Will and Barbara stared at her while Donald merely appeared embarrassed.“You’re going to have another baby?”Barbara asked, her face lighting in delight.“Why, why that’swonderful.”
“Congratulations,” Will said, punching his son on the arm.
Donald beamed.“I’ve been wanting to tell you since I first saw you at the ball,” he claimed.“Nikky wouldn’t let me.”
Nicoletta dipped her head.“I have not yet told my brother norZiaArmenia.”
Donald rolled his eyes.“I am fairly sureshealready knows,” he murmured, finally rising to make his way out of the coach.He turned and helped his wife down before offering a hand to his mother.
“What makes you say that?”Barbara asked, watching Nicoletta as she hurried off towards the front door.
Glancing around to be sure no one else was within earshot, Donald said, “BecauseDonnaArmenia is the one who first told me,” he said, arching a brow.
By the time their party were all inside, the fate of Nancy’s parents was known to everyone.Barbara had already gone up to the nursery with Nicoletta, their steps quickening until they were nearly running.
“Do you think anyone has told her?”Barbara asked with worry.
“I don’t believe so,” Nicoletta replied.“I don’t think her nurse would be brave enough.”She allowed a sigh of frustration.“DonnaNancy was here only the day before yesterday, playing with Antony as if she didn’t have a care in the world.”
They slowed their approach to the nursery and glanced in to see Nancy and Antony embracing one another.
“Look who has come to see me again, Mama,” Antony said, beaming in delight.“Hello,Nonna.”He quickly bowed as Nancy held out her skirt to one side and dipped an awkward curtsy as Nicoletta and Barbara entered the room.
“Sì,” Nicoletta replied.She knelt before the girl and then noticed the nurse hovering in the doorway to the girl’s new bedroom.”Does she know?”she asked in Italian.
The nurse quickly curtsied and then shook her head.“Only that they were hurt,mia donna.We have been waiting for someone to come with news of what is to become of us.”
Before she had a chance to greet the child, Barbara inhaled softly when Nancy rushed forward, her arms wide until she collided with her skirts and embraced Barbara’s legs.“Nonna,” she said happily.
Awestruck, Nicoletta stared at the girl.“Why do you think she’s your grandmother?”she asked in Italian.
Nancy was about to answer, but Barbara had already knelt to pull the young girl into a hug.“Oh, you precious girl,” she said on a sigh.
“Nancy doesn’t have anonna,” Antony said.“I told her I would share mine,” he explained.“You,” he added.“I hope it was all right.”
“It’s perfect,” Barbara said, before kissing the girl on the side of her head.“Could you tell her you will share your grandfather as well?That is, if you’re willing?”
Antony grinned before he shared the news with Nancy.When she responded with a query that made her sound excited, Antony laughed.
“What did she ask?”Barbara questioned, her attention on her grandson.
“She wants to know ifNonnowill spin her around in circles like he does with me,” he replied.
Barbara tittered, but it was Will who answered from somewhere behind her.“Just try and stop me, young lady,” he said.With his hands at her waist, he lifted her into the air and spun her around over his head.
Nancy squealed with excitement, her laughter infectious.When both Will and she were dizzy, he lowered her until her slippered feet touched the floor.
“I shall never tire of hearing a child’s laughter,” he commented, his gaze on Barbara.
“Does that mean we can keep her?”she asked in a whisper.
He shrugged.“If no one else claims her, we’ll take her back to England with us,” he replied in a quiet voice.He turned his attention on Nicoletta.“But you do realize it means you’ll have to travel to England on occasion so these two can renew their acquaintance?”he asked, waving to Antony and Nancy.The young girl’s brown eyes were wide as she stood and stared up at him, apparently well aware she was the topic of a serious discussion even if she couldn’t understand their words.
Nicoletta allowed a watery grin.“I told Donald we could go whenever he thought he could spare the time,” she replied.
“How about every year?”Donald asked.He had joined them in the nursery, hanging back in the doorway to watch.“We stay for a month?—”
“When it is the hottest month of summer here,” Nicoletta suggested.
