“But Miss Crissy—I don’t understand. Why didn’t you marry? Is the man dead?”
Christina knew it would be a long time before she could go to bed this night. She shifted her weight and then proceeded to tell Johnsy the whole story, including everything that she hadn’t told John. She began with her first sight of Philip at the ball in London, and ended with her first awareness of the baby and her plans to come home.
Johnsy cried and held Christina in her arms.
“Oh, baby—you ’ave suffered so. If only I could ’ave been there to ’elp you through it. An’ I still say that Philip Caxton is a blackguard—to turn you away like ’e did.”
“No, Johnsy—Philip had his reasons. They were selfish ones, but I don’t blame him anymore. I just hope he’s happy with Nura, for I’m happy with my baby,” Christina replied.
“Aye, ’appy you may be, but still sad for ’avin’ loved a man an’ then losin’ ’im in such a short time. I’m sorry, love—truly I am. But now I must get you to bed. You’re near to fallin’ asleep where you sit. I should be ashamed of myself for keepin’ you up till the wee ours of the mornin’. But you can sleep as late as you want tomorrow, love. I’ll keep the servants away from your room.”
Upstairs in Christina’s room, Johnsy helped her out of her traveling dress and into a loose-fitting nightdress. The large tub of water sitting in front of the blue marble fireplace had turned cold a long time ago, but she was too tired for a bath, anyway.
Christina surveyed her old room while Johnsy put away the rest of her things. She loved this room and had chosen it for herself because she liked the dark blues that dominated its decor.
Oh, but it was good to be home again with the things and people she had grown up with and loved!
Christina got into bed and covered herself. She was already asleep when Johnsy kissed her on the forehead and quietly left the room.
THE BRIGHT, CLEAR day was blocked out by the heavy blue velvet curtains covering the windows in Christina’s room. A door slammed shut somewhere in the house. Her reddened eyes fluttered open momentarily, but she was much too sleepy to think of crawling out of the soft comfort of her bed. She turned over and lost herself in peaceful sleep once again.
But a few moments later, the sound of angry voices brought Christina’s eyes wide open.
“Where is she, damn it?”
Christina raised herself slowly to her elbows.
“Now you can’t go in there, Master Tommy. I told you she’s sleepin’.”
Christina recognized Johnsy’s disapproving voice just outside her room.
“Good Lord, woman—it’s the middle of the day! Either you go in there and wake her—or I will.” It was Tommy Huntington.
“You will do no such thing. My baby is tired. She came ’ome very late last night, an’ she needs ’er sleep.”
“And that’s another matter. Why the hell wasn’t I informed that Christina was home? I had to hear it from my servants this morning.”
“Now calm yourself, Master Tommy. We didn’t know Miss Christina was comin’ ’ome until she arrived. I would ’ave sent word to you as soon as she woke up. Now you get yourself out of ’ere. I’ll send someone over after Miss Crissy wakes.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’m not leaving. I’ll wait downstairs, but she damn well better wake up soon or I’m coming back up here.”
After Tommy stormed downstairs, Christina’s door opened quietly and Johnsy poked her head around it. When she saw Christina sitting up, she came into the room.
“Ah, baby—I’m sorry ’e woke you. Master Tommy can sure be ’eadstrong when ’e wants to.”
“That’s all right, Johnsy. I guess it’s time I got up, anyway,” Christina replied. “I’ll take a bath now, then go down and face him.”
“Aye, ’e’s gonna be pretty upset when ’e sees your condition. Well, I’ll tell Master Tommy ’e can see you in the dining room shortly. You can tell ’im what you ’ave to over breakfast—you an’ that baby need your nourishment.”
About an hour later, Christina slowly descended the curved staircase and went straight to the dining room. She stopped in the doorway when she saw Tommy seated at the long table with his back to her. She quietly walked into the room.
“It’s good to see you again, Tommy.”
“Christina, why didn’t you—” He stood up and faced her, but he stopped short when he saw her enlarged belly.
A small, choked sound escaped his throat. Christina turned away and sat down on the other side of the table. One of the kitchenmaids brought in a large platter of food, and Christina, as if nothing were wrong, filled her plate with bacon and eggs and two delicious cherry tarts.
“Won’t you join me, Tommy? I hate to eat alone, and this food smells too good to waste,” she said without looking at him, busying herself buttering a piece of toast.
