mistresses, his liaisons. Even though it hurt, knotted her stomach, she’d never been able to ignore the obvious. But to discover Gabe could be so careless, so reckless in his behavior that he had gotten a woman with child, might be too much to take in.
On the other hand, it would be more devastating to learn he loved Phoebe’s mother. If his heart was filled with affection for another, could he ever come to love her?
She assumed the child stayed in the nursery, so she’d had her maid discreetly inquire as to its whereabouts. Hoping she didn’t meet Gabe, Elizabeth continued down the expansive hall to the far wing of the house. Apprehension crept up her back as she slowly made her way to the second door on the left.
Not sure what she’d find, she peered through the crack of the door left slightly open. Blast. The opening was too small to distinguish anything. She took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock.
Before her hand connected with the wood, she paused. Was she prepared for what was inside? Her hand still hovered before the door when it opened.
At first the room appeared empty besides the highly polished miniature furniture that was clearly new . . . until she shifted her gaze down. Down to the small child looking at her with eyes so blue Elizabeth could have been gazing into the deepest of sapphires. Surrounding the beautiful eyes was the most angelic face, topped with raven curls that fell in adorable disarray instead of perfect ringlets. Besides the blue of her eyes, the child’s features were a miniature version of Gabe’s.
Elizabeth’s heart squeezed. There was no denying he’d fathered this lovely child.
As the child kept a wary eye on her, Elizabeth glanced around the room, aglow with the afternoon light. A few toys sat amongst the various furnishings. Other than the basics, the room was void of any personal touches. Nothing that created any extra comfort. She also realized the child was alone. No housekeeper, no maid, no one. She might not be an expert on children, but she knew enough to understand one Phoebe’s age shouldn’t be left unattended. Not in a house the size of Gabe’s.
Unwilling to leave the child on her own, she decided to stay until someone came along.
She crouched to the little girl’s level. Being face to face with Phoebe only heightened the similarities between her and Gabe.
“Hello.” She smiled at the child. “I’m Elizabeth, but you may call me Lizzy. Are you Phoebe?”
She didn’t respond. Instead she continued to peer at Elizabeth as if debating to trust the stranger standing before her. Elizabeth kept quiet under the scrutiny. Finally, Phoebe gave a slight nod of her head, all the while keeping her eyes trained on Elizabeth.
“Do you have anyone to play with?”
The dark head gave an even slighter shake.
“Well, I don’t have anyone to play with, either. May I play with you?”
The child contemplated for a moment and the prospect of a playmate must have won out, for she bobbed her head in concession.
“Why, thank you.”
Her offer to play must have appeased Phoebe’s concerns, because suddenly, gone was the cautious child that had opened the door.
All settled, Phoebe turned into the room. She took a few steps then peeked over her shoulder and gave a timid smile. “Are you coming?” She didn’t wait for a reply. Instead she toddled to two dolls positioned on a rug in the center of the room, then sat.
One smile. One innocent, baby-toothed smile and Elizabeth felt her reservations disappear.
Phoebe held out one of the dolls to Elizabeth, still standing by the doorway. “You can play with Victoria.”
Understanding an invitation when presented with one, Elizabeth crossed the floor and took a seat on the rug before lifting the doll from Phoebe’s outstretched hand. “Thank you. And what is your doll’s name?”
“Jacqueline.”
“That is a pretty name. But not as pretty as Phoebe.”
As the child kept her focus on her doll, Elizabeth
On the other hand, it would be more devastating to learn he loved Phoebe’s mother. If his heart was filled with affection for another, could he ever come to love her?
She assumed the child stayed in the nursery, so she’d had her maid discreetly inquire as to its whereabouts. Hoping she didn’t meet Gabe, Elizabeth continued down the expansive hall to the far wing of the house. Apprehension crept up her back as she slowly made her way to the second door on the left.
Not sure what she’d find, she peered through the crack of the door left slightly open. Blast. The opening was too small to distinguish anything. She took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock.
Before her hand connected with the wood, she paused. Was she prepared for what was inside? Her hand still hovered before the door when it opened.
At first the room appeared empty besides the highly polished miniature furniture that was clearly new . . . until she shifted her gaze down. Down to the small child looking at her with eyes so blue Elizabeth could have been gazing into the deepest of sapphires. Surrounding the beautiful eyes was the most angelic face, topped with raven curls that fell in adorable disarray instead of perfect ringlets. Besides the blue of her eyes, the child’s features were a miniature version of Gabe’s.
Elizabeth’s heart squeezed. There was no denying he’d fathered this lovely child.
As the child kept a wary eye on her, Elizabeth glanced around the room, aglow with the afternoon light. A few toys sat amongst the various furnishings. Other than the basics, the room was void of any personal touches. Nothing that created any extra comfort. She also realized the child was alone. No housekeeper, no maid, no one. She might not be an expert on children, but she knew enough to understand one Phoebe’s age shouldn’t be left unattended. Not in a house the size of Gabe’s.
Unwilling to leave the child on her own, she decided to stay until someone came along.
She crouched to the little girl’s level. Being face to face with Phoebe only heightened the similarities between her and Gabe.
“Hello.” She smiled at the child. “I’m Elizabeth, but you may call me Lizzy. Are you Phoebe?”
She didn’t respond. Instead she continued to peer at Elizabeth as if debating to trust the stranger standing before her. Elizabeth kept quiet under the scrutiny. Finally, Phoebe gave a slight nod of her head, all the while keeping her eyes trained on Elizabeth.
“Do you have anyone to play with?”
The dark head gave an even slighter shake.
“Well, I don’t have anyone to play with, either. May I play with you?”
The child contemplated for a moment and the prospect of a playmate must have won out, for she bobbed her head in concession.
“Why, thank you.”
Her offer to play must have appeased Phoebe’s concerns, because suddenly, gone was the cautious child that had opened the door.
All settled, Phoebe turned into the room. She took a few steps then peeked over her shoulder and gave a timid smile. “Are you coming?” She didn’t wait for a reply. Instead she toddled to two dolls positioned on a rug in the center of the room, then sat.
One smile. One innocent, baby-toothed smile and Elizabeth felt her reservations disappear.
Phoebe held out one of the dolls to Elizabeth, still standing by the doorway. “You can play with Victoria.”
Understanding an invitation when presented with one, Elizabeth crossed the floor and took a seat on the rug before lifting the doll from Phoebe’s outstretched hand. “Thank you. And what is your doll’s name?”
“Jacqueline.”
“That is a pretty name. But not as pretty as Phoebe.”
As the child kept her focus on her doll, Elizabeth
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