Page 9 of Claiming His Lost Duchess
As always, Sophia was excited to splash about in the tub, giggling excitedly as her mother gently washed her hair.
“Someone’s happy tonight,” Joan teased, closing her eyes for a moment to signal Sophia to close hers. “Did you have an enjoyable time playing today?”
“I did! So much, Mama!” Sophia gasped as though she didn't have the words to explain just how much she loved playing outside.
“Even though you had to play by yourself today?”
“I like playing by myself,” Sophia said, rubbing her eyes after Joan had rinsed her hair thoroughly.
“Really? You do not like playing with the other children? They seem so fond of you.” Joan frowned in confusion.
As far as she had observed, Sophia did not have any issues with the other children. They seemed to like her because she was much younger than most of them, and she was quite adorable.
“They always tease me for not having a father. Annabeth said it was strange my mama did not have a hus… hisbon?”
“Husband,” Joan corrected instinctively as her heart sank.
“Um-hmm. That. I said my mama and I were happy together, but they laughed at me… why don't I have a papa, Mama?”
Joan did not know how to explain the subject of her birth when she was so young and wouldn’t be able to comprehend the complications that surrounded the actions that yielded her. But still, it served as a good opportunity to bring up the subject of moving to London.
“Some people just do not have fathers, my peach. But that doesn’t make you any less of a special biscuit. Do you understand me?”
Sophia giggled and shook her head. “I’m not a biscuit, Mama! You can’t eat me!”
Joan grinned and brought Sophia’s hand towards her mouth.
“Are you sure? What if I take a little bite right here?”
“Mama, no!” Sophia squealed, splashing around in the tub.
Joan relented, not wanting her to get hurt, smiling widely when Sophia pressed her hands to Joan's cheeks and scolded.
“No biting, Mama. It is bad.”
“That is true. I agree completely,” Joan conceded before she tried to get the matter back on track. “Darling… what do you think about leaving this house?”
Sophia stared at her, eyes wide.
“Leaving? Without you, Mama?”
“Oh, no. Heaven forbid. You are never going anywhere without me,” Joan shook her head quickly. “I'll come along. We will live in London together. I'll keep tutoring young ladies, and you will get to play in a bigger house, a bigger garden. Perhaps you might even make some nicer friends.”
“That does sound nice,” Sophia gasped, pressing her hands to her lips.
“Doesn't it?” Joan smiled softly at her. “London is much different from the countryside, though. It is louder, full of more people, and well… things might be difficult at first. But I want to make sure that you live a happy life, poppet. So I would like us to go there. Together, of course.”
“Will you be happy too, Mama? I like it when you're happy.”
Joan thought about the shadows of her past that lingered there, the life she had run away from, hoping never to return to.
Things are different now, she told herself as she looked down at Sophia's hands in hers. He's dead, and he can never try to hurt you again.
“I hope so. I will try to be,” she promised.
“Good. I hope we’re happy together!”
Joan smiled and gathered Sophia in her arms, wrapping her swiftly in a cloth to keep her from catching a cold, and she dried off.
