Obviously, he’d never been around kittens or even cats before. “Perhaps, but why would you do this knowing I won’t live to see them grow into adult cats? It seems cruel somehow to give me a gift I’ll never have the good of.” Her heart ached, and with the pain came a swath of panic. She massaged her fingers over that faulty organ. With the other hand, she entertained the kitten as best she could. “I shall miss out on so much.”
“I meant no disrespect, my lady. I merely thought that you and Hannah might welcome a diversion from impending sadness.”
“Please, leave the titles and formalities behind. I am merely Sophia.” She shook her head and glanced at her daughter where she chased the white kitten. Laughter echoed in the sunlit air, which was at odds with the conflict raging in her head. “I suppose I’m not just angry with you. The kittens are lovely, but Hannah doesn’t know yet of my impending demise.”
“Ah. Now it all makes sense.” He put the lid back on the basket then moved the whole thing off the side.
Before he could give her empty platitudes or advice she hadn’t asked for, Sophia plunged ahead. “Continuing in that same vein, I won’t survive long enough to see Hannah grow into adulthood.” Tears choked her voice and sprang into her eyes as the reality of the situation came all too close. “I won’t be able to experience her Come Out or learn what she will accomplish and bring to the world.” The more she attempted to keep the tears at bay, the more they pooled in her eyes. When she blinked, a few fell to her cheeks. “I won’t be there when she marries or when she has her children. Never will I know the joy of holding grandchildren in my arms.” Now she understood why he’d given her the kittens, for cuddling one against her neck, for burying her face into its soft fur did bring a modicum of comfort.
Drat the man.
“Nothing I can say will make your situation any better, but I can sit with you until you feel more like yourself.” He attempted to tease the kitten away from her, but the feline was having none of it. “I thought that perhaps you could tell the kittens of your heartbreak, and it would make your anxiety less, for I doubt you’ve told your family everything.”
“That’s a correct assumption.” She nodded and swallowed hard around the ball of tears in her throat. “I rather think you are a good listener.”
“It’s part and parcel of my position.” Briefly, he touched her hand, and she wished he weren’t wearing gloves so she could feel his skin against hers. “You must tell Hannah, though. Don’t leave this up to chance so that she’s caught unawares if you should expire earlier than you assume. No doubt she’ll need to have you clarify a few things.”
“Perhaps you are correct.” The kitten wandered from her lap to Oliver’s. When he took the squirming, energic feline into his hands and the animal began to chew on one of his fingers, she smiled. There was something so very masculine and attractive about a man who showed affection to animals. It made sense because he was so kind to Hannah as well. “Will you wait for me while I tackle this task?”
“Of course.” He tugged a handkerchief from an interior of pocket of his jacket and passed it to her. “Good luck. I’ll check in on Hannah before dinner just in case she doesn’t take the news well.”
“You don’t need to—”
“Sophia, it is what I do every day of my life.” He grinned and the delicate skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled. “I am a peacekeeper, a felicitator of satisfaction and success. Essentially, a matchmaker between countries so they’ll maintain a good relationship and enter into trade agreements. I believe that qualifies me to soothe the ruffled feathers of a twelve-year-old girl.”
Perhaps, but she suspected he was as wrong in this as he was about kittens being harmless. But with a nod, Sophia rose to her feet. “I shall be back shortly.” As she approached Hannah’s position, her heart squeezed. The girl was so happy right now and the day so lovely. It felt somehow a sin to mar either. “Hannah, darling, I need to talk with you.”
The girl cuddled the kitten in her arms. “You aren’t going to take them away, are you?”
“Of course not. You’re capable of taking care of them, and I think they’ll be just the thing to keep you occupied as time goes on.” Her voice broke on the last words. As she closed the distance, Hannah frowned.
“You’ve been crying.” It wasn’t a question.
“I have.”
“Did Mr. Mattingly upset you? Do the kittens?”
“No. In that quarter, everything is fine.” She glanced his way, and he gave her an encouraging nod. “But I must tell you something that has been eating at me for the last six months.” She cupped her daughter’s cheek while the kitten cavorted about their feet. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that I have been exceedingly careful these last weeks with my health.”
“Yes, but I only thought you tired or still in mourning. It’s what Uncle Arthur has said.”
There was that, of course. “Perhaps a bit.” Would that her troubles were that easy to cure. “When I last saw the doctor, he confirmed what he’d told me months ago. My heart has weakened beyond a point where it can be saved. It could give out on me at any moment.” She couldn’t keep the waver from her voice. “I might die in days, in weeks, or at best, perhaps months, but the doctor was adamant that I probably won’t last until year’s end.”
“What?” Shock and fear warred for dominance in her daughter’s eyes. “You will leave me, just as Papa did?”
“I don’t have a choice.” As Sophia reached for Hannah’s hand, the girl recoiled. “If it were my decision, I would never leave.”
“Is there nothing that can be done?” Her voice had become a wail of pain.
“I’m afraid not. The doctor suggested I shouldn’t experience any shocks or surprises of any kind to prolong what life I have left.”
Hannah shook her head. “No!” Tears fell fast and furious to her cheeks. “After everything, after knowing how much I miss Papa and Grandfather, you will leave me too? Just when I need you the most?”
“If I could change things, I would. Surely you understand.” Again, she reached for Hannah’s hand, but her daughter widened the space between them. “I don’t want to die, darling, so we must make the best of the time we have together.” Her heart ached, and she didn’t know if it was from her ailment or the fact that she was essentially betraying Hannah, that she wouldn’t be around for her future.
“You will leave, and I’ll be an orphan, an afterthought within the rest of the Winterbourne family.” With red splotches on her face and neck from high emotion, she stooped, scooped up the kitten, and glared at Sophia. “How can you do this to me, Mama? And why did you not tell me as soon as you knew? Didn’t I garner at least that respect?” Then she turned about and ran through the meadows as if the hounds of hell were after her.
“I think, perhaps, I wanted that to go much differently than it did.” Sophia dabbed at her eyes with Oliver’s handkerchief. His scent clung to the linen, and though it gave her a modicum of comfort, she walked back to the quilt where he sat with mixed feelings. “She, uh, is quite angry and more than a little hurt.”