigail?” Valentina peeked up at her through ridiculously long black lashes.

Nell couldn’t help but smile. “I would insist that Abigail share tea with us every afternoon.”

The little girl nodded with a confident assuredness of a twenty-year-old instead of a six-year-old. “I have a secret.” She hugged her doll tight. “My papa said that I could pick out a new mother from all those ladies who are visiting.”

“He did?” Nell did her best to hide her shock. “That’s quite a responsibility.”

“As soon as I saw you, I knew you were the one for us, meaning my papa and me.” Valentina giggled. “So you have to stay now. You’ll be my new mum.”

“Ahem,” a deep voice called from the doorway. “Valentina, Nurse is waiting to help you wash your hands after luncheon.”

Nell’s gaze flew to his, but James wasn’t looking at her, his attention solely devoted to his daughter.

Valentina slowly slid from Nell’s lap. Since Nell was sitting in one of the children’s chairs, it made it easy for the little girl to lean forward and kiss her cheek. “Thank you for playing with me. Most of all, thank you for being my new mum.”

“Valentina,” James admonished.

Without a look or a word that her father’s rebuke had any effect on her, the little girl strolled toward him, then stopped. “You can send those other women home now.”

“Valentina,” he practically growled. “We’ll discuss this later.”

After Valentina left the room, Nell stood from the chair. Her tongue seemed to have tied itself into knots. Good heavens. Knowing James, he’d probably think Nell had planned this whole setup. “I—I didn’t agree to that.” The heat licked at her cheeks. “We were just playing dolls.”

He stared at her without any emotion crossing his face, but the muscle twitch in the hard set of his jaw portended his displeasure.

“It wasn’t until the end she told me that you were allowing her to pick out her new mother. You have to believe me.” The palms of her hands were sweating. As unobtrusively as she could, she slowly wiped them down the front of her dress. This was beyond humiliation. He’d think she’d manipulated his daughter for her own devices. “James, say something,” she said softly.

He tilted his head to the ceiling and closed his eyes. “I have no earthly idea what I’m going to do with her.”

“Love her,” Nell answered. “That’s what she