Bored of looking out the window, Hope danced onto my lap shaking Mrs. Feebs at me. “Show her how to ride with a dress.
“Sweetie, you didn’t bring your wooden horse.”
“But Pa-papa did. He always does. Where you hide it, Pa-papa?”
“Hide something? Me?” He put his hand to his waistcoat of dark, dark emerald. “Do I look like I could keep something from you?”
“He’s silly. He always does that when we go visit other mama. Where’s the horse?” Hope pointed to his top hat. “There.”
He put an index finger to his lips. “This hat? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Yes.”
He waved his hand and lifted his hat like he was a showman. “Try again, princess.”
Hope tapped her nose and wiggled in her pretty pink coat with lace at the collar. I’d braided her shoulder-length hair and pinned a proper chignon. A crown for our little princess.
“Umm. Your papers, Pa-papa.”
“No.” He fanned them. No toy, just letters that looked like they were from Mr. Mosey. Why did Daniel bring those?
“No horse,” Daniel said, and folded his arms. “I hope he hasn’t escaped.”
I laughed at his antics and he chuckled. I hadn’t seen him laugh in forever.
My daughter pointed to the compartment at the bottom of the seat.
“No. Those are where the big boys’ and girls’ toys reside. No wooden horse.”
That’s where he stashed weapons and things to ward off highwaymen, but it was a good place to hide a toy.
“Princess, try one more time.” His gaze locked with mine. “It’s always good to try again, until you win.”
Daniel knelt before us, and my heart fluttered, a slow beat that matched his blinks.
Hope bounced into his arms, and he snuggled her under his chin. His eyes, shiny and jet stayed on me. “At times, I know I don’t deserve what I have, but I am grateful. So grateful.”
He raised her high, making her soar. “One more time, Hope. Where did I hide the horse?”
“Mmmmmm.” She giggled and shook. “Pocket?”
He brought her back to my lap, his hands molding to my knee, warming the thin wool of my carriage gown. “You are correct.” He reached inside his tailcoat. The smart brass buttons jingled as he pulled out a new wooden toy. Chestnut brown with a rouge-pink saddle painted, the horse looked perfect and a match to the other two horses in her room.
Hope clapped and laughed with such glee as Daniel made horsewhinniesand trotted the toy across the seat, across my lap, and into Hope’s arms.
“Thank you, Pa-papa.”
Daniel’s rare smile bloomed. He brushed up against my legs, his hands settling close to my hips as he reached up and kissed Hope’s forehead. “Enjoy. We have a few hours to go.
He zipped backward to his seat and dove into his papers.
I played with my daughter showing her how Mrs. Feebs could balance sidesaddle. We kept at it until my moppet’s eyes grew heavy.
With her head snuggling beneath my bosom, my angel, Daniel’s princess, slept.
The carriage became quiet again like our estrangement at Finchely.
That one time we went to Covent Garden, Daniel was animated after I gave him time to relax after court. How much time did he need today?
