Della put her arm around Nora’s shoulder and drew her closer. The kitten stretched on Nora’s lap, her tiny claws digging into Nora’s gown. Nora just giggled, petting the kitten between its ears.

“We are all so happy that Emily’s father has returned. And you asked a question about your father.” How could she put this? She never wanted to lie to her daughter, but she also didn’t want to tell her anything her daughter wasn’t yet mature enough to understand.

“Your father and I were so pleased when we discovered we were going to have you.” That, at least, was true. Mostly because Mr. Baxter saw Della’s pregnancy as a means to leverage money from her parents, even though Della herself was adamantly against that. Just one of the many things on which they disagreed. “But when you arrived, we realized we were better apart.” This was so hard to explain. But Nora deserved the truth, or at least as much of it as Della could tell her.

“So my father left us?” Nora’s voice sounded quavery, and Della’s heart hurt.

Yes. He did. “He loved you so much”—which was an outright lie, but this was a lie Della could live with—“but he knew it would make all of us unhappy if he stayed.”

“Oh.” Nora seemed to be digesting that, and Della held her breath that her very curious daughter wouldn’t ask more questions.

“So is he coming back? Like Emily’s father?”

Della squeezed Nora’s shoulders. “If he does, I know he will be so proud to see you, and see what a smart, strong girl you are.”

The door opened, thankfully, to admit the girl holding the tea service. She glanced questioningly at Della, who nodded for her to put it down on the table in front of the sofa.

“And biscuits!” Nora exclaimed, dislodging the kitten, who gave a disgruntled meow and scurried under the sofa. She picked a biscuit up and put most of it into her mouth, crumbs dropping onto her lap.

Della was not going to chastise her for sloppy eating. Not now, not when the arrival of the biscuits had derailed her daughter from continuing her line of questioning.

She had no doubt but that Nora would return to her questions, but for now the biscuit had saved the day.

She served herself some tea, taking a long sip as she thought about Mr. Baxter. Something she normally did not allow herself to do.

What would she do if he did return? Not that he would, not unless he sensed there was money to be had. And since her parents showed no signs of relenting in their ostracism of her, there was no possibility of that. But what if he did return? Would she want Nora to meet him?