“How have you been?” she asked, kneeling down so she would be on the child’s eye level. “Have you been being the good girl I know you are for Sarah?”
Iris nodded solemnly. “I am practicing all my letters. Sarah says I write the letter S the best in the world.”
“You will have to show me,” Letitia said. She could not believe that she had already missed out on Iris learning something new. Even a few days ago, she had not been able to shape the letter S correctly.
“I will,” Iris said. “Just like I used to show Nana Peace whenshevisited.”
Ezra had been turning away to talk to one of the staff; at Iris’ words, he froze, then turned very slowly back to face Iris.
“Nana Peace?” he asked. His voice was very tight, though he seemed to be aiming for a casual tone. Iris was too clever to be tricked by his front. She regarded him warily. “Is that your grandmother?”
Iris looked cautiously between the two adults, as if searching for the right answer.
“She was just Nana,” she said carefully. “But now she’s in heaven, like Mama.”
Ezra looked desperately at Letitia. She shook her head. He was too wound up to say more, like a pocket watch with its springs pushed to the limit. He would only scare Iris.
“You must miss her very much,” Letitia said instead, putting her hand on Iris’ shoulder and smiling reassuringly at her.
Iris nodded, then shrugged. “She didn’t come to visit very often,” she said. “She brought me toys when she did, though.”
“That’s very nice,” Letty said.
Iris shrugged again. There was a stubborn set to her mouth that said that she wouldn’t say more, at least not now. Letitia knew that look from her years caring for children. If they tried to push Iris now, she would only become more determined to remain mum.
Letty made meaningful eye contact with Ezra as she stood, adopting her brightest tone.
“Well, I think it’s time that I meet with this new candidate for Iris’ governess, don’t you think?” She peered down at the child. “Did you know that I am going to help find the next person who is going to teach you?”
As far as distractions went, this worked a charm. Iris’ eyes went bright.
“Pick someone who is nice,” she said. “Or you could just come back, if you wanted.”
Letitia smiled as if Iris had not just stabbed her directly in the heart.
“I will find someone very nice,” she said. Ezra was still standing, frozen. “We will speak after, Your Grace?”
Ezra nodded absently.
“Yes,” he said. “Yes, of course. Iris, you will go back upstairs to Sarah, will you not? We can play in the garden later, if you like.”
“Yes!” Iris cried, practically skipping up the stairs. “Garden!”
Hermes scrambled after her, barking merrily once again. It was noisy, but Letitia welcomed it after the days of quiet in her too-peaceful residence.
Ezra was still looking like he had been smacked upside the head as the housekeeper showed in the next candidate for governess. Letitia followed them into the parlor. She tried to catch Ezra’s eyes as she went, but he still seemed to be a thousand miles away.
CHAPTER 21
Nana Peace.
Ezra put his head in his hands. God above, how had hismothergotten caught up in this?
When Hugh’s information had eliminated Ambrose and Reginald from the list of Artemis’ potential fathers, Ezra had assumed that the remaining candidates were only two: Moses Warson, Aaron and Clio’s father, and Cornelius, their grandfather.
His own father had not occurred to him, not even once.
And then Iris had saidNana Peace.
