Chapter 16
By the time Caroline arrived at Evie and Vaughn’s fine home, the rest of her family was already there. Along with, surprisingly, Alexander Castleton, who had apparently been with Julia when she was told of the impending birth.
Her niece was closed-lipped about it when asked, and Caroline decided not to push when there was so much happening. She simply held Evie’s hand for a while, giving her words of encouragement as the time came closer and closer for the birth.
Her husband broke precedence and joined her in the room and Julia, Arabella and Caroline stepped back as the midwife took her place and Evie began to push.
“Please let her be well,” Arabella whispered, her eyes filling with tears as the women watched her struggle. Caroline tucked an arm around each sister and held them close.
“She’s so strong. She’ll be very well.”
After a while, she was proven right, and with one more big push the room was suddenly filled with the screeches of a healthy infant.
“A little girl,” the midwife proclaimed as she set the child on Evie’s bare chest.
Caroline clutched the other girls even closer and they cried together in pure happiness as they stared at the little family across the room.
Vaughn held Evie, smoothing her hair as she fed their daughter for the first time.
It was so peaceful, so beautiful, and when Evie looked up at him, it was with such love.
Caroline shut her eyes and a few tears leaked through her lashes.
She longed for the same. For the comfort of that kind of love.
It had been denied her for her entire life and now…
now that she’d found it, she realized in that charged moment that she wasn’t going to let it go.
She was going to be the brave one since Simone was frozen. And she was going to convince her.
Her heart soared at that thought and that was the moment the midwife finished her duties and Evie motioned her sisters and aunt forward to join their family at the bed.
“My God, she is beautiful,” Arabella said through tears as Vaughn handed over the child into her arms. “I would burn the world down for you, lovey.”
Caroline smiled. Arabella would be the warrior aunt. How lucky this little girl would be to have her. Arabella handed the baby off to her next and she smiled into that red, scrunched-up little face. “She looks so much like you girls did all those years ago. What a joy.”
“I’m next,” Julia said with a bright smile. Caroline handed her over and Julia held the child close.
Caroline met Vaughn’s eyes and the two didn’t need to speak. The sisters would have a moment together. He got up and Caroline stepped in to kiss Evie’s cheek.
“You were a revelation, my love,” she whispered. “And you have brought us another beautiful little girl. I adore you.”
Evie’s eyes were teary. “And I, you.”
“What can I do?” she asked. “Should I tell Simone? I’m sure she’d like to know.”
Evie stared at her a moment and Caroline wondered if her feelings were plain on her face. And just as she’d told Simone hours before, she found she didn’t care. Let them know.
“That would be wonderful. Will you tell her I want her to come to supper in a few days, as well?”
“Will you be up for that?”
“It will just be family,” she said. “You and her and my sisters and Silas.” She wrinkled her brow. “And perhaps Mr. Castleton if Julia’s expressions whenever anyone talks about him are any indication.”
“I’ll tell her,” Caroline promised. “Now rest and enjoy your sisters and your dear little girl.”
She departed the room and found Vaughn waiting in the hallway for her. She took his arm. “My Evie chose well in a husband. I’m so proud to call you my nephew.”
Vaughn swallowed hard and she thought she saw a little sparkle of tears in his eyes. “That means the world to me, Caroline. Now will you come have a drink with the gentlemen and toast my daughter and my wife with me?”
“I don’t think so. I’ve been tasked to tell a friend about the birth, so I’ll depart and let you all celebrate together. But I’ll return in the morning to assist in any way I can.”
“Thank you,” he said, and kissed her cheek.
She departed the house but didn’t go to Simone’s. She wanted to, but she knew emotions were too high after their encounter earlier in the night. Instead she wrote her a letter telling her of the birth and the invitation to have supper with Evie and Vaughn in a few days.
And she began to make plans for what she would do on that night. And how she would convince the woman she loved that there was nothing to hide from except the possible heartbreak of ending what they shared.
She could only hope it would be enough.
The gathering of the family a few days later was the first time Caroline saw Simone again.
When she entered Evie and Vaughn’s parlor wearing a pale blue gown Caroline had always loved, Caroline’s heart throbbed wildly.
She watched Simone greet the family and dote over Evie before she finally made her way to Caroline.
“Good evening,” she said softly.
They had a moment’s privacy as Vaughn and Silas were getting drinks for everyone and Arabella was fussing over Evie like a mother hen.
Simone brushed her fingers with her own.
It had only been so short a time since they’d touched far more intimately, but Caroline still soared with the briefest of connections.
“And here we are,” Simone said. “Though I hope your family can find some semblance of calm at last.”
Caroline nodded wearily. Simone wasn’t only referring to the birth of the baby Evie had named Isabel.
Julia was not there with them and that was because of events that had taken place shortly after the birth.
She had been kidnapped and threatened by the Earl of Heathfield, saved by Alexander Castleton, and the two had run off to marry in Gretna Green after declaring their love for each other.
Caroline had seen them off with the others and she couldn’t help but be happy.
While with the viscount there had been so many warning signs and fears, one look at how Alexander stared at Julia and there was no doubt he was deeply in love with her and she with him.
All three sisters had at last found their romantic matches.
Which made the fact Caroline couldn’t take Simone’s hand all the more painful.
“Julia is happy,” she said.
“Oh, I know. She wrote me a gushing letter that arrived from Scotland just this morning.” Simone said with a wide smile.
“The nursemaid is bringing Isabel down in a moment,” Evie said, and Simone took a long step away from Caroline. She felt bereft at the distance but forced herself to maintain her smile. “I cannot wait for you to meet her, Simone.”
Simone went to Evie and took her hand. “I’m buzzing with excitement to see her, my dear.”
The nurse came just then and after Evie fussed over her, Isabel was handed over to Simone. Caroline watched her love as she cuddled the little girl close to her and drew in a sniff of her hair.
“Oh, it really is a wonderful scent, isn’t it?” Simone gushed. “You are quite pretty, little one. But how could you not be? Your mother is perfect and your father is equally beautiful.”
“Not at all equally,” Vaughn said with a laugh as he came to hand over a glass of wine to Evie at her lounging seat. “We’re so glad our Isabel will have so many aunts and great-aunts to dote over her as she grows up.”
Simone handed the baby back to Evie. “Only one great-aunt in Caroline.”
“Two,” Evie said and her expression softened when Simone continued to appear confused. “Dearest, don’t you know? We think of you as our family, as well.”
Arabella nodded. “Yes, very much so. Though perhaps you’ll be bored of spending time with us now that our lives are so different. It will all be family gatherings and parties, I suppose. Well, except for the times Silas and I go out to shock the ton.”
Simone glanced toward Caroline. “I don’t know. I think family gatherings sound like they have their own appeal. Not everyone can stay a wild courtesan forever. And some of us cannot become more than that. We all have our place.”
Caroline pursed her lips at that statement, meant for her. Simone was determined to stay locked in this idea that she couldn’t have more than the life she currently led.
Though Arabella and Evie couldn’t know of the undercurrents of her statement, both appeared uncertain, but no one corrected Simone as supper was served.
Vaughn gallantly swept his still resting wife up in his arms to carry her to the dining room, Arabella and Silas followed, their heads close together and their arms intertwined.
Caroline did brush Simone’s fingers then, though she didn’t take her hand as they took up the rear of the advancing group. “You know, there is a meteor shower tonight, I’ve heard. And without a moon, it should be very clear.”
After all their years going to Lady Lena’s Salon, Caroline knew Simone had always had a keen interest in anyone who spoke on the stars. Simone shifted. “Yes, I planned to look when I got home.”
“We could look together from Evie and Vaughn’s balcony after supper. Two pairs of eyes are better than one in finding them,” Caroline suggested.
She thought Simone might refuse. But instead she let out a shaky sigh and nodded. “Very well. After supper.”
They entered the dining room then and took their seats far down the table away from each other. But Caroline had arranged what needed to be arranged. Now to see if she could manage to be brave enough to take the next step.
After supper ended and the gathering afterward grew quieter, Simone knew she should have excused herself.
Meeting Caroline in the soft night air to watch falling stars was the absolute worst idea anyone had ever had.
And yet she found herself on the terrace close to eleven, staring up at the night sky, looking for something to wish on.
The French doors behind her opened and shut and she felt Caroline’s presence even before she stepped up next to her at the stone wall and placed her hand directly next to Simone’s.