The Baby Who Stopped Crying in the Maid's Arms

CHAPTER 2 - A HOUSE FULL OF GHOSTS

Camila Ruiz had worked at Vale House for eleven days.

That was not long enough to be called family, or trusted, or noticed unless silver was missing or dust remained on a shelf. Long enough, however, for Mrs. Donnelly, the housekeeper, to learn that Camila was polite, quick with her hands, and careful not to speak about her past.

Now everyone in the hall was looking at her.

At the top of the staircase stood Vanessa Hart, Ethan's sister-in-law, elegant in cream silk and sharp disappointment. Her heels clicked against the marble as she descended.

"What is this?" Vanessa asked. "Why is she holding Claire's baby?"

The name landed heavily.

Claire.

The dead wife's name still lived in the walls.

Camila instinctively held Nico closer. Not possessively. Protectively. The child made a soft, sleepy sound against her chest.

Ethan's gaze moved from Camila to Vanessa. "He was crying."

"And now he isn't," Vanessa said coolly. "That doesn't make her special."

Camila swallowed. "I didn't mean any disrespect."

Vanessa ignored her. "Give the baby back."

Camila obeyed, though it felt strangely difficult. Ethan took Nico, and the child began fussing again, his little face twisting red.

Vanessa folded her arms. "Convenient."

Ethan frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means grief makes people foolish," Vanessa said. "Some women know exactly how to make themselves indispensable."

Camila flinched. Ethan noticed.

"My son is not a strategy," he said, more sharply than before.

Vanessa looked almost pleased by his anger. "Then ask her about her child."

Silence settled over the hall.

Camila stared at the floor. "He died," she said quietly. "Two years ago."

Ethan's expression changed. Suspicion remained, but something gentler entered it.

Vanessa took one step closer. "Died where?"

Camila's hand curled at her side. "At Saint Agnes Maternity."

That time it was Ethan who went still.

Nico whimpered in his arms. Ethan looked at the baby, then back at Camila.

"My wife gave birth to Nico at Saint Agnes," he said.

Vanessa's face lost some of its confidence.

Then Mrs. Donnelly, who rarely interrupted anyone, spoke from the doorway.

"Sir," she said, holding a folded file with shaking hands, "there's something else. This arrived from the hospital this morning. It is addressed to you... and to the mother of Baby Boy Ruiz."

"My wife gave birth to Nico at Saint Agnes."