“Lillian?” she whispered.
In the next moment she found herself in her sister’s loving arms.
Chapter Nineteen
“Theodosia,” Lillian murmured, holding Theodosiatightly. “Oh, my sweet little sister, you’ve no notion how happy I am at this moment.”
The familiar scent of lemon verbena and love flowing around her, Theodosia took great comfort in her older sister’s embrace. She sighed with exhaustion and with relief, then blew a kiss to Upton, who stood behind Lillian.
“Lillian, if you do not mind,” Upton said, tapping Lillian’s arm. When she moved away, he too embraced Theodosia. “We have missed you, my dear. Missed you terribly.”
“As I have you,” Theodosia whispered, deeply soothed by Upton’s loving hug.
He released her, smiled into her big brown eyes, and cupped her cheeks. “I suppose you are wondering why we are here?”
“We came to wait for you,” Lillian explained. She took Theodosia’s hand and led her into the house.
The same sparse furnishings remained in the front room, Theodosia noted, but gone were the books, microscopes, and other scientific equipment.
“He’s gone,” Lillian announced when she saw Theodosia looking around the room. “That’s why we’re here. We received a letter from Dr. Wallaby a little over two months ago. His research funding had arrived, and he was about to set sail for Brazil. He said you would be returning to Templeton as soon as you had concluded your studies of southern speech and that he regretted not being here when you arrived. His letter ended with his assurance that he would eagerly await you in Brazil.”
Upton brought Theodosia’s things into the house and shut the door. “The thought of you returning to Templeton and finding this house empty disturbed us, especially since we had no way of knowing if your escort, Roman Montana, would remain with you. Your letters and wires arrived regularly for a period of time but then became few and far between. Out of worry, we decided to come and wait for you here.”
Guilt seized Theodosia. “I’m sorry,” she squeaked. “But Roman and I—we—there were long stretches of time when we were not near any towns. I could not write—”
“Don’t trouble yourself a moment longer,” Lillian scolded gently. “The important thing is that you are safe and with us again.” Impulsively, she gave Theodosia another hug. “Besides, we only arrived two weeks ago and have not been waiting for you so very long, darling.”
John the Baptist squawked loudly. “If it weren’t for nightgowns gittin’ pulled up and seed gittin’ spilt, there wouldn’t be no people in the world,” he said.
Theodosia stifled a gasp.
“Why’s a Yankee bird singing the Confederate anthem, anyway?” the parrot continued. “Tark, y’see, is Krat spelled back’ards.”
Lillian and Upton stared at the parrot.
The bird pecked at the door of his cage. “How do. I’m Oble Smott. You don’t put that kind of doll behind a glass case and stare at her.”
Upton nodded in sudden comprehension. “I take it John the Baptist has heard a great deal of the digressive discourse common to the people here.”
“What?” Theodosia whispered. “Oh. Yes. Yes, Upton, he has been in the company of many people given to oral meandering.”
“And did you enjoy your research concerning the patterns of southern speech, my dear?” Upton asked. “I assume you made a great many notes concerning the subject, and I must say that I am extraordinarily interested in seeing them. How I have missed our discussions, Theodosia.”
“I—”
“How did you come to possess such interest in the speech patterns of the people here?” Upton pressed. “You failed to mention your reasons in your letters. Lillian and I decided that perhaps your escort, Roman Montana, spoke in such a manner. Where is Mr. Montana, by the way?”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Upton,” Lillian chided. “You are barely giving our poor Theodosia time to think about one question before asking her another. Later you will have plenty of time to study her notes concerning digressive discourse. As for you, Theodosia, you look very tired. Your eyes are red as well.”
Theodosia was as yet unprepared to relate her story to Lillian and Upton. Her pain remained too raw, and she knew her tears would deeply upset them.
Soon, she thought. Very soon she would tell them about the child she’d conceived for them.
Bowing her head, she pretended to brush dust from the front of her gown. In actuality, however, she only wanted to feel the special place where the child dwelled. As her hand brushed past her lower abdomen, she swore she could feel Roman’s presence.
“Then don’t do anything, Theodosia,” John the Baptist said, splashing water. “Just be with me for a while.”
The parrot’s reminder of what Roman had once said to her forced Theodosia to blink back tears.
