She nodded. “Lest you forget, I knew your mother, Matt, and I adored her. She is like my Audrey in every way.”
Matthew did not know if he felt better or worse. He could only imagine his father’s reaction if he knew, a blond girl that looked exactly like his dead wife. But the thought was too overwhelming for him at the moment and he chased it away. His mind was brittle enough.
“And your husband?” he asked. “Does he know the child is not his?”
“He knows,” she said, averting her gaze. “We met after Audrey was born. I told him that my husband had died and he raised Audrey as his own. She has known no other father but him.”
Mathew could see the logic in that but it still hurt. “But she is mine.”
“In blood only, Matt.”
He did not have a good argument to that. He knew she was right but he was struggling against it. “Is… is he good to her?”
“He could not love her more if she was his own flesh. She is very much spoiled.”
Tears sprang to his eyes but he blinked them away, quickly. “She’s beautiful,” he said hoarsely. He looked up at her. “And she’s a Wellesbourne.”
Mena stood her ground. “She is a Cuthbert.”
“She’s my child.”
“She’smychild.”
His emotions were reeling, feeding his mounting frustration. “So you would keep her from me?”
“I will not disturb the only life she has ever known,” Mena said steadily. “Matt, had we not happened to contact Caroline,you still would not know about her. It was my intention that you should not because I know how you are. You are possessive. And I shall not let you take her away from me.”
He softened somewhat. “I do not want to take her away from you. But I think it only right she knows who her real father is.”
“Right for who? For you?’ Mena shook her head. “You must think of Audrey. To tell her that right now would completely disrupt her life. Is that what you want? To upset her so?”
He just sat there, thinking on her words, not wanting to admit she may be right. He reached down and picked up his helm. “Nay,” he breathed. “I would not upset her.”
Mena could see how badly he was hurting. She was hurting, too, but she was also doing what she believed best for her child.
“Perhaps I will tell her someday, Matt,” she said softly. “But not right now. She is too young. She would not understand.”
He could feel the tears and did not try to stop them. He looked up at her, his eyes brimming. “May I at least talk to her?”
Mena reached out and touched his hand; he put his big one over hers. It was simply a comforting touch of old friends. “Of course,” she said softly. “I would encourage you to. She’s a wonderful child.”
He wiped at the tears quickly, struggling to recover what was left of his shattered self-control. Mena, thankful he was calming, removed her hand.
“Your wife seems like a lovely lady,” she said, changing the subject. “She is quite kind.”
“Aye, she is,” Matthew wiped at his nose and plopped his helm back on his head. “I am very fortunate to have married her.”
Mena grinned. “Sorry to say, that is not what you thought ten years ago.”
He looked at her, sharply, but they both knew that she was correct. He broke down in a weak smile. “Indeed. But I waswrong. More wrong than you can know. She is a magnificent woman.”
“Then I wish you all of the happiness in the world,” Mena said sincerely. “May you have many Audreys in the future.”
“Now you sound like Aunt Livia.”
“Is that old bird still alive?”
“Still.”
