She went down the hall to the kitchen, but didn't find either Catia or her nanny. Frowning, Ellie went upstairs. She stopped when she heard voices behind a bedroom door.
“Your daddy doesn't love you,” she heard Angelique say. “He's just like the other bad man I told you about, the one who hurt your mama. I'm the only one who can keep you safe. If you let him take you from the house, he will hit you and yell. Unless I'm with you. So just remember—don't leave here without me! And then—” her voice changed, becoming calculating “—I'll marry him and never have to work again…”
The little girl said something so softly that Ellie couldn't hear. The nanny gave a hard snort.
“Oh—her. She's not your new mommy. But don't worry. We'll soon be rid of her.”
Ellie threw open the door. She saw a smug nanny and tearful child, and fury went through her to her bones.
“What are you telling her?” she demanded.
“What do you mean?” Angelique said with an innocent smile. “Just telling her to be a good girl for her father. Shall we go down now for lunch, madam?”
Ellie grabbed the other woman's wrist. “You horrible, horrible woman. You—are fired.”
“Fired!” Real fear went through her eyes. “You can't fire me! Only Mr. Serrador can do that!”
“Get out!” Ellie shouted, and the woman ran. “Get out before I hit you with my shoe!”
Catia gave a terrified little squeak, and Ellie fell on her knees in front of her. “It's all right, sweetie,” she said gently. “It's all right. Angelique was just being mean. And wrong. Your father loves you. He would never, ever hurt you!”
She tried to give her a hug, but the girl shrank back with a fearful gasp. Poor Catia really believed every evil lie that Angelique had told her. Desperately, Ellie said, “We want you to come home with us, to stay—”
“No!”
Tears filled her eyes at the motherless child's confusion and grief. She took a deep breath, praying for a way to reach her. “We want you with us. You'll have your very own room. Lots of toys, and—”
“No!” she shrieked. “I won't go!”
“And siblings,” Ellie continued desperately, hardly knowing what she was saying. “A baby brother and sister to play with very soon…”
The shrieks abruptly ended.
Staring at her, Catia sucked in her breath with a hiccup. Ellie was afraid to say a word to break the spell.
“Babies?” the girl finally whispered. “A brother and a sister?”
Ellie nodded. She put her hands on her loose white shirt, showing off her gently swelling belly. “Your father and I are going to have twins, Catia. In early November.”
“But…then…why do you want me?” she asked falteringly.
Blinking back tears, Ellie stroked her dark hair. “The babies need a big sister to show them how to play.”
“Oh,” Catia breathed with longing. “I can do that. I can show them how to play with a ball, and ride a bike, and lots of things…”
“I know you can.” Ellie held out her hand. “We want you in our family, Catia. We love you. We need you.”
“You do?” The girl looked up timidly.
“Yes!” Tears were running down Ellie's face and she didn't even try to wipe them away. Within hours, she'd already come to love this motherless girl who desperately wanted to belong, to be safe, to be loved. Just as Ellie once had….
Holding her breath, Ellie waited, hand extended.
Tentatively, Catia placed her small hand in her own.
Joy flooded Ellie's heart. “You won't be sorry,” she whispered. “I promise. You'll always be safe and happy with us.”
Together, they walked down the stairs.
In the salon, she saw Angelique Price making her case to Diogo, who was standing by the fireplace with a hard expression. But having once seen his heart, Ellie now realized that unfeeling arrogance was just the mask he wore over a heart that felt too much.
A heart just like her own.
“Your new wife is jealous of the child, Mr. Serrador,” the beautiful nanny was pleading, putting her graceful hand on his arm. “She's crazy! Don't let her take the child from me. I think she intends to do the little girl some harm. She's trying to get rid of me so she can send Catia off to boarding school—or worse. If you love your daughter, for God's sake, don't let her fire me!”
They both looked up as Ellie and Catia came down the stairs. Diogo's face lit up in astonished wonder at the sight of his daughter holding Ellie's hand.
“I'm ready, Papa,” the little girl said shyly. “I want to go home to our family.”