In His Eyes(16)

Mother.

Ella let the word flutter through her, taking root deep into her heart in such a way that she could not fathom being anything different. Though not of her womb, this boy was nevertheless the child of her heart. A sense of rightness engulfed her, and she knew that it could be none other than the will of God. Someone to love.

Thank you, Lord, that I no longer have to face this world alone. Here can be someone who will love me. I promise I will be a most devoted mother.

She slipped from the room before Sibby could see the tears brimming in her eyes and decided to wait in the wide upper hall. She’d no sooner stepped from the room than Basil scurried over to her.

“What’s going on?”

Voices bounced up the stairs and washed over them. “I think Sibby wanted a gathering.”

Basil chewed on her lip. “Really? Somethin’ wrong?”

Fear leached into her veins, causing them to form icy rivers along her arms. She clutched them to her an in effort to ward away a chill that could not be cured with warmth. “Well, nothing, really. I don’t think.” She glanced at the stairs. “At least, I hope not.” Would the people revolt against Sibby’s will? Demand she and Lee be tossed out?

Basil crossed her arms. “See? Nobody wants to tell me nothin’.”

Despite herself, Ella chuckled. “There, now. Don’t get yourself in a dither.” She patted the girl’s thin shoulder. “Sibby will be down soon enough and tell it all.”

Basil eyed her. “Got something to do with you, don’t it?”

“It does.”

“You’s right pretty, you know that?”

Startled, Ella looked back at the girl. What an odd thing to say. She didn’t have opportunity to refute the flattery, however, because Nat made the turn on the landing and headed right for them. He scowled at Ella and then turned his eyes to Basil. “You better get on down them stairs.”

“But I was talkin’….”

“I said go!”

Basil shot Ella an apologetic look. “Just ’cause you is my brother don’t mean….”

Ella missed the remainder of the words Basil grumbled as she descended the stairs. Feeling Nat’s eyes boring into her, she tried to offer a friendly smile.

“Here’s yo stuff.” He tossed the bag to her, and it landed on her foot.

Determined not to wince, she kept her features even. “I thank you.”

His eyes drifted down her form. “I don’t like this.”

Ella remained still, unsure how to respond.

“We all respect Sibby, as is her due. If she says you is going to stay, then that’s what it’ll be.” He took a step closer, the combination of his large form and her short one causing Ella to have to tilt her head back to keep her eyes on his face.

She wondered about the woman who seemed to be in control here. She was much too young. But then, perhaps Ella was just more of a girl and less of a woman than she should be.

“If you go and give her any grief…”

“Nat!”

Ella jumped. Sibby stood in the doorway, a thin blanket draped over her shoulders and hiding the front of her dress, likely concealing the baby who still suckled.

“You make me get up from feeding this here child to come out here to scold you? A boy so close to being a man that he should know better?”

Nat cringed. “Sorry, Sibby. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“Humph. You leave her alone.”

He cast Ella one more scathing look and hurried down the stairs before Sibby could scold him further. Sibby rolled her eyes. “That boy means well. He’s only lookin’ out for me.”

Ella offered a faltering smile. “That’s good he cares for you.” She was tempted to ask more into their relationship, but decided against it. It was none of her business. She would not look into matters that did not directly affect the care of her child.

Sibby looked at her strangely a moment, then gestured at the bag at Ella’s feet. “You got something else in there to wear?”

She scooped up the bag. “Yes.”

“Then you come on in here. Mrs. Remington’s room will be yours now. You go on and get changed. When I finish with the boy, I’s going down to talk to my people.”

Ella opened her mouth to ask if Sibby would be passing through the room while she changed, but she answered the question before Ella had the chance to speak it.

“And don’t worry ’bout you being seen. There’s a door that leads out of the nursery to the back porch. I’ll go round that way.”

Ella released a breath and followed Sibby back into the rose room, closing the door to the nursery after she passed through with Lee. Clutching the valise tightly, Ella stared at the room through the tears that pricked her eyes. Such finery. How had she gone from sleeping on the storeroom floor to an entire room of her own? Even at home, she’d slept in the open loft over the common room, the house’s only private bedroom having been reserved for her parents.

Shaking away her disbelief, Ella tossed the valise onto the tall bed and opened it. She plucked out her spare dress, a faded yellow frock that carried the stains of too much kitchen grease. She’d tried washing it until the fabric had begun to thin, but still the stains remained.

She dug deeper, feeling a bit of smooth material underneath her fingers. She smiled. Perhaps she would find something fine enough for a lady to wear. Well, at least for a pretend lady.