Page 82 of Miss Ashbury and the Anatomy of Mending a Heart

Sorry for feeling things you didn’t mean the hug to evoke? She could never admit to that.

“I’ll have Mrs. Portence make you a tray,” she finally said lamely.

Vera gave a tremulous smile and turned her back to head to the kitchens.

CHAPTER 24- STEPHEN

Stephen wanted to call out to Vera as he watched her go, but he was struck momentarily dumb by the depth of his feelings. Had he thought he knew what love was before? Compared to the monsoon racing through him now, what he’d felt previously was a shallow puddle.

For a moment there, with her in his arms, he’d half imagined that she felt as he did. But no—she’d pulled away, an embarrassed flush on her features. Embarrassment for him, Stephen had no doubt. He never should have hugged her, but at the sight of her tears, he couldn’t help himself.

Surely she knew now how he felt, what he’d been poorly concealing these past weeks. It could be that he’d ruined everything by pulling her into his arms. Stephen ran a hand through his dark hair and cursed beneath his breath.

Miss Beets trotted into the room and over to him. She sat her furry bulk upon his foot, as if she knew what he was thinking and sought to distract him from it. He bent and rubbed one of her silken ears between his fingers. Down the hall, a flicker of motion caught his eye. Clarence the fox curled beneath the sideboard, staring at them.

“I live in a madhouse,” he muttered.

“What was that?” his mother asked, coming down the stairs.

“Nothing.”

“Are you quite well?” She stood before him and peered up at his face.

He nodded. “Is Anne all right?”

Her eyes flicked toward the second story. “Of course. She’s been fed and bathed, and now Edna and Miriam are showing her the toys in the nursery.”

“Apologies for throwing the house into an uproar.”

“Nonsense. It’s your house.”

Stephen lifted a shoulder. Though technically true, this had always been his mother’s and father’s house. Title or no, he still deferred to his mother.

“The poor dear. I assume you mean to keep her?”

He frowned. He had been thinking along those lines, but how had his mother sussed that out, before he even realized he’d come to a decision? “What makes you say that?”

“Because you had Vera bring her here. Because both of you care deeply for the girl.” She smiled. “I’ve been listening when you speak, you know. You’ve spoken of Anne nearly as much as you’ve spoken of all your other patients combined.”

“I don’t know if I’m the best guardian for a small child.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Stephen. At her age, you’ll be her father, not her guardian. Guardians are for children who’ve already had parents; this girl hasn’t.”

“That’s a much taller order.”

“I’ve no doubt you’re up to the task, but certainly don’t take it on if you’re not going to commit to it. To her.”

Stephen ran a hand through his dark hair. “I need to think about it.”

“Of course you do. This is hardly a decision that should be made quickly. Only, don’t wait too long. That poor little girl deserves to be settled after all she’s gone through.”

* * *

That night, after a hectic dinner that almost made the markets of Calcutta look tame and quiet, Anne sat tucked into Vera’s side on the sofa in the library.

“Ah,” Vera said patiently, for perhaps the thirtieth time. She angled the book just out of reach. “Remember, don’t touch the pages. Only look.”

The girl frowned but retracted her hand. Only then did Vera keep reading the children’s book aloud. Benjamin had long given up listening to the story in favor of half snuggling, half playing with Miss Beets in the armchair closest to the fire. Now, he dangled a thread in front of the puppy’s face. She half-heartedly snapped at it before collapsing into a sleepy puddle on the boy’s lap.