Heart and Home(26)

"Let's go wait in the parlor," he said as he lifted her out of the chair.

She grabbed a biscuit before he got her clear.

"On second thought, let's keep the crumbs in the dining room." He  carried her around the table and sat her next to his usual place. She  munched contentedly on the biscuit.

Jane came in with a bowl of spiced applesauce. "Will you tell the others it's ready?"

Adam nodded. "Watch her. She's a slippery one."

"I know her tricks," Jane said with a smile.

Adam found the others in the parlor and directed them to the dining room.

"How's that little girl this morning?" George asked.

"Fine," he answered. "It was just a case of stage fright yesterday."

"Glad to hear it." George ruffled the child's hair as he went by. "Then we should start looking for a family right away."

"So this is one of the urchins," Nedra said, taking her place across from the child. "She needs to learn some manners."

Adam looked down at Peggy. Other than a few crumbs in her lap and one or  two on her chin, he saw nothing wrong with the way she was eating.

"Little girl," Nedra said, "put that on your plate until the rest of us are seated."

Peggy went still.

"Leave her alone, Nedra," George said.

"Well, one can't start too soon with their training. Right, Naomi?"

Naomi seemed to sense that the men in the room weren't in agreement and  chose them over her sister. "Well, she isn't really our business."

Once Jane had taken her seat, Adam slid into the chair beside Peggy. The  little girl was still staring at Nedra. "Go ahead and eat, Peggy," he  said softly.

She continued to stare at the yellow-haired woman across the table.  Peggy was so short Adam guessed she only saw the woman's head.                       
       
           



       

"Well," Nedra said, staring back. "She's certainly a strange creature, isn't she?"

Adam was sure Peggy thought the same of her.

Jane started the platters around. She had prepared quite a feast. He  wanted to suggest that she was spoiling them but didn't want her  blushing in front of the group. He'd tease her later.

In spite of the variety of food, he couldn't interest Peggy in anything  but staring at Nedra. The first time the woman bent over her plate, he  discovered why Peggy had watched her so closely. The little girl slid  out of her chair, walked almost soundlessly across the room and slipped  behind a curtain.

Adam was sure everybody at the table saw her go, with the exception of  Nedra. The woman was visibly startled when she glanced up and saw the  empty chair.

"Even I would put a stop to that," Naomi said.

"Where did she go?" asked her sister.

Naomi pointed.

"Well!"

George broke the tension at the table with a laugh. "You know, I'd hide, too, if Nedra glared at me."

Nedra turned and did just that.

George laughed again.

"She's afraid of crowds," Jane said. "Let her hide until we've finished. She can eat later."

Nedra and Naomi seemed pleased with that suggestion. They turned the  conversation in another direction, toward young Ferris, as a matter of  fact. Adam watched Jane as she kept an eye on Peggy.

Ferris and Bickford had left the house and the Cartland sisters were on  their way up to their rooms when George mentioned the orphan again.

"I'll put the word out that the little girl's available," he said,  rising from the table. "That is, unless you want to change your vote,  Adam."

Adam froze. He knew he should have told Jane last night. He watched the color drain from her face.

George showed no remorse for the revelation as he walked past them.: It  was clear to Adam that George wanted Jane to have the little girl,  perhaps to save him the trouble of hunting up another family. But George  took all of Jane's labors for granted. He didn't see that she worked  herself to the point of exhaustion.

"Jane," Adam began, "I can explain."

"You don't need to explain. You've already told me you don't think I'm  competent to run this boardinghouse. Of course I wouldn't be able to  care for a child besides."

"Jane-"

"When were you going to tell me?"

"I meant to last night but I … we got distracted."

Her mouth fell open in shock. For a moment he thought she might slap him.

"What was last night?" she asked softly. "Consolation? Or am I supposed  to be so overwhelmed with gratitude that I would forgive you?"

Adam had a feeling he was missing something here, something important. "Gratitude?"

"Yes," she said, scooting back her chair with such force it screeched  against the floorboards. "That you would even consider me after the  perfect Doreena."

"Oh Jane, don't accuse me-"

She stood. "Let Peggy eat whatever she wants. I'll clean up after you've gone."

"Jane." He came to his feet, but she was out of the room before he could  stop her. Her bedroom door closed with a definite snap, if not the slam  he was expecting.

He slumped back into his chair. Why hadn't he had the sense to explain  to her last night? He knew why. His common sense had deserted him  entirely the first moment he'd touched her. What were the chances she'd  believe that now?

A tiny sound reminded him he had other respon sibilities. He moved to  the corner and crouched down, pulling the curtain aside. Peggy stood  against the window, tears running silently down her face.

"Don't cry," he said, lifting her in his arms. "Did we scare you? It's  all right." He carried her to the table. With her napkin he gently wiped  away her tears. She sniffed once but seemed to be through crying.

He filled a plate for her with a little from each of the platters. "Nobody's mad at you. Old Adam here's the one who messed up."

Peggy got up on her knees so she could reach the food more easily. She  did a surprising job of putting away a good portion without ever  touching the spoon or fork. Adam was glad she hadn't stayed to eat with  the Cartlands.                       
       
           



       

"What now, Peggy? Do you want anything else?"

Peggy licked off three of her fingers and pointed.

"Applesauce? Just don't try to put it in your pocket." He brought the  bowl nearer and dipped some onto her plate. "How about trying the spoon  this time?"

Peggy dipped her fingers in the sauce as Adam scooped some onto the spoon. "Here, you can get more this way."

Peggy let him bring the spoonful to her mouth, then nodded at this new  way to eat. After licking her fingers, she opened her mouth for more.

"You hold the spoon," Adam suggested, putting it in her sticky palm.

She was a little awkward, but it worked better than her fingers. When  she had scraped up all the sauce and licked the spoon clear up the  handle, she looked over the table again.

"What next?"

Peggy chose a biscuit, and Adam wasn't at all surprised to see her try  to shove it into her pocket. "That may not be a bad idea," he said,  helping her break the biscuit until it fit. "I'm not sure we'll be  welcome here at dinner."

He wiped her hands with the napkin and decided that wasn't going to do it. "Let's go wash up."

He helped her out of the chair and took her hand. Peggy continued to  lick off the other while she let Adam lead her to the kitchen.

The smells of Jane's kitchen made Adam think of her. He wanted to go  knock on her door and see if she would listen to him. But what would he  do with Peggy? Once the child's hands and face were clean he stood her  on the floor and looked down at her. She craned her neck to look up at  him.

"Maybe if I clean up from breakfast she'll forgive me. What do you think?"

Peggy stared.

"I think it's worth a try. Why don't you hide under Aunt Jane's kitchen table while I wash her dishes? Does that sound fun?"

Peggy didn't move.

"Here." He moved to crouch beside the table. "You can crawl under here and pretend … whatever it is you pretend."

He was a little surprised when she came forward, bent down more than was necessary and sat on the floor beneath the table.

"Good. Now stay there, please, and don't hide anywhere else."

Adam made a quick trip to the dining room for plates, checking, as soon  as he returned, to be sure Peggy hadn't disappeared. She sat right where  he had left her, whispering to herself.

He was well into the china when he heard the front door open and someone  call for Dr. Hart. He moved into the dining room, rolling down his  sleeves as he went. "In here," he said.

An elderly woman came cautiously into the room. "Are you Dr. Hart?"

"Yes, ma'am. What can I do for you?"

"I brought my husband in to see you. Shall I bring him in here?"