“No, she would never really have done those things,” Fiona said. “Even as a ghost.”
“Our little princess always sees the best in people,” Theo said.
“Even when it’s not true,” Flynn said.
“To think I actually missed you two while you were gone,” Cymbeline said.
Josephine laughed as she took Cymbeline’s hand and tugged her toward the doorway. “Come along, wicked one. Let’s go have fun.”
We all followed behind. Theo had given Fiona his arm and they shared a special smile as they walked into the hallway. That left Flynn and me. He held out his hand for me to shake. “Don’t be shy tonight. Josephine loves to dance.”
“Thanks, I’ll do my best.”
“That’s all we can do, brother.”
Brother. I liked the sound of that.
The parlor had been transformed into a festive fairyland of twinkling lights. The crystal chandelier cast sparkles that danced on the walls. A Christmas tree decorated with real lights filled the room with its spicy scent. Furniture had been moved aside to make way for dancers. A table on the far end of the wall was covered with treats: cakes, cookies, pies, and candy. From a large glass bowl, Lizzie scooped red punch into champagne flutes and set them in tidy rows on the table. Mrs. Wu, whom I’d never seen outside of the kitchen, came up with a stack of plates and silverware. Fiona went straight to the piano to organize her sheet music.
“Have a punch,” Josephine said to me. “Enjoy yourself. I have to play hostess for the next bit.”
Guests began to arrive, seemingly all at once. Fiona and Li played one merry Christmas tune after the other as the room filled. Jasper and Lord Barnes were back and forth, answering the door, taking coats and escorting folks into the formal room. Josephine and Quinn made sure everyone had a drink or something to eat. I stood in the corner near the tree watching it all.
Theo came to stand with me, pointing out who was who and giving me brief details of how they were connected to the family. He stiffened when Pastor Lind and his wife, Pamela, came through the doors with a young woman between them. She was petite, like Josephine if not a bit taller. Dark blond tresses were set in attractive waves and pulled back to the nape of her neck. Large blue eyes darted immediately our way.
He turned to face me with his back to the door. “That’s Louisa. She must be back from finishing school. I haven’t seen her since I left for the war.” His voice had turned raspy during this description. “She’s prettier than when I left,” Theo said. “Which I didn’t think was possible.”
“Will you go say hello?” I asked him as quietly as I could while pretending to look around the room with no particular interest on anyone or anything. “She’s looking this way.”
?
?I can’t. I wouldn’t know what to say. The last time I saw her I made a complete blunder.”
“How so?”
“I declared my undying love and asked if she’d write to me while I was away.”
“Why is that a blunder?”
“She burst into tears and ran away,” Theo said. “That was before I knew she was in love with my brother.”
“No, really?”
“Yes, really,” he said. “She wants someone like him. Quick and strong.”
“Why do you say that?”
“She had a hard time until Pastor Lind and his wife took her in as their own when she was nine years old. Her father had hurt her, torturing her with horrible games like chasing her through the woods with a shotgun to teach her how to be tough.”
“How awful.” My stomach turned at the thought of anyone doing such a thing to an innocent child.
“As the years went by, living with the Linds, I saw her flourish. She lost the scared look in her eyes, like she was waiting for the next punch.”
We’d had a few children at the orphanage who had come from violent homes. They had had the wary look of an abused animal, watchful and suspicious. Any loud or abrupt movement made them jump or instinctively cover their faces.
Louisa was making her way directly toward us. “She’s coming right over to us,” I said under my breath.
“What? Are you sure?”