A Soldier’s Heart(47)

But in the end, their efforts weren’t enough.

The midwife placed a wrapped bundle in Serena’s arms. “Daniel has another daughter.”

“Mrs. Brown?” Serena asked through a tight burning in her throat.

The midwife shook her head. “Best send Daniel in.”

Serena had been so young when her mother died, she didn’t have any memory of death; now, to see its mark left her with a deep sadness which settled into her chest like a cold lump and lodged there.

Holding the sleeping infant, Serena passed through the narrow doorway to find Daniel hovering outside.

“You have a daughter,” she whispered.

“Aye. Can I go in now?” he asked quickly.

At her nod, he brushed past her. An instant later she heard his hoarse cries. The cold lump inside her expanded.

Polly sat on the low couch by the hearth, tears washing her pale cheeks with red streaks. Serena carefully placed the baby in her arms. “You have a new sister.”

Nodding, she glanced at the baby and then up at Serena. “Ma’s dead, ain’t she?” she whispered hoarsely.

Slipping down beside her, Serena placed her hand over the small ones clutching the bundle to her. “Yes, Polly. But she will always be in your heart.”

“No!” she sobbed, her little chest heaving with her pain. “I need my ma here with me! We all do!”

Gathering the child close, she let the little face rest against the bodice of her ruined gown as she stroked the fine hair.

“I lost my mother when I was a little girl, but my father taught me she was always there if I wished. Close your eyes, Polly.”

With a hiccup, she obeyed.

“Can you see your mother?”

“No,” she moaned between sobs.

“Look really hard and she’ll be there.” Serena swallowed a lump in her throat. “Do you see her now? What is she doing?”

“She’s baking gingerbread cakes,” Polly whispered, tears squeezing from beneath her tightly closed lids. “It be Christmas and it smells so good cause Ma’s baking us gingerbread cakes and we kids are settin’ at the table waitin’ impatient-like. She be smilin’ at us.”

“What a beautiful memory.” Serena rested her cheek against the small head. “When you’re sad or lonely, or whenever you need her, you must simply close your eyes and she’ll be there. Smiling at you.”

Her own eyes burning with tears, she blinked and looked up. Through the watery haze she found Blackwood standing in the doorway, staring at her with an expression she’d never seen before.

For some reason, that look cracked the cold lodged in her chest into a thousand splinters. Resting her cheek again upon the silken strands, she wept with all her own pain.

Never before in Matt’s life had he felt such tenderness. It filled every muscle and sinew, knitting him into wholeness. He’d rushed here after giving Stevens a tongue-lashing for not informing him immediately of Serena’s intention. Now to find her holding Polly in her arms, creating such beauty and strength out of such tragedy, made him ashamed of his own inability to do the same.

Striding into the room, he knelt beside her. “I’ve brought the maid and the linens you requested.”

Looking up, her cornflower eyes brilliant with tears, she shook her head. “It’s too late.”

“Yes. But there’s still much to be done. You have done your duty. Now I must do mine.”

Returning to the door, he issued orders to John Coachman to fetch Mrs. Watley here at once. She wished someone to care for, and now the Brown children needed her caring. Turning to the maid, he commanded her to take charge until morning. He was glad she was older and mature, not one of the flighty ones. He was reassured when, without hesitation, she removed her cloak, folded it neatly on a chest, and climbed the ladder to check on the sleeping Brown children who would awake to find themselves motherless.

Turning back, he found Serena had coaxed Polly up and they were laying the baby in the wooden cradle next to the fire.

“Mrs. Watley will be here to help you, Polly. And the maid from the Landing will spend the night. But I must take her ladyship home.”

Her little face, red and swollen with crying, looked up at him and nodded.

He was beginning to recognize the determined thrust of Serena’s chin, but he wouldn’t be put off. She looked ready to drop from fatigue.

“I be fine, my lady,” Polly said in a hoarse little voice, persuading Serena more surely than Matt could have done. “My ma’s here with me just like you told me. All I do is close my eyes and she be smilin’ at me.”

The firelight caught the glistening tears on Serena’s cheeks as she leaned forward, hugging Polly tightly to her and kissing the top of her head.