While Love Stirs (The Gregory Sisters Book #2): A Novel by Seilstad Lorna

Author:Seilstad, Lorna [Seilstad, Lorna]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi
Tags: FIC042030, Sisters—Fiction, FIC042040, FIC027050
ISBN: 9781441245182
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2014-04-28T16:00:00+00:00

23

Being an aunt still seemed odd to Tessa. With her fussy niece in her arms, she swayed back and forth as she’d seen Hannah do. How long would Hannah and Lincoln stay upstairs with Aunt Sam? Didn’t they realize she was not experienced in the care of an infant?

When she’d protested about them leaving Ellie alone with her, Hannah had assured her she’d do fine. “You play a maid, don’t you?”

“One who lets the children fly out the window,” Tessa called, but her sister kept on climbing the staircase as if she’d not heard her.

That had been half an hour ago.

“Ellie, sweetie, if you keep crying, they’re going to think I’m not up to the task of caring for you.” She switched the infant to her shoulder and patted her back. “And while we both know that’s true, perhaps you could pretend it isn’t so.” She sat down in a chair and held Ellie at arm’s length so she could look into her eyes. “I pretend all the time. You’ll find it’s easier the more practice you get.”

The baby quieted, so she went on in a singsong voice. “Would you like to hear a little Shakespeare?”

Ellie’s tiny mouth quirked in a bit of a smile.

“Am I holding a budding thespian?” She smiled at the baby. “You’ve been acting upset with me all this time when in fact, you like me. Isn’t that right, my sweet little niece? So, let’s see, how about some lines from Macbeth? No, that’s a bit much for a baby. Hamlet? Too depressing. Romeo and Juliet? We’ll talk about that when you’re older.” Ellie’s eyes drooped a little, so Tessa cradled her against her side but kept talking. “I know the perfect lines. They’re from The Tempest. One of my favorites.”

The baby’s eyes drooped further.

“In The Tempest, the heroine is strong. In his comedies, all of Shakespeare’s heroines are strong. He probably thought the idea of a strong woman was funny, because in his tragedies, things seldom go so well for the ladies. We’ll read The Tempest together someday, you and I.” Tessa’s voice grew soft as Ellie’s eyes closed. “‘We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.’”

The steady rise and fall of Ellie’s tiny chest told Tessa she’d done it. She’d gotten the baby to sleep. The act, while simple, left her with the most satisfying feeling. Was that what it meant to be an aunt?

Hannah joined her in the parlor and smiled. “You did it. You conquered the mighty Ellie.”

“I think she conquered me.” Tessa stroked her niece’s milkweed-soft cheek. “‘Though she be but little, she is fierce.’”

“Much Ado About Nothing?”

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Act two, scene three.” She rolled her eyes. Apparently it would be up to her to educate her niece in life’s most important matters. “Don’t worry, Ellie, Aunt Tessa will teach you everything you need to know.”

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