She lifted a hand and covered her mouth in astonishment. “How terrible.”
“Yes, it was. I shall never forget it.” He turned back to her. “It is because of her that I vowed I would not treat any woman in my life with such little respect. Her horse was valued more than she was. If you were mine, I would make sure you were dressed in silks and satins and covered in jewels.” His eyes flashed. “Perhaps only that.”
He was rewarded with a slight blush on her cheeks. “I admit that you are very persuasive, sir.”
“I am resolute when it’s something that I want. And what I want, Ada Givens, is you.”
For a moment, the only thing between them was the light late spring breeze. He started to lean toward her, and she answered the call by swaying toward him.
“It’s not moving!”
They broke apart as Arabella rushed over to them with the butterfly in her palm. She had finally caught it. But her grip must have been too tight, because he could tell that the reason it wasn’t moving was because it was dead.
“Mr. Clarke, make it fly again.”
Brandt shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, Bella, but I can’t.”
“Why not?” she demanded.
It was Ada who stepped in. “Sweeting, it has passed on. Do you understand what that means?”
For a moment, her young eyes filled with tears, and then she nodded. “It means that my mama is gone.”
“I’m afraid that’s true,” Ada said. She reached out and touched the wing of the butterfly. “The same has happened to this.”
Arabella gasped, her eyes opening wide in shock. “It’s dead?” Her lower lip trembled. “I killed it? Just like I did Mama?”
Brandt jerked. It was the first time he’d heard Arabella speak of her mother in such a fashion. Ada reached out and grasped her small shoulders. “You did no such thing. Your mother passed on because it was her time to go. Just as it was time for this butterfly to fly to a new home.”
“But why did they have to leave?” she demanded. “Did they not love me?”
“Of course, they did,” Ada’s voice was firm, but still gentle. “They just needed to rest. Neither your mama, nor this butterfly, wanted to leave you, but they were tired. So very weary. Don’t you think it is best that they are finally able to sleep?” When she didn’t answer, Ada added, “My husband had to sleep too. Did you know that?”
Arabella lifted her bright, blue eyes and Brandt’s chest ached with the moisture he saw there, just ready to tumble down her cheeks. “Do you think he’s with my mama and the butterfly?”
Ada nodded. “I would say with every certainty that they are all together. And someday, we shall see them again. Until then, we shall have to content ourselves by seeing them at night when we sleep. Do you ever dream of your mama?”
“Sometimes,” she admitted softly.
“Then that is her way of saying she is with you, watching over you each night, just like an angel.”
Arabella paused. “I like that my mama is an angel.”
“And I like knowing that my husband is one too.” Ada held out her hand. “If you come with me, we can bury this butterfly so that it can have new wings someday.”
“And be an angel?” she asked with wide-eyed innocence.
Ada smiled. “I think that sounds like a brilliant idea.”
As they walked off together, Brandt realized that some of his guilt over Heba’s death had lessened somewhat. The tightness in his chest that had been present since her death had eased, and it was all due to Ada and her sweet interpretation of death.
Now, more than ever, he was determined to marry her. She wasn’t only perfect for his daughter, but she made him a better man too.
Ada was grateful that Mr. Clarke didn’t seem to judge her after she’d explained her sordid story to him. And she was equally thankful that he had shared something of his past as well. It didn’t make her feel as… lost and alone knowing that he also dealt with the heavy weight of guilt. A deeper sense of connection was forming between them, as if they were two kindred spirits sent to each other for a purpose. Although she wasn’t convinced that it was anything romantic, she began to wonder if it wasn’t for Arabella’s sake. It was obvious the girl was in need of nurturing, and Lady Effington couldn’t be counted upon to be with the girl every minute of the day. Ada, on the other hand, had nothing but time on her hands. Who was she to ignore the desperate cries of this child who had lost so much already?
After they had carefully buried the butterfly in the garden and said a few words in remembrance, she had taken Arabella’s hand. “I do believe that Mr. Clarke has agreed to take us for a sweet ice today, hasn’t he?”
The girl shrugged and stared at the ground. “I guess so.”
