tell you something you probably don’t know about me. I had a kid once, and if she was alive she’d be your age, maybe a year older. So sometimes when I tell you things, they’re things I didn’t get a chance to tell her.”
Betsy was silent a moment. “Do I look like her?”
“No.”
On tiptoes she spun slowly around on the swing, winding herself up, making the chains twist and tighten above her head. Then she lifted her feet and let the chains spin her a little dizzy, one way and then the other, until they settled her to equilibrium again.
“Are you going to move into our house?”
“What? Why would I do that? Separate bedrooms, separate bathrooms, separate music collections, and yet right next door? It’s perfect as it is.”
“Here she comes,” Betsy said.
“Can I tell her we patched things up?”
“No.”
When Meghan reached them she was out of breath, and leaned on one of Derek’s chains for support. “I knew I’d find you here,” she said.
“We haven’t patched things up,” Betsy told her.
“Do you know how happy I am to see you?” Meghan asked, and then her body trembled, and she began to cry. Derek made no move to comfort her, thinking it better to leave it to Betsy. Reluctantly, the girl got off her swing and put her arms around her mother from behind.
“I’m not supposed to be hugging you,” she said. “I’m supposed to be mad at you.”
“Be anything, darling,” Meghan answered, wiping at her tears. She turned to face Betsy. “Just be what you want.”
“Derek had a daughter,” Betsy said.
“I know that.”
“Everybody knows everything but me.”
“That’s how it is when you’re ten,” Derek said. “I know it hurts, but really, it’s a blessing.”
“No it isn’t,” she said adamantly. “I want to know everything.”
45
As he did every morning, Thomas on waking and dressing went straightaway to Daphne’s bedchamber. He found her in good health and high spirits, looking out from her window with her maidservant Beth so as to catch a glimpse of the young men in martial training in the courtyard below. The wound in her arm where the surgeon used to bleed her daily had healed so well it no longer required a dressing, and without it there was nothing to indicate she was anything but a vibrant young girl. “Don’t you get any ideas about those boys,” he chided her. “There’s none worthy of you among that rabble. I’m going to find you a proper young nobleman, perhaps the son of a Duke or a Prince, or even a foreign King if you’re lucky.”
“But I want to marry for love, as you did with mother,” Daphne protested.
“Your mother and I married to cement a negotiated union of two families, two bloodlines,” Thomas corrected her. “We found love, after we were married, which is the greatest blessing God can give, and we were very grateful for it.”
“I hope I find love,” Daphne murmured.
“Don’t start looking for it until I’ve presented you to your husband.”
“Make sure he’s handsome, then.”
“Oh for certain he will be. Handsome, rich, strong, brave and true—I would accept nothing less for my one and only daughter. Now, not to change the subject entirely, on a matter related to marriage, I have something to discuss with you.”
With a small gesture he dismissed the maidservant. When they were alone Daphne said, “This must be very serious, or else I’m grown up now. I don’t think you’ve ever cleared the room to speak to me.”
“Yes, well. What I have to say should be kept secret for now. You are growing up, and you’ve reached an age where for certain decisions in life I might seek your council, or approval, or help. I’ve been thinking about Lady Sylvanne—”
“You want to marry her!” Daphne shrieked. Thomas winced and glanced toward the door.
“Shush, you silly girl!”
“Do you or don’t you?” She could barely contain herself.
“I do.”
“Well then go ask her!” Daphne said excitedly.
“It’s not so simple as that.”
“Why not?”
“Well, first of all, I’m not sure exactly how the question is asked, when it’s not arranged between families. And secondly, I don’t want it to come as a shock to her, I want to give her a little time to consider the question before I ask. I only want to ask if I’m certain she’ll say yes.”
“Daddy. You have your pride, is that it?”
“I suppose that’s what it is.”
“I know she’ll say yes.”
“Well I want to be sure. And that’s where you come in. I want you to find out what