His For Christmas (14 page)

“I
was
like
you.
”

Elliot
put
a
hand
on
the
boy
’
s
shoulder.
“
Timothy.
”

Timothy
shook
his
hand
off,
not
angry,
but
merely
as
if
he
were
dislodging
a
leaf
from
his
shoulder.
“
Mr.
Whitley,
do
you
know
what
it
’
s
like
to
be
hungry
and
cold?
I
know.
She
knows
what
it
’
s
like.
Don
’
t
you?
”

This
little
boy
knew
hunger,
pain,
fear,
cold?
The
very
idea
was
enough
to
bring
warmth
to
her
eyes.
“
Oh
God,
”
she
said,
for
the
lack
of
anything
else
to
say.
“
I
’
m
sorry.
”

The
boy
smiled
again.
“
It
’
s
in
the
past
now.
But
if
you
need
help,
Mr.
Whitley
will
help
you.
”
And
then
he
bent
near
to
her
ear,
whispering
loudly,
“
I
think
he
’
s
an
angel
in
disguise.
”

He
certainly
looked
like
one,
with
a look
of
peace
about
his
fine
features.
“
I
would
find
it
hard
to
disagree
with
you
there,
Timothy.
”

He
tilted
his
head
to
one
side.
“
What
is
your
name?
”

For
a
few
brief
moments,
Ivy
wrestled
with
her
conscience
and
realized
there
was
no
one
looking
for
her.
Bertrand certainly wouldn’t.
After
all,
all
he
wanted
was
Redmayne Hall.
He was probably taking a bath in fine champagne in celebration.

“
Ivy,
”
she
said,
voice
gone
quiet.
There
was
little
harm
in
giving
her
name
to
a
stranger. He
couldn
’
t
possibly
connect
her
to
the
spoiled
heiress
who
once
had
the
world
on
a
golden
platter.
“
Ivy
Stevens.
”

Elliot
’
s
eyes
narrowed.
“
Stevens?
”

Her
heart
jumped
up
to
her
throat.
“
Ye
…
yes
…
?
”

Once
again,
that
strange
feeling
of
being
observed
by
a
creature
that
could,
conceivably,
swallow
her
alive.
“
Of
the
Stevens
in
Geneva?
”