Free Time for Silence by Philippa Carr Page B

brought him. There was a paper. We had to put our mark on it, both Jacques and me. And it’s all signed and sealed. I said, there’s only one thing I want to know: The baby is mine forever, just as though I’d given life to him. And they said that was in the paper. But you must see him. Just a moment. I’ll fetch him.”
    She brought him in. He was a very young baby with fine, fair hair. His eyes were closed for he was sleeping, so I could not see what color they were. But I guessed they were blue. He seemed to be a healthy child.
    “What’s his name?” I asked.
    “Edouard. That was given him. And of course he’ll take our name. I would not have it otherwise.”
    “So he will be yours, Madame Plantain, yours entirely.”
    “That’s so. And I’ll never forget what he is doing for us. The first thing Jacques looks for when he comes in is this little fellow.”
    She sat rocking the baby, who continued to sleep.
    “I think it is wonderful that it has ended like this,” I said.
    “It was like a miracle from heaven,” she said. “And I shall always believe it was such.”
    It was on the first day of August that the term finished. The Princesse came to the school. She was going to take me straight to the château.
    Madame Rochère gave her the respect due her rank and they spent a little time together.
    As we left I was reminded of my arrival the previous September, and I thought what a lot had happened in one short year.
    The Princesse was as affable and gracious as ever and we had a pleasant journey down to Bordeaux. At the station the Bourdon carriage was waiting to collect us and we made the journey comfortably to the château.
    I was very much looking forward to seeing Annabelinda. The Princesse had told me that she had made a good recovery and was almost her old self.
    “We make her rest a little each day because it was a long and trying illness. However, we feel that we have pulled her through most satisfactorily.”
    Annabelinda was waiting to greet us with Jean Pascal beside her. She looked well and even blooming.
    “It’s lovely to see you, Lucinda,” she cried. She hugged me warmly and I felt very emotional.
    “Annabelinda, it’s wonderful to see you again.”
    “It was an awful time.”
    Jean Pascal had taken my hands and was kissing them.
    “Welcome, dear child. How happy we all are that you are here. And how do you think Annabelinda is looking, eh?”
    “She looks better than she ever did.”
    He laughed. “That’s what I tell her. You see, my dear, you and I think alike.”
    “And she really is completely recovered?”
    “Yes…yes. There is no doubt of that. We are going to take care of her and make sure there is not a relapse.”
    We went into the château, which always overawed me. My mother said she had felt the same about it when she was there. The past seemed to encroach on the present, and one thought of all the people who had lived there through the ages and had perhaps left something of themselves behind.
    We ate in the intimate dining room, and Jean Pascal and the Princesse did seem genuinely happy to have me there. As for Annabelinda, she made me feel very welcome.
    “I only hope your parents are not angry with us for keeping you away from them,” said Jean Pascal.
    “They will spare us a little time, I am sure,” said the Princesse .
    “If Annabelinda can come back with me, they will be very pleased,” I said.
    “I think it is certain that she will be well enough to do that,” answered Jean Pascal.
    The conversation continued in such a manner, but I felt there was a certain strain and that Jean Pascal was aware of it.
    I was glad when we retired to our rooms, and I could not resist going along to Annabelinda’s.
    She was in bed but not asleep.
    She smiled at me. “I guessed you’d come along,” she said.
    “Well, it’s so long since we’ve had a real talk.”
    “Tell me about school. How were they when I left so suddenly? Was there a lot of talk?”
    “They