“Why, Tony, didn’t you tell them?” Reggie asked in all innocence.
“Very nicely done, puss.” Anthony grinned at her. “And I see you have recovered from your earlier upset.”
“I just needed to lie down for a few moments.”
He shook his head. “Well, I think you can safely leave us alone now to kiss and make up. Run along and find yourself a cup of tea or something. And take my new nephew with you.”
“Uncle Jason?” She didn’t have to be specific. He nodded. He was wearing his harmless scowl now, so it was all right. “Go on, Reggie. A man can’t get a thing said when you’re in the room.”
Reggie smiled triumphantly and hugged James. “Welcome back to the family, Uncle James.”
“Regan, my sweet, don’t ever change.”
“As if you four would let me change withoutyourapproval!” She hooked her arm through Jeremy’s. “Come along, cousin. Your father will tell them all about you, and you can tell me all about yourself.”
“I had best go with them,” Conrad said, and did.
As the three left, they heard behind them, “You still have to be different, don’t you, James?” This was Jason. “Her name isn’t Regan!”
“It isn’t Reggie either! And anyway she’s outgrown Reggie. Regan is more suitable for a grown woman.”
“It sounds to me like you failed to get them to make up,” Jeremy said to her.
“Stuff,” Reggie giggled. “Tell him, Connie.”
“She’s right, lad,” Conrad said as he escorted the two down the hall. “They wouldn’t be happy unless they were arguing about something.”
“So just think how happy you’ve made them, Jeremy,” Reggie added sagely. “Now they can disagree overyourupbringing, too.”
Chapter 25
THE stallion left a trail of dust as it galloped over the plantation road. New spring flowers of the European variety joined with tropical blooms along the roadside to create a profusion of wild color. To the right of the road, less than a mile away, the ocean cast huge waves upon a sandy beach. The hot sun glinted off blue waters as far as the eye could see.
Nicholas noticed none of the beauty around him that sultry early April day. He was returning from the island’s small harbor and a meeting with Captain Bowdler, who had reported that his ship would be ready to sail with the morning tide. Nicholas was going home to England, home to Regina.
Six months away had not helped to get her out of his mind. He had tried. He had spent months turning a broken-down plantation house into the showcase of the island, months more in getting the land ready for crops and planting. Nearly every moment had been spent in hard work, but his continuing mood was still dangerously maudlin. A hundred times he had decided to go home. As many times he had talked himself out of it. The situation there would not be changed. Miriam and her threats were still hanging over him and Regina.
But in all this time, Nicholas had overlooked the obvious. Regina probably already knew. Miriam could not live six months with the girl and not try to turn her against him. Yes, she must know by now.
That likelihood had been pointed out to him last week when he got thoroughly foxed with Captain Bowdler and poured out his soul to the man. It took someone objective and just as drunk to make him see that he was sitting on the island brooding like a child because he didn’t have the woman he wanted. Well, he’d brooded long enough. It was time to go home and see what was what. If his wife detested him, then that would be the end of that.
But if she didn’t? Captain Bowdler asked him that, too. What if she scorned public opinion and judged him on his own merits? Well, the truth was, he had treated her abominably and that was all shehadto judge him by. Too, she had buckled under one scandal, causing her to want to marry him. He would like to believe that she had married him for reasons other than propriety, but it wasn’t likely.
So where did that leave him? Nowhere. Until he got home, he couldn’t know how much damage had been done.
A barefoot, chocolate-skinned boy ran out of the large white house to take Nicholas’ horse. That was the only thing Nicholas hadn’t gotten used to here, owning slaves. It was the one thing about the islands he hated.
“Guests you have, sir, in de study,” his housekeeper told him. He thanked her and moved off down the wide, open hall, a little annoyed. Who was calling? He had packing to do yet and another meeting with his estate agent. He didn’t have time to chitchat.
He stepped into the darkened study, where drawn shades kept out the noon heat. He scanned the occupied chairs surrounding his desk. Rather than believe what he saw, he closed his eyes. This was not to be borne.
“Tell me I’ve imagined you, Hawke.”
“You’ve imagined me.”
Nicholas crossed the room and sat down behind his desk. “Then you won’t mind if I ignore you?”
“See what I mean, Jeremy? He’d spit in the devil’s eye.
