Shannon started to reply but Clara cut her off, shaking her head violently from side to side. “Don’t want a guvness,” she said firmly. “Mishannon’s my friend.”
“That’s right, Clara,” Shannon said easily, smiling apologetically to Molly. “I’ve never really been a governess to Clara. She has never taken to the idea, so we arrived at a decision to be friends. A very satisfactory arrangement, I might add.”
“It would seem so,” said Robert Whittaker, smiling genially at Clara from across the table. “When your Papa visited me, he said something about a pony. Are you learning to ride?”
Clara launched into an excited discussion about Rainbow while the meal was being served. Portions of venison, baked chicken, boiled potatoes sprinkled with parsley and cheese, buttered carrots and peas, and warm cornbread soon filled everyone’s plate. Clara tucked into her meal when her mother gave permission, but eating had hardly any discernible effect on her chatter. “I’m going to have a fine seat someday,” she said proudly. “Just like Mama. Papa says so.”
“Did he say that, Clara?” asked Aurora, her eyes softening as she looked down the table at Brandon.
Clara nodded. “He always tells me that, don’t you, Papa?”
“I certainly do,” he said, meeting Aurora’s gaze steadily while he continued to speak to his daughter. “Your mother is the finest horsewoman I know. You would do well to match only half her skill.”
The compliment was so unexpected that Aurora felt herself blushing. She tore her eyes away from Brandon’s and stared at her plate.
“Do you ride?” Robert inquired of Shannon.
“Not with any of my sister’s finesse,” she admitted. “There was no need for me to learn to ride at Glen Eden. I walked everywhere.”
“Glen Eden,” Molly said wistfully. “What a lovely name. Is it as beautiful as it sounds?”
“Lovely. A very small village, of course, just north of London.”
Aurora roused herself from her reverie. “Shannon’s stepfather was the vicar there.”
“The vicar?” asked Robert, raising one winged brow in interest.
“Yes,” said Shannon. “He had the living at Glen Eden until his death earlier this year.”
“Please accept our regrets at your loss,” Robert murmured.
“It was a tragic accident,” Aurora said sincerely. “But it finally permitted Shannon the opportunity to seek me out. While I had no knowledge that I had a sister, Shannon knew of me.”
Brandon looked at Aurora sharply, wondering at her game. He saw Cody and Shannon exchange puzzled glances. But as Aurora continued, it became clear, for some reason known only to her, she had no intention of divulging any of Shannon’s secrets. Almost against his will he found himself grateful to his wife.
“It was my mother’s last wish that Shannon find the family who had adopted me at birth,” Aurora went on. Shannon’s hand was lying beside her plate, and Aurora impulsively rested her hand on top, giving Shannon’s fingers a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “I thank God every day that my sister honored our mother’s request. I only regret I never knew my real mother, for Shannon has described her as a gracious and giving person.” She sighed, removing her hand from Shannon’s. “I think it is important that children grow up knowing their parents, don’t you agree?”
“Of course,” said Molly, filling a moment of uncomfortable silence.
Brandon stared darkly at his wife. “I think you will find we all share your sentiment. It is unfortunate when events separate a mother from her child, though hardly catastrophic.”
Aurora studied the muscle working in Brandon’s jaw and retreated, realizing to say more could damage the point she had worked so hard to make for the benefit of the Whittakers. She already sensed that Robert was not in favor of Brandon’s suit for divorce. If she could bring him more firmly to her side by using the natural bond of mother and daughter, she would do it. “Still,” she said, a trace of longing in her voice, “I wish that I had some remembrance of my own dear mother. My adoptive parents would not begrudge me that.”
“I had a locket,” Shannon said quietly, setting her fork down, no longer able to maintain the pretense of enjoying her food. She made an effort not to betray her inner feelings by smiling at her sister as if no tension existed between them. “It contained a miniature of our mother when she was a child. It was the only keepsake I had. I regret to say that I don’t know what’s become of it.”
Clara was edging a few recalcitrant peas onto her fork with her fingers. “I know where it is,” she said, her eyebrows drawn together as she concentrated on her food.
“You do?”
She nodded, happily putting the peas in her mouth. “I have it.” It suddenly occurred to her that perhaps she had done something wrong. Her chin began to tremble. “I thought it was mine. It has my face inside.”
“No harm’s been done,” Shannon said quickly. “I should like it very much if you would get it for me.”
“Now?”
“Yes, please.”
Clara looked at her father for permission to leave the table. When it was granted she scooted off her chair and ran to the door, which Cody gallantly opened for her.
