Page 84 of Miss Ashbury and the Anatomy of Mending a Heart

“How about in three days?” he finally said. “That’s enough time for us to get her presents. We can look forward to it and plan a party, but it’s not too long to wait.”

“I think that’s a great idea. What kind of cake do you think Anne will like?”

His brother gave a sly smile. “I think she’d like a vanilla sponge cake with chocolate frosting.”

Stephen laughed. “Same as you? I suppose great minds think alike. Very well—you may tell Mrs. Portence in the morning.”

* * *

Three days later, their household gathered for an afternoon party to celebrate Anne’s birthday. There were presents—chiefly toys that the nursery lacked and an entire new wardrobe from the baroness—but the guest of honor was supremely uninterested in them, choosing instead to focus on the refreshments.

Benjamin had been correct when he chose the cake. Stephen thought that the girl couldn’t have shown any more enthusiasm for her slice. Though she grasped a fork in one hand, she chiefly used her other to shove bites of cake into her chocolate-smeared mouth. Every time she did, she looked surprised at the experience—her eyebrows raised, she blinked. Stephen wondered if the girl ever had a proper cake before.

“You chose her nursery maid well,” Vera murmured.

“Between Hortense and Miss Beets, Anne will be very safe, indeed.”

“I’m not sure that the dog is any help at the moment, but perhaps she’ll grow into the role.” Vera smiled over at Miss Beets, who’d fallen asleep amongst some of the discarded wrapping paper.

“Undoubtedly.”

Vera chuckled and shook her head.

He studied her face. “What is it?”

“Nothing. I’m simply surprised at how much can change in such a short amount of time. It wasn’t that long ago that I was swinging a fire poker at your head.”

“It’s been months since that happened.” He shifted and frowned. “Months is plenty of time to truly get to know someone.”

“Indeed. But in that moment, I never would have thought I’d be delighted to see that man adopt a child. I wouldn’t have trusted a stray dog to that man’s care.”

“Pardon me, but I am the same man,” Stephen said in mock outrage.

“Oh, I know. I’m only speaking of who I thought you were. Upon that point, you cannot take umbrage, for you were vastly mistaken about who I truly was, as well.”

He shook his head. “Vera, there’s a part of me that wishes you’d succeeded with the fire poker in that moment. For what I did next…”

“That is well behind us. So far, in fact, that I can laugh at it now.”

“Truly?” His eyebrows raised.

Vera shot him a questioning glance. “Of course. It was a comedy of errors. Granted, at the time it felt like a very dark comedy. But that’s in the past. Things have so markedly changed that I now consider you one of my dearest friends.”

Stephen smiled, though his mouth threatened to twist. Dearest friend. Though he hadn’t spoken the word, it still managed to leave a sour taste in his mouth.

He said, slowly, “You are mine, as well.”

Vera’s answering smile made him feel as if he’d been sipping warm amber whisky instead of tea and cream. Then Anne made some discordant cry, and Vera and Hortense instinctively converged to sort the girl’s distress.

Stephen watched Vera go and thought about the words he’d spoken to her. He hadn’t been lying. Vera was one of his dearest friends. The very dearest.

He also had meant the words another way. You are mine, as well.

Vera was his, in his heart, and he was most certainly hers. Now he just had to find a way to make it so in reality.

CHAPTER 25- VERA

Vera nibbled her lower lip and glanced at the clock. She had stayed behind to help with Anne, who had a stomach ache. Vera suspected that it might have something to do with the vast quantities of cake the girl had eaten the day before.