Dad Hears My Thoughts novel · Chapter 15 of 32

Chapter 15: The Matron's Order

"Twenty-three days," Tristram said on the walk home. "And then a rope, with music."

"The masque," I said. "Not the rope."

"You're very calm."

"I'm not calm. My hands won't stop."

He laughed, and then he stopped in the dark street and kissed my forehead, hard, without asking.

The baby, asleep on his chest, didn't stir.

The next morning Lady Honoria Deverell came for her rattle.

I'd sat up at the wheel past midnight to finish it.

A stick of pink coral, polished smooth for gums, on a little silver whistle with two bells.

She swept in at ten in a gold cloak, with a maid carrying her muff.

"So this is where he lives now," she said. "It's very small."

"It's paid for," I said. "That's more than the east nursery."

Her smile didn't move.

Tristram was out in the yard splitting wood for the stove. I could hear the axe.

The baby sat in her basket on the end of my counter, chewing a wooden spoon.

Honoria looked at her.

"My rattle," she said.

"It's upstairs, wrapped. One moment."

I went up the loft ladder.

Below me I heard her lower her voice to the maid.

The axe was loud in the yard, and I only caught the hiss of it.

When I came down, the maid was holding the muff very still, and Honoria was smiling at the baby.

The baby had stopped chewing the spoon. She was staring at Honoria with her mouth open.

I unwrapped the rattle on the counter.

Honoria picked it up and shook it, and the bells rang.

"Pretty," she said. "For a foundling."

"Tuppence," I said. "As agreed."

She opened her purse, took out two copper pennies, and dropped them on the floor.

They rolled under my wheel.

"Pick them up," she said. "Shopgirl."

The maid was already bending.

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