Chapter 1 Aurelija Petrova

                                    

                                          


                          
Mor Nusquam Island, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, March1,1799
                          
"Mother! She keeps following me," Nicholas turned angrily to the three and a half year old girl following him and pushed her hard enough to knock her off her feet. She landed on her bottom regained her footing and continued her pursuit.
                          
"NICHOLAS!" Charles, his father scolded, "Aurelija is your almost-sister, we are fostering her. You need to..."
                          
"I DON'T WANT an almost sister," Nicholas said, bursting into tears, "I want Ben!" both of his parents knelt beside him. His mother enfolding him in her arms.
                          
"Benjamin is dead Nick," his mother whispered. "It's been over a year now." Nicholas continued to sob on his mother's shoulder. He still felt the painful loss of his twin even a year later. He had not ventured outside their home since Benjamin died of fever. He rarely spoke and avoided contact even with former friends in the village. "Aurelija has lost both of her parents. I promised her mother I would raise her."
                          
"But I HATE RELLY!" Nicholas shouted.
                          
"But she likes you," Charles said teasingly, "she follows you everywhere."
                          
"She likes me?" Nicholas whispered, his eyebrows furrowed as he watched Aurelija. She smiled and moved closer apparently undaunted by his rough treatment and shouting.
                          
"Why do you think she follows you everywhere?" his mother asked softly.
                          
"To annoy me!" Nicholas responded angrily. Relly seeing Nick's distress moved even closer and wrapped her tiny arms around him and standing on tip toe and jumping kissed his cheek.
                          
"Es milu Tevi," Relly whispered.
                          
"See," his mother said holding her son tighter. "She said 'I love you' in Latvian."
                          
"When will she learn English?" Nicholas asked.
                          
"Soon enough," Charles said. Later that night after the household were safely in bed Charles said to his wife Phoebe, "Did we do the right thing bringing Aurelija into our home?"
                          
"Inga was my best friend," Phoebe whispered. "I promised her I would take care of Aurelija after Count Petrova died. I never expected Inga to pass so soon."
                          
"How did Inga end up married to a Russian count?"
                          
"Latvian count, her father was in the diplomatic service and they met in Moscow," Phoebe said, "they just fell in love."
                          
"Well Aurelija Petrova is part of the Loughtey family and is ours now," Charles said, "I wonder how Junior will act?"
                          
"Junior will adapt, lets check on the nursery before we  go to bed." The couple held hands and very quietly opened the nursery door. Nicholas and Relly were sleeping. "How did Relly end up in bed with Nick?" Phoebe whispered.
                          
"I thought he hated her," Charles whispered back.
                          
"They look so cute together," Phoebe said as she moved Aurelija to her own bed without waking her. "Hopefully their fighting will stop. And thank you Charles for letting Aurelija into our home."
                          
"You always wanted a daughter," Charles whispered as he kissed his wife. They walked to their room in the sprawling manor house holding hands.
                          
"It's not that I don't love my boys," Phoebe whispered.
                          
"You have a gently caring heart. I could never say no to you anyway." Charles smiled pulling Phoebe in a tight embrace just as they entered their room, "I know you wanted more children so this is good."
                          
"After the twins and the cancer the doctors told me I could never have more," Phoebe whispered, "the surgery ended  that possibility."
                          
"Well you have a girl now, and a husband that is totally in love with you." Phoebe smiled and returned his kiss.