Page 29 of The Virgin Who Vindicated Lord Darlington
Cecilia was singing to her. Gideon pressed an ear to the door, his chest aching at the sound of her low, sweet voice. He couldn’t make out her song—something about a pale-faced visage and the darts of death. His lips quirked. Not a lullaby, then, but Isabella didn’t seem to mind, because she waslaughing.
He rested his forehead against the door, gratitude swelling inside him. He hadn’t heard Isabella laugh like that since Cassandra died. He’d begun to wonder if she everwouldlaugh like that again, or if the loss had stolen her laughter, and scarred her in ways Gideon didn’tyet understand.
“If Death commands the King to leave his crown, He at my feet must lay his scepter down—oh, dear.” Cecilia interrupted herself with a sigh. “This isn’t a proper song for you at all, is it,Isabella? I seemed destined to fail you in that regard.”
“What does the king do?”Isabellaasked, utterly unconcernedwith propriety.
“He hasn’t any choice, has he? He turns over his crown and scepter, just as death commands him to do.”
“What’s a scepter?”
“It’s a long stick made especially for a king from gold and jewels, just as a king’s crown is.”
“It is like Uncle Gideon’swalking stick?”
“Not quite the same. A marquess isn’t a king, but I imagine your uncle has a very finewalking stick.”
Gideon chuckled, then slid the door open as quietly as he could, curious to see this little tableau for himself. He leaned a hip against the door frame, taking in the scene before him.
Cecilia was seated in the rocking chair besideIsabella’s bed, her back to Gideon.His niecewas enthroned on her lap like a tiny princess, plucking at a fold of her skirts. “I wish I couldhave a crown.”
“Well, of course, you do. Who wouldn’t like to have a golden crown? I daresay it would be easy enough to make you one with a bit of gilt paper. Perhaps we could…that is, perhaps Miss Amy could helpyou make one.”
Isabelladidn’t notice the way Cecilia faltered. She let out a little squeal of glee at the promise of a golden crown, wriggling with delight, her face alight with anticipation.
“Now, shall we see what happens to our king? I believe the fatal wounds and the yielding and dying part are next. Perhaps we should skip those, hmm?” Cecilia caught hold of one ofIsabella’s hands and pressed a kiss to her palm. “What say you, madam?”
“No!”Isabella’s bottom lip poked out. “I want to hear thekilling parts.”
“You really should only hear songs about spring posies and such. They’re much more to a child’s taste than songs about death. That’s just as it should be, but I’m afraid I don’t recall any of those.” Cecilia’s tone was a little wistful, but Gideon heard a smile in her voice. “There was one about lavender,I think, but—”
“‘Lavender’s Blue.’” Gideon could have stayed quietly by the door all day watching them, but it felt underhanded to him, as if he were eavesdropping. “‘Lavender’s blue, Lavender’s green/can we fix the spacing here?When I am king, you shall be queen.’ Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten thatone, Cecilia?”
She jumped at the sound of his voice, then glanced over her shoulder. Her smile faded when she saw him. “Lord Darlington.”
“Good morning, Cecilia. I expected you to be downstairs by now.” Gideon strolled into the room, his lips quirking in a grin whenIsabellalet out a little cry of welcome. “Hello,Isabella.”
“Isabella, go and fetch Amy, won’t you? She’s downstairs.” Cecilia liftedIsabellaoff her lap and set her down on the floor. “Mrs. Briggs said Cook was making almond cakes today.”
“The little cakes with the sugar on top?”Isabellaclapped her hands together, then raced to the door and skipped down the hallway, calling Amy’s name as she went.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Cecilia rose from the rocking chair and faced Gideon, her brows lowered. “About my departure, my lord. You’re making a dreadful mistake, sending me away from Darlington Castle.”
Gideon arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“Yes.” Cecilia raised her chin. “I’ve given it a good deal of thought, and I feel obligated to say I think it’s remarkably short-sighted of youto dismiss me.”
Gideon took in her flashing dark eyes, and all at once he wanted to capture that stubborn chin in his hand and hold her still so he could lose himself in those eyes, even if only for a moment. “I wasn’t aware the matter was negotiable,” he said instead, clearing his throat.
“No, I didn’t suppose you were. I daresay it wasn’t negotiable last night, what with you being in such an unreasonable temper, but I had hopes you’d come to your senses bythis morning.”
Gideon’s fingers flexed. The urge to touch her was overwhelming, but he kept his arms at his sides. He’d already decided he couldn’t dispense with the services of anyone who made his niece burst into such glorious laughter, but he didn’t say so yet. “And if I haven’t come to my senses, but instead have come to see you deposited in my carriage and taken away, what then, Cecilia? How will you change my mind?”
He stepped closer, expecting her to step back, but she stayed right where she was, glowering up at him. She was all outraged defiance, but Gideon could see that underneath her bravado, she was nervous. Still, that obstinate chin hitched another notch higher. “As to that, Lord Darlington, I don’t suppose I can change your mind, but before I leave, allow me to give you apiece ofmine.”
To Gideon’s surprise, a laugh crept to his lips. It was part amusement and part incredulity, but as impressed as he was with her bravery, he couldn’t allow his housemaid to lecture him. “There’s no need for you to—”
“On the contrary, my lord, there’s every need. First of all, you called me a liar last night. Well, I won’t permit it. I’m no liar, Lord Darlington, and I won’t allow you to call me one, even if you are a marquess.”
