“I’ll feed it,” Gina spat her words. “Give it to me.”
The last thing Vic wanted to do was give this fragile child to Gina.
Xavier lifted the baby from her arms. “Gina, if you hurt this child in any way, I will have you arrested and thrown in jail for a very long time. However, if you feed her properly, I will provide you a ticket back to Spain with a month’s pay.”
Vic rolled over to Gregory and whispered, “Do you by chance have another nursemaid, beyond the one for Cannon? I would like a nursemaid to go with Maddy once I find her a good home.”
Suddenly Gregory’s eyes turned glassy and he looked ready to burst into tears. “Gregory, butlers never cry,” she whispered.
“My apologies, sir. Your naming the child ‘Maddy’ took me by surprise. And whom do you plan to give this child to?”
“Well, I’m thinking about Claire, if she’ll be nice to me for a half-hour. I believe her ill temper is caused by her inability to have a child. And while I cannot see her successfully raising a boy, a fragile little girl might do well.”
Gregory nodded. “I believe it might.” He gripped Vic’s shoulder. “I am proud of you, Victor. Despite all she has done, you still take the high road.”
***
Within an hour, Xavier accompanied Gina to the docks to catch a ship home, and two new nursemaids arrived for their final interview. Vic decided to let Cannon choose first. Sara held Cannon chest level so he could select his preference. His favorite was naturally the larger pair of udders, so happy Diana became his new nursemaid.
The other woman, Sally, sighed in defeat, and turned to leave.
“Hold on, you have a job as well,” Vic said and had Sara give her Maddy. “Maddy has been starved so the doctor says she needs to be fed frequently, since she won’t drink much.”
“She’s so beautiful. How could someone not feed her?” Sally asked as she petted the tuff of red hair.
Vic had no rational answer to that.
“Now for the bad news. You won’t be living here. I’m going to give my sister this baby. She cannot seem to have babies of her own.”
“Your sister will love this child,” Sally said.
“I believe she will and hopefully Maddy will make her happy.”
Thus, before Xavier returned—Vic had no desire to argue with him that any childless couple in London would be better than Claire—she had Tubs put her in the carriage along with Maddy and Sally.
When they arrived at Vic’s prior estate, no one answered the door for fifteen minutes, although someone was home because curtains kept moving. While Vic had a wheelchair to sit in and Tubs was used to standing for long periods of time, Sally was left standing, with the baby in her arms. “You might want to take Maddy back to the carriage.
“A little sun is good for her. But if no one answers in five minutes, I’ll find shade. However, if no one answers then maybe this isn’t meant to be.”
“She has a point,” Tubs muttered.
“Hit the door again,” Vic said.
Tubs slammed the side of his fist against the door once, creating a loud explosion, rather like a small bomb.
Finally, the door opened to one very angry sister.
“How dare you come here and terrify my servants!”
For the first time in her life, Vic stared up at her petite sister. “If I had a fern, I would lay it down now in a declaration of peace, but I don’t. So just listen to what I have to say. Our fight has been going on for long enough. It’s time for each of us to forgive and move on.”
Claire’s eyes rimmed with tears. “I don’t see how that’s possible.”
Vic stared up at her. “We survived a shipwreck, surely we can survive this as well.”
Her pretty forehead crinkled. “Why are you in a wheelchair?”
About to reply ‘it’s nothing’, Vic decided the truth might actually move matters along faster. “I almost died recently.”
Claire’s face paled. “Oh…I’m sorry.”
“Well, I wasn’t too happy about it either, but it saved a life and got me to thinking about what’s important.”
Her sister’s eyes grew watery and her head shook. “No, I mean I’m really sorry, Vic. I shouldn’t have done it.”
Vic had no clue which horrible thing she thought she shouldn’t have done. Was it claiming Jacko abused L’il Pete, firing Gregory when he wouldn’t lie to help her steal Pete, or demanding sweet Sara be fired? Maybe it was telling Alice that ridiculous story about Pete dangling a baby off the carriage.
“Could we come inside? Maddy’s turning pink,” Vic said.
“Maddy?” her confusion turned to rapture as she spied the tiny baby. “Maddy…oh she’s beautiful!” Claire rushed to the baby, pulling her out of Sally’s arms. She then hurried inside without actually inviting the rest of them to enter.
Tubs pushed Vic and her wheelchair into a purple, green and orange parlor that Claire had entered. When the hell has she done this?
Her sister looked up from a high back flowery chair that clashed horribly with the wallpaper. “Vic, she’s the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen. And her red hair…is so like Aunt Maddy’s. She’s so tiny. How old is she?”
“About a week. Dr. Connors has looked her over. He says she’s healthy except she wasn’t fed right.”
Claire’s eyes filled with fury. “Why didn’t you feed her?”
“I only rescued her today.”
“Rescued…then she’s not yours?”
“No, she’s not Xavier’s. He has a boy that likes to eat plaster.” Vic pointed to the ankle of her right leg cast so Claire could see the chewed section. “The big fellow also growls like a dog a great deal of the time. And he mauls fingers. I may have to get a muzzle for him.”
Smiling at the baby in her arms, Claire replied, “He sounds dreadful.”
“We like him. He has the nose of a bloodhound. Located me seconds before Barnacle shot me in the head.”
Claire looked up. “How long have you been back?”
“God, I’m not sure. Two or three days, but I promise you they were the longest days imaginable.”
With a shake of her head, her sister said, “You’ve managed to rescue this child and nearly get yourself killed all in two days?”
“Well, technically I believe I’ve rescued two people.
Claire had lost interest in Vic’s achievements and returned to smiling at Maddy. “Are you keeping Maddy as your daughter?”
“Cannon might mistake her for a chew bone. I thought you might want her.”
Claire stared at her with such shock that Vic had to conclude she’d stopped listening at the chew bone comment.
“I think you and David would be wonderful parents for such a dainty little flower.”
“Vic…” Claire’s mouth remained open, but no further words came out. Her eyes betrayed a great deal of pain.
“Claire, you have to want this baby girl.” Vic stated in exasperation.
“I do, I just can’t believe after what I’ve done, you would give her to me.”
So she did know her guilt list was longer than one bad behavior. “Claire, I think little Maddy could be the secret ingredient that when mixed with a wonderful husband and your own house, will result in you finally discovering true happiness.”
Her joyous smile disappeared. “Well, one out of three will have to do.”
“What do you mean one out of three? You have Maddy, David, and I’ve deeded this house over to you. Why else would I stand outside on the steps for a half hour waiting for you to let me in?
“Because I changed the locks.”
Vic’s mouth fell open. “You did?”
“Yes.”
Vic refused to let her anger explode at Claire’s pettiness. You survived a shipwreck with Claire, changing of locks is meaningless.
“Well, good thing I deeded the house to you, or I might have left without giving you Maddy, and I truly believe this child is what you and David need…hold on�
��What’s happened to David? You said one out of three, and Maddy’s the one.”
Her eyes rimmed with tears. “David packed his clothes and left yesterday.”
“What?” Vic almost asked what Claire had done to drive David away, but forced herself to ask a different question.
“Why?”
“Because of what I did. He said the woman he loved couldn’t do that to her own blood.”
“I’m not following. What blood are we talking about?”
“You!”
“And what exactly did you do to drive him off?” Vic knew that sounded like an accusation, but damn it, she’d sacrificed her best friend from Oxford to Claire. And no one would ever love her sister as much as David did.
Claire stared at her. “You don’t know, do you?”
Given it had driven off David only yesterday, Vic doubted she did. “Evidently not.”
Her sister bit her lower lip. “So you didn’t come over here to bribe me with Maddy to drop my suit?”
“What suit?” Vic asked, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach.
Tears streamed down Clair’s face. “I’m sorry I did it, Vic. But you’re right. I need more than David. I need my own house and my own family. And now you’re going to take Maddy back and I’ll have nothing but a feral growling dog baby.”
“You’re suing me for Cannon?”
“I’m sorry. I was wrong to do so and I’ll contact my lawyer and tell him to stop it. But there still may be damage…and if I could undo it I would. I swear to you, if I could go back to yesterday and relive the day, I wouldn’t have done it.”
Vic couldn’t remember feeling more terrified than this moment. “Exactly what did you do?”
“I claimed you were an unfit mother because you dress and act like a man.”
“Claire!” Vic yelped as the pain of betrayal overwhelmed her.
“I’m sorry.”
Vic had believed no matter how resentful her sister became she would never actually murder her. But announcing such in a legal suit was the equivalent of killing Victor Hamilton and probably sending her to Bedlam.
Tears welled in her eyes. “When did you grow to hate me so much?”
“I don’t hate you. I just wanted a baby.”
“And you thought killing me would get you that? Don’t you realize Xavier will fight you to the death—and you may take that literally—to keep his son? Do you know how many people in power will side with him? Taking Cannon was never a possibility. All you’ve managed to do is to destroy me.”
Vic burst into sobs, overwhelmed that her own baby sister would do this.
“Please forgive me. I said I’m sorry.”
The pain and fear in Claire’s voice brought back the memory of those two days they struggled to survive on a large plank of wood, drifting in the ocean. If they could survive that, they could survive anything.
Well, here was the test of all tests. Nothing Claire could do could hurt more than this.
The image of Claire with stringy hair, dirty dress and sun burnt skin staring down at Vic was as vivid as the day it happened. “Vic help me…. You can’t die on me. I won’t make it on my own. You have to wake up!” Claire’s plea had forced Vic to fight against the eternal sleep that promised an end to her hunger and misery.
Had Claire not made her live then, Vic would have never experienced true love, never had Cannon, and never had the chance to work side by side the greatest detective in the world.
When compared to that, Vic’s death as a man was nothing. She rolled her chair closer to Claire and held out her plastered arms.
Claire leaned in and wrapped her arms around Vic. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
“I do. But in the future, you’ll probably need to repay the favor at times. Assuming Xavier has sufficient pull to prevent me from being sent to Bedlam, then I will have to start a new life as a woman…which I will no doubt be very bad at, but I will still have Xavier and Cannon…and you and David and little Maddy. So it still ranks above a true death.”
Her sister stared in shock. “You’re giving me Maddy, even after what I’ve done?”
“Your need for a baby hasn’t changed, so yes, Maddy is yours. However, you must withdraw your suit, because you will never find another man who loves you like David does.”
“I know,” Claire whispered.
And still she gave him up. Her need for a child was that strong.
“Maddy probably needs to be fed. Give her to Sally. She’s Maddy’s nursemaid. And give Sally a nice room to call her own. Then you need to go speak to your lawyer, and I need to hunt down David. Any idea where he’s staying?”
Claire shook her head.
Vic patted her arm. “Don’t worry, I’ll find him.” She kissed Claire’s forehead and released her baby sister.
“Tubs, I’m ready to go,” she yelled. Tubs entered, frowning upon sight of Vic.
Forcing a smile, Vic explained, “It’s been a weep-fest, Tubs. You would have hated it.”
Once back in the carriage without Maddy and Sally, Vic wondered if she’d done the baby a disservice. No. She couldn’t think that way. She had to forgive and move on. Otherwise hatred would make her as cold and horrible as Julia.
She gave Samson the address of David’s office and closed her eyes. God, she’d never felt more exhausted in her life.
Tubs jostled her. “Vic, we’re here.”
He pressed his warm hand on her forehead.
“What’s wrong?” a familiar voice asked.
“I can’t wake him up. He wanted to talk to you, but I need to get him to Dr. Connors right now.”
She realized she’d soon miss her window of opportunity if she couldn’t find her voice. “David, climb in,” she muttered.
The carriage dipped.
A hand much smaller than Tubs’ landed on her forehead. “Vic, are you all right? You don’t look well.” Recognizing David’s voice, she forced herself to respond.
“I’m just exhausted. Claire is retracting the suit.”
“She should have never filed it in the first place. The woman I loved wouldn’t have done that. Not to you Vic.”
“Her desire for a baby has made her do stupid things, but that’s over. I found a beautiful baby girl for you to raise. Barely a week old, so you’ll be the only parents she’ll remember.” Vic gripped his hand. “Claire’s sorry for killing me, and I’ve forgiven her. I’ve also deeded the house to her. So all she needs to be happy is for you to forgive her moment of insanity and love her again. The woman you married is still there. Promise me you’ll go back to her.”
“I will.”
“Tubs, tell Samson to take David home.”
“No, we’re going to Dr. Connors. Samson can give him a ride –
Vic’s world fell silent and black.
Chapter 22
Vic woke to a bright light blinding her. “Stop it! Xavier has no use for a blind detective.”
Lips pressed against her forehead. “Stop. Only Xavier is allowed to do that.”
“Glad to hear it,” Xavier whispered in her ear.
“Xavier…I couldn’t rescue Julia, but I saved Maddy. I gave her to Claire, and then learned what she’d done. Please don’t kill her for killing me. I’ll survive. I might be grumpy, but I’ll survive.”
“Not if you fail to eat,” Connors scolded. “Take your pup home and feed him.”
“Vic. When was the last time you ate?” Xavier demanded.
“I don’t know. I’ve been very busy the last few days.”
“Bloody hell,” he muttered. A moment later, strong arms carried her to the wheelchair.
“Thank you, Tubs,” she muttered without opening her eyes.
“That was Samson, not Tubs. Your employee is back babysitting the children so I could see about you.”
Xavier sounded angry. Damn it all. She’d only been dead a short while and he was already mad at her. This only proved what she’d known all along. There was no joy in living the lif
e of a woman.
And because of Claire, her future would forthwith be one of misery, a grumpy husband, and nothing to do. Her new life caused her to burst into tears.
Seconds, later tender hands were frisking her body as if searching for weapons. “Vic, tell me where you hurt,” Xavier pleaded.
She pointed to her heart.
Soon after, a cold stethoscope was shoved between her chest and the muslin binding shirt.
“His heart sounds fine,” Connors said. “Take him home. He’s had a rough few days.”
“And I haven’t?” Xavier yelled.
“This situation is different.” Connors snapped. “Claire is not your sister, and you’ve had more years to harden your heart against betrayals.”
Xavier knelt down beside her. “We will discuss why you cannot feed yourself when you are better. Right now, rest assured, I am not angry at you. I am angry for you.”
Vic rather liked his assurances until they got home and his wrath fell upon poor Gregory.
“You have three people to care for. How hard is it for the smaller and more-apt-to-starve two to be fed on a regular basis?”
“Cannon is the fattest baby I’ve ever seen. He’s never gone hungry for five minutes,” Gregory retorted.
“I’m upset about Vic. He fainted from the lack of food today. When was the last time you fed him?” Xavier challenged.
“This morning. He had oatmeal before he left on his case.”
Xavier turned to Vic. “Is that true?”
“Partially. Cannon was in my lap and tipped the bowl over. Cook offered me a new serving, but I turned her down, since I had to locate Sara to wash Cannon off before he created a slippery trail of oatmeal through the house.”
Xavier sighed. “Gregory, I apologize for my accusation, but I want some method of tracking Vic’s food intake.”
“I will see to it immediately, sir,” he replied.
“He will too,” Vic warned, “Now I will soon be your fat, useless, grumpy wife.”
Xavier rolled her towards the library.
Pack of Trouble (The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 5) Page 20