Instead, she asked, ‘What day is he arriving?’
‘Tomorrow. I am picking him up from the station.’
‘But we are taking Nicholas to see the sea. You promised you would come with us.’
‘You can take him. I am sure you will have more fun without me.’ She probably would, but that was not the point.
‘He needs his father, Mawgan. You rarely speak to him.’
Mawgan withdrew another sheet of paper from his drawer, picked up a pen and dipped it in the ink. He studied the nib. ‘But I am not his father, am I?’ he said, glancing up.
When it became evident she was with child, they had extended their honeymoon. Nine months after they wed, they returned from their travels with a baby. Fortunately, her son had arrived two weeks late so no one outside the marriage suspected that the child was not Mawgan’s. Only they knew the truth.
‘You knew I was not a virgin before you married me, but you married me anyway. Sometimes I wonder why you did.’
Evelyn turned to leave. Mawgan looked up, frowning. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To put Nicholas to bed.’
‘We have a nanny for that.’
‘I am well aware of that, but I wish to do it.’
‘It is not your place to do it.’
‘I am his mother. My place is to care for my son and how I fulfil that role is up to me.’
Evelyn swept from the room and walked briskly to the nursery. She had spoken harshly to him, but her maternal instinct to protect her son outweighed any desire to curb her anger.
They had married just over three weeks from the night she had made love with Drake, but it was not until the fourth month of their marriage, that Mawgan visited her room to consummate the marriage. Earlier in the day, she had told him that she was four months pregnant with Drake’s child. He said very little at the time. They had both been aware of the possibility that she may be carrying a child when they married. However, it must have played on his mind, as later that night he had staggered into her room, with the smell of port wine on his breath. Their union was a clumsy, unfulfilling experience that left them both feeling wretched, but at least the deed was done and their marriage had been consummated. Mawgan had no wish to discuss it or a desire to repeat it. However, despite knowing that Nicholas was not his, he had put his name on the birth certificate to avoid a scandal. She would be forever grateful for that.
Whilst Mawgan appeared content to live his life devoid of physical contact, Evelyn was left wondering how one man had found her so utterly enticing and another found her so utterly repellent. Her husband preferred to spend time at his gentlemen’s club rather than time with her. She felt rejected and abandoned, left to wander aimlessly in the barren wasteland of her marriage.
Nicholas, her son, was the only light in her life. She fought to control herself against running the last few steps to his nursery. His face lit up when he saw her, but he too waited until she haddismissed Nanny Bird before launching himself into her arms. They fell laughing onto his bed as Evelyn hugged him tight.
‘Quick!’ said Evelyn, lifting him off the bed. ‘Under the covers.’ She playfully slapped his bottom as it disappeared under the blankets. He lay hiding, unaware his dark hair still peeped out from the covers. ‘I’m coming to get you!’ teased Evelyn, causing Nicholas to squeal in delight. He began to giggle as Evelyn crawled in too. She lay beside him and looked at his handsome little face, both a little breathless and glad of each other’s company. How she loved to look at him. His face, with those dark brown eyes and brows, were so similar to Drake’s that it made her heart ache.
Nicholas reached out and touched his mother’s hair. ‘I love you.’
‘And I love you too,’ whispered Evelyn. They often told each other that when they found themselves alone, yet his words never failed to warm her.
Nicholas lifted one of her curls. It pulled slightly on a comb, but Evelyn didn’t mind. ‘I love your hair too.’ She’d heard those words before, in another time, another life.
‘And I love yours. In fact, I love everything about you.’
His eyes grew wide, like a puppy’s. ‘Everything?’ he asked. ‘Even my big toe?’
‘Especially your big toe.’
‘What about my nose?’
‘I love your nose too.’
‘What about this bit?’ Nicholas stuck his finger up a nostril.
Evelyn made a face. ‘Perhaps not that bit.’ She crawled out from under the blankets and efficiently tucked him in. ‘Now go to sleep or you will be too tired for our outing tomorrow.’
Nicholas snuggled down in his bed. ‘What are we going to do tomorrow for my birthday?’
