“Woe be to us,” Judith muttered.
Mark tilted his head as he looked at her. “Indeed. And that attitude is precisely why I invited you as well.” He looked down at William. “You were a surprise but are welcome.”
“But you are still not a doctor?”
Mark blinked, and Judith suddenly realized neither of them had actually answered his question. She stroked William’s hair. “No. He is not a doctor.”
“But he helped you.”
“He did.”
Mark smeared a hand across his lips as the other three Rydells looked puzzled. Further commentary, however, stalled when the door opened to reveal an older woman in a loose and plain green gown and the most beautiful young girl Judith hadever seen. Dark curls had been coiffed into tight ringlets held in place by a plethora of blue ribbons, which matched the slip beneath her white gown, a miniature of a woman’s ballgown, revealing an intimation of the beautiful woman she would become. Enormous blue eyes scanned the room as her focus moved from one person to another, finally settling on William. Her face lit as she spotted him, and she took a step forward, only to have the older woman put a hand on the girl’s shoulder, holding her back.
Phyllida gasped, one hand covering her mouth. Matthew looked from the girl to his brother several times before his gravelly words echoed what everyone seemed to be thinking.
“It is rather obvious who her father is, is it not?”
Phyllida whispered, “She is Daphne made over.”
The girl looked up at Mark. “Who is Daphne?”
“My sister.”
“There are more of you?”
“A lot more.”
The girl grinned. “Good!”
Mark touched her shoulder but looked at the others. “May I present Mrs. Rose Ashley and Miss Olivia... Ashley.”
His hesitation before saying the girl’s last name told Judith that “Ashley” would not be her surname for much longer. And his face softened as he gazed down at her, his eyes becoming moist.
“Never thought I would see that.”
They all turned to Matthew, who shrugged. “That’s the way Father used to look at Daphne.” He squatted and held out his hand. “I am pleased to meet you, Miss Ashley. I am Matthew Rydell.”
Rose released her, and Olivia went to him, her small hand slipping into his. “The same, sir.” She looked around at Rose,who nodded, motioning her encouragement with a flick of her hand.
When Matthew lifted her hand to kiss the back of it, the girl’s mouth opened in a quietO. She did not move until Sarah bent and introduced herself, as did Phyllida. Olivia then stopped in front of William, who did not say a word.
“Who are you?”
William simply stared.
Judith leaned over. “I am Judith Lovelace, and this is my son, William.”
“Are you family too?”
“No,” Judith said, nudging William, who resisted.
“Not yet,” muttered Matthew, earning another squeezed forearm from Sarah.
“How old are you?”
At William’s continued silence, Judith murmured, “He is four.”
Olivia nodded, her ringlets bouncing. “Do you have a rocking horse? I have a rocking horse. It is brand new. Would you like to see it?”
