Marcus wasn’t surprised.His aunt, unhappily childless her whole life, hid, under her brusque manner, a fondness for children that few people knew about.He remembered her doing much the same when his half-brother Harry had arrived with his wife’s daughter, little Torie, dressed in nothing but a pillow slip.
With a critical expression, Lady Gosforth watched them go.“That maid will have to be outfitted properly too.Can’t have the child’s nursemaid looking so shabby.”
#
MARCUS WAS SEATED INthe morning room with his aunt.He had just finished explaining how they had discovered Flora.
“She eyed him cynically.“So that’s what you’re claiming, is it?That the child is Tessa’s niece.Her late brother’s child?Hislegitimatechild?”
Marcus said mildly, “Yes, though we intend to raise her as our daughter.”
The old lady gave a scornful snort and arched one finely plucked eyebrow.“You expect me to swallow such a farrago of nonsense?”
Damn her sharp, suspicious mind.He was on shaky ground here, but he had no intention of failing at the first fence.He raised his own, much thicker brow and said stiffly, “You doubt—?”
“A farrago of nonsense?”Tessa sailed into the room.“I expect you are an expert on that, given the farrago of nonsenseyouspread about Marcus and me before our marriage.”She folded her arms and faced Lady Gosforth, a militant light in her eyes.
The old lady shrugged.“I have no idea what—”
Tessa cut her off with a sharp gesture.“Piffle!You know exactly what I’m talking about, so don’t try to deny it.We know all about it, don’t we Marcus?”
Marcus, deciding Tessa was well able to handle his aunt by herself, merely nodded in agreement.
The old lady pouted.“Well, what of it?It worked, didn’t it?You two would never have married otherwise, hiver-havering around as you were.You needed a nudge.And look at the two of you now, smelling of April and May!”
“You have no idea what we might or might not have done.Yes, we are happy now,” Tessa admitted, “but you weren’t to know that.”She glared at the old lady.
The old lady glared back.
There was a short, tense silence.
After a minute, Tessa gave a meaningful glance at Marcus, slipped her arm through his and said, “Wewereplanning to ask you to become Flora’s godmother, but if you refuse to acknowledge her...”
The old lady’s brows snapped together.She sat up.“Godmother?You wantmeto be that child’s godmother?”
Marcus pressed his lips together to hide a smile.They hadn’t discussed it, but it was a master stroke.It was a sore point with his aunt that none of her nephews had invited her to be godmother to any of their children.
“Wedid,” Tessa told her.“But since you’re claiming our miraculous discovery of Flora isa farrago of nonsense...”
Wearing his best serious expression Marcus nodded wisely.
His aunt made a dismissive gesture.“Oh pish tush, how you do take one up, gel.It’s an extraordinary tale, I admit, but as we all know, truth can be stranger than fiction.”She glanced at Tessa’s adamant expression and added, “And miracles do happen, after all.”She turned to Marcus.“Besides, who am I to doubt the word of the head of the family?So, yes, I would be delighted to sponsor the child.”
Tessa glanced at Marcus, then eyed the old lady thoughtfully.“I’m not so sure anymore.If we thought you might cast aspersions on the story of how we found Flora ...”
Again Marcus nodded solemnly.He was enjoying this hugely.It wasn’t often anyone got the better of his aunt.
“Cast aspersions?I?What nonsense!”the old lady said indignantly.“I’ve never cast an aspersion in my life!”
Marcus choked, and tried to turn it into a cough.
“Because we would beveryunhappy if unpleasant rumors were to spread,” Tessa continued.“Would you undertake to ensure that didn’t happen, Lady Gosforth?”Her expression hardened and she added in the sweetest voice, “Because weknowhow skilled you are at handling gossip and rumors.Aren’t you?”
Lady Gosforth gave her a haughty stare.“No shadow of doubt will fall on my goddaughter, I assure you.”
“Nobody would dare,” Marcus murmured.
His aunt shot him a basilisk look.“As long as you don’t continue to dress her in rags!”
