Alexandra looked eagerlyfrom the carriage window. “Almost home! It’s hard to believe that it’s been only a month since we left Swindon. I feel yearsolder.”
Sunny smiled, trying to conceal her nerves. “Paris has that effect on people. You really have changed, too. You left as a girl and are returning as a youngwoman.”
“I hope so.” Alexandra grinned. “But I’m going to go right up to my room and take off my wonderful Worth travel ensemble. Then I’ll curl up in my window seat and read that new Rider Haggard novel I bought in London. Though Paris was wonderful, there’s nothing quite like agoodbook.”
“You’ve earned the right to a little self-indulgence.” Sunny gave her sister-in-law a fond smile. Petite and pretty, Alexandra would never be called the Gargoylette again, and the difference was more than mere clothing. Now that Alexandra was free of her mother’s crushing influence, she was developing poise, confidence and a quiet charm that would surely win her whatever man she eventually honored with herheart.
The carriage pulled up in front of the palace and a footman stepped forward to open the door and let down the steps. Even though Sunny had lived at Swindon for only a few months and that interval had been far from happy, she felt a surprising sense ofhomecoming.
It helped that the full glory of an English spring had arrived. All nature was in bloom, and the sun was almost as warm as high summer. As they entered the main hall, Sunny asked the butler, “Is my husband in the house or out on theestate?”
She assumed the latter, for Justin was not expecting them to return until the next day. But the butler replied, “I believe the duke is taking advantage of the fine weather by working in the Greek gazebo. Shall I inform him of yourarrival?”
Sunny’s heart lurched. She had thought she would have several hours more before confronting her husband about the state of their marriage, but perhaps it would be better this way. “No, I shall freshen up and thensurprisehim.”
As she walked toward the stairs, a black-and-tan whirlwind darted across the hall and leapt against her, barking joyfully. “Daisy! Oh, darling, I missed you, too.” Sunny knelt and hugged the little dog, feeling that such a warm welcome was agoodomen.
A moment later, the wolfhounds thundered up and greeted Alexandra eagerly, then escorted her upstairs. Canine snobs of the highest order, they could tell aristocratic British blood from that of an upstart American, and they reserved their raptures for Justin and hissisters.
Sunny didn’t mind. Her charming mongrel at her heels, she went to her room and changed from her traveling suit to her most flattering tea gown, a loose, flowing confection of figured green silk that brought out the green inhereyes.
She chose the costume with care, and not just because it was comfortable. The free and easy design of a tea gown was considered rather daring because it hinted at free and easy morals. She hoped Justin would see her garb as the subtle advance thatitwas.
Because he always seemed to like her hair, she let it down and tied it back with a scarf. She needed all the help she could get, for she was terrified by the prospect of baring her heart to the man who could so easilybreakit.
Apart from a brief note that she had written to inform Justin of their safe arrival in Paris, there had been no communication between them. For all she knew, he was still furious over PaulCurzon’skiss.
Fortunately, she had news that should mollify any lingering anger. God willing, it would also bring themtogether.
Chin high, she sailed out of the house and down the path toward thegardens.
* * *
Abreeze waftedthrough the miniature Greek temple, carrying exuberant scents of trees and spring flowers. Justin scarcely noticed. He was hardly more aware of the pile of correspondence that lay on the cushioned bench beside him, for thoughts of his wife dominated his mind. All of his grief, guilt and anguished love had been intensified by that night of heartbreaking passion, when he had briefly thought that their spirits and bodies were in totalharmony.
Sunny had sent him a single impersonal note from Paris. Though it gave no hint of her feelings, its civility implied that she was willing to go on as if nothing hadhappened.
Yet he feared her return almost as much as he longed to see her. Having once found passion in her arms, it was going to be almost impossible for him not to try to invoke it again, whether she was willingornot.
Absently he slit an envelope with the Italian dagger he used as a letter opener. Before he could pull out the folded sheet inside, a soft voice said, “Good day,Justin.”
He froze. Then he looked up to see Sunny poised on the edge of the folly, her right hand resting on one of the Ionic columns that framed the entrance. She wore a flowing green tea gown that made her look like an exquisite tree nymph. The garment was distractingly similar to a nightgown, and the breeze molded the fluttering, translucent layers of fabric to her slimfigure.
For an instant all his tormented desire must have showed in his face. He wanted to cross the marble floor and draw her into his arms and never let her go. But he didn’t. She looked ready to run if he made a move toward her, and it was unbearable to think that she mightfearhim.
He set the pile of letters on the bench beside him and courteously got to his feet. “I hope you had a good journey. I wasn’t expecting you and Alex untiltomorrow.”
“Rather than spend another night in London, we decided to come homeearly.”
“I’m glad. The house has seemed empty without the twoofyou.”
Afraid to look at her because of what his expression would reveal, he turned the dagger over and over in his hands. The impact of her presence had driven away all of the eloquent, romantic speeches he had been rehearsing inhismind.
After a strained silence, she said, “I have good news. I’m almost certain that... that I am withchild.”
His first reaction was delight, but that was instantly shadowed by the implications. Augusta Vangelder had told him that once her daughter conceived, she was not to be troubled by husbandly lust. The fact that Sunny was brandishing the possibility of her pregnancy like a shield was clear proof that she welcomed the excuse to ban him fromherbed.
His fingers whitened around the handle of the dagger. If she bore a son, her obligation to the Aubrey name would be fulfilled, and their marriage would effectively be over. Driving the dagger into his belly would have hurt less than thatthought.
