Part 41 (1/2)

”May I promise her, my lord?” Her voice was chocked with emotion, but it also was indisputably Cherry's.

”Cherry?” he said disbelievingly.

”How... when...”

Christabel rounded on him.

”Don't let her leave again, Uncle Gavin!

Please? ”

Staring at Frederica with eyes newly opened, Gavin wondered how he could have been so blind. He had danced twice with her the night before, spent an hour with her at supper . Though he still did not fully understand, he smiled, his first real smile in days.

”I should like her to stay for always--if she is willing.” Frederica returned his smile with a tremulous one of her own.

”I am perfectly willing, my lord.” Her cheeks were wet, but happiness and love, pure love, shone from her eyes. She then glanced down at Christabel, who was bouncing on her lap with delight, and said in an altered tone that sounded precisely like the nanny he remembered,

”Whatever do you have all over your face, young lady?”

”Freckles,” answered Christabel readily. Gavin noticed then that his niece's face was decorated with spots and c'trcles of brown.

”I found this pencil under your bed and gave myself freckles, just as you used to do,” she explained matter-of factly

Frederica turned bright pink and Gavin exclaimed,

”You little imp! Do you mean to say that you knew all along that Cherry's--Miss Chesterton's--freckles were false? Why did you not say so?”

”Do not all ladies who want freckles paint them on?” asked Christabel innocently.

Gavin was torn between a desire to shake her and to laugh. He gave in to the latter.

”The eyes of a child see more clearly than those of a jaded old fellow like myself, it would appear. Go with Abby, then, and wash your face, Christabel.

Cherry will be here when you return.”

With a final, fierce hug, Christabel relinquished her hold on Frederica and followed the housekeeper from the room. As soon as they were alone, Gavin came to sit next to Frederica.