"Hush, hush." Cedric soothed her, stroking her hair. "We'll just have to wait."
He smiled as he handed her his handkerchief. Never in all the years he'd known her had Regina Winslow had a handkerchief when she'd needed it.
"Did Mr. Quist leave for London?" She wiped her eyes.
"Yes, and he has returned," Cedric confirmed. He frowned slightly at the disturbing news the man had brought back, but he decided not to burden Regina with it at the moment. He knew from the look in her eyes, she couldn't take any more right then. He forced back the frown and smiled gently.
"Everything will be ready when we get there."
Regina nodded, her head snapping up as Katy suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Come quick, ma'am." The girl gestured excitedly. "It's the little one!" Katy whirled back around and disappeared inside the small room. Regina flew across the tavern and up the stairs, Cedric immediately behind her.
"What is it?" Regina burst into the room, fear lining her face, her eyes wide and stricken.
"Look for yerself, ma’am." Katy pointed to the bed, where the child stirred among the heavy covers.
Crying out, Regina knelt beside the bed. Small and frail, the child weakly turned her head toward them. Her mouth opened and closed, the lips dry and cracked. One small hand reached from the covers. Regina felt her forehead. The child's skin was cool, her breathing regular and even.
"Dear God!" she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Ceddy, she's coming around." She bent over the little girl, talking in the soft, crooning voice she'd used when her son was a small child. There was the faintest trace of color on the child's cheeks, natural, healthy color, not the fiery crimson of fever.
"Sweet, sweet child." Reggie stroked the child's face, holding its small hands in her own. "I'm here, and you're safe. I love you so, and there's so much I want to share with you. Grandmother is here, Elyse."
Tiny fingers tightened around Regina's, eyelashes quivered, lips moved faintly. Then large round eyes opened slowly, searchingly. The little girl blinked once, twice, then stared at the faces looking down at her. As her confusion cleared, the pristine whites of her eyes surrounded blue so deep it was like the heather on the moors. The irises were large and black, fathomless as the ocean that had yielded her so reluctantly.
"Elyse?" Regina spoke softly not wanting to frighten her. The child had suffered a severe blow to the head, the bandage was thick and heavy. Reggie couldn't be certain Elyse's memory would be clear. She wasn't certain she wanted her to remember.
As color flooded the little girl's cheeks, her eyes darted about the room with childish curiosity. She regarded the people hovering over her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. There was no confusion or uncertainty in the depths of her crystal blue gaze. Her voice was small and breathless.
"Where is he?"
Regina's eyes glowed as she heard these first spoken words which she didn't bother to try to understand. With rapturous delight, she squeezed her granddaughter's small hands, showering kisses on her small face. For her, there had never been any doubt that this was her granddaughter.
Cedric stared in disbelief at the child. His doubts had vanished the moment she'd opened her eyes, for they were as dark and vibrant as Regina's. There was no mistaking the resemblance.
The little girl continued to stare up at them as if wondering what all the fuss was about, and her gaze traveled from her grandmother to Katy, then to Cedric.
"Where is he?" she insisted, struggling up from the coverlet.
Regina smiled uncertainly at the inquisitive child who'd fixed her with such a determined stare, but her smile faded, and she shot a stricken glance at Chatsworth. He?
It suddenly occurred to her that Elyse meant James. Regina's eyes welled with tears. Gently, she smoothed the toddler's thick, dark hair. Her fingers trembled. Anne's hair had been that same color; her father's eyes, her mother's coloring. Elyse would be a striking beauty one day. Regina gathered her granddaughter close, her heart aching.
"They're not here right now, my darling;" Reggie explained gently. There would be time to explain later, when Elyse was stronger. Right now, she couldn't be certain of how much the child comprehended of what had happened.
Elyse fought back the covers, her eyes wide, clear, determined. She glanced about the room.
"Where is he? He promised he would come back for me." Her voice was haunting, its aching melancholy tearing into their hearts. She crawled from her grandmother's grasp, heading for the edge of the bed. Tears filled Elyse's eyes as she gazed about her.
"He's been gone so long." Her small voice quavered. "And he did promise, he said he loved me and that he would come back for me."
Katy reached for the child and pulled her onto her lap, cradling her like a baby. "There, there little one. It's all right now. Don't ya be frettin'," she soothed. "He promised he'd come back, and he will. I know he will." Katy rocked the child gently back and forth.
Regina stared in mute silence at Cedric. He patted her shoulder, then firmly took her by the arm, helping her to her feet.
"You're exhausted. The child will be fine now. Come downstairs. You haven't eaten or slept in days." Cedric turned to Katy. "You'll see that the child sleeps?"
"I'll stay right 'ere with her, guv'ner. I gots me seven brothers and sisters. Me mam always said there was nothing like rockin' a wee one when they was troubled. I'll be down to get ya something to eat as soon as she dozes off."
