Out of Time Series Box Set II: (Books 4-6) by Monique Martin

Author:Monique Martin [Martin, Monique]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Time Travel, Fantasy, Historical, Mystery & Detective
Google: pCj7AwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Monique Martin
Published: 2014-07-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Simon watched as the children and the parents cooed over Louisa's “big present”. As James covered Louisa's eyes one of the grooms led out a stunning white pony. The child squealed with joy in an octave only little girls and castrati could achieve, and then ran back and forth between her father and her new horse. The other children were duly impressed and wasted no time on working on their parents for the next gift opportunity.

James lifted Louisa up onto the elaborate saddle on the pony's back and walked her past her guests like the queen leaving Buckingham Palace. It reminded Simon of parties he'd been forced to attend as a child. Those were usually displays of wealth meant to impress adults and had little to do with the child's happiness. At least, in this case, the girl was clearly ecstatic.

“Just like Bonnie Blue,” Elizabeth said as she came to his side.

Simon frowned down at her. She'd promised no Gone With the Wind references. He was actually amazed she'd lasted this long.

She slipped her arm through his and nodded toward the far side of the garden. “Walk with me?”

Always happy to be alone with her, he gladly complied. They walked away from the crowd and Elizabeth steered him to a semi-secluded spot out of earshot of the others.

“The picture of a happy family, aren't they?” she said as they turned back to watch James lead Louisa past Rose.

“Something is out of focus?” Simon asked.

“Photoshopped. It's going to sound crazy, but in 8th grade I was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe.”

“Of course you were.”

Elizabeth's eyes flashed with annoyance. “Anyway, I wanted a widow's peak. I thought they were the most glamorous thing ever. I tried to train my hair, I even tweezed once, like Marilyn,” she admitted. Simon winced. “But you can't make it happen,” she added. “It's either in your genes or it isn't.”

Simon waited patiently for the point.

Exasperated that he was apparently too dull to see it, she sighed and nodded toward Louisa. “Genetics.”

He followed her gaze and the light suddenly dawned. “Louisa has a widow's peak.”

Elizabeth nodded. “But neither Rose nor James does. Basic high school science. It's impossible for Louisa to be their child.”

All this time he'd been so fixated on Mary, and with good reason, it had never occurred to him that Louisa could play a part in this. “Rose had an affair as well?” he wondered out loud.

“Hard to believe,” Elizabeth said. “But what other explanation could there be?”

“I don't know,” Simon said, trying to process the possibilities. He turned to catch a glimpse of Louisa when something familiar caught his eye. “Mary.”

Mary stood hunched in the bushes watching the children through parted branches, watching the party that should have been hers. Perhaps it really was hers. Mrs. Nolan at the orphanage had said that Mary had died a week before her eighth birthday. It could hardly be a coincidence that Louisa had met that mark today.

Mary must have sensed them looking at her, because she turned away from the party and toward them.

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