She sat down and leaned against the old tree recalling a similar pond in the mountains. Philip probably took Nura there now.
Christina returned to the house late. The sun had already disappeared, and the sky was a soft purple and steadily growing darker. Christina stepped into the lighted hallway. It had become a bit chilly, and she rubbed her bare arms briskly as she headed for the drawing room.
The room was in darkness when she entered. Only the soft light from the hallway allowed her to see her way to the fireplace. She took one of the long matches from the mantel and lit the fire, then stood back as it gained strength. Gradually the warmth touched her, and she moved away to light the many lamps throughout the room. She had taken only two steps when she saw a figure standing in the shadows by the open window. She gasped in sheer fright when the figure moved toward her, but her fear turned to anger when she saw who it was.
“You scared the wits out of me, Tommy Huntington! What the devil are you doing in here in the dark?” she said angrily.
“I was waiting for you, but I didn’t mean to scare you,” he replied meekly. He usually backed down when confronted by Christina’s anger.
“Why didn’t you speak out when I entered the room?”
“I wanted to watch you without being observed.”
“What on earth for?”
“Even in your present condition you—you’re still the most beautiful girl in England.”
“Why, thank you, Tommy. But you know I don’t like being spied upon, and I didn’t expect to see you again today. Are you here for some special reason? If not, I’m tired and I plan just to have my dinner and then go to bed.”
“Then why come in here and light the fire?”
“You can be very exasperating! I’m going to eat in here, if you must know. I don’t like having my meals in that big dining room all by myself.”
Just then, one of the downstairs maids came into the room, but stopped when she saw Christina.
“I was just going to light the lamps, miss.”
“Well, go ahead. Then have Mrs. Ryan prepare my dinner, please.”
“Mind if I join you?” Tommy said.
Christina arched an eyebrow, surprised at his request. Perhaps he was willing to remain friends.
“Molly, have two dinners prepared, and you may serve them in here. And let Johnsy know I’m back, please, so she doesn’t fret.”
After the maid left, Christina moved to the couch, and Tommy sat down beside her.
“Christina, I have something to say, and I want you to hear me out before you answer.”
She took a better look at him and noticed that he had matured during the past year. He had grown taller, and his face was less boyish. He’d even grown a moustache, and his voice sounded deeper.
“All right, Tommy. Go ahead—I’m listening.”
“I’ve spent the whole afternoon overcoming the shock of your loving another man. I—I have come to the conclusion that I still love you. It doesn’t matter that you will bear someone else’s child. I still want to marry you. I will accept your child and raise him as if he were my own. Soon you will forget this other man. You will learn to love me—I know you will! And I won’t ask you for an answer now. I want you to think about it for a while.” He paused, and took her hand. “I can make you happy, Christina. You’d never regret becoming my wife.”
“I’m sorry that you still feel this way about me,” said Christina. “I hoped we could still be friends. But I can’t marry you, Tommy. And I’ll never change my mind. The love I have for the father of my child is too great. Although I will never see him again, I can’t forget him.”
“Damn it! Christina—you can’t live with a memory. He’s far away, but I am here. Can’t you find room in your heart for another love?”
“Not that kind of love.”
“What about your child? I’d give him a name. He wouldn’t have to go through life a bastard.”
“The news of my pregnancy has probably traveled all through Halstead already. My child would be called a bastard even if I did marry you. Only his true father can right that wrong.”
“But still, Crissy—the child will need a father. I’d love him—if only because he’s yours. You must think of the child.”
Christina moved away from him and stood by the fire. She hated to hurt Tommy.
