“Don’t call me that.”
He furrowed his brow. “Call you what?”
“Pampered.”
“Why not?”
Taking a deep breath, she sat up straighter. “Because that is not who I am.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes again. “Felix, since our first meeting, I have led you to believe I’m someone I’m not. Just because my father is wealthy doesn’t mean I grew up that way.”
Her words stunned him, and he dropped his hand from her face. Was this the lie she had muttered while half asleep this morning? “You didn’t?”
“No. My father left my mother before I was even born. He didn’t help us with money, which forced my mother to work in a tavern. I was born in the slums of London without the comforts you grew up with. Mother and I scraped and saved for the little food we ate. Sometimes a kind person in town would help us, but mainly my mother and I made what we could out of our poor circumstances.”
She kept her voice low, and Felix assumed none of the other men could hear what she said. For the first time Felix could remember, he was speechless. He had no clue that she was a pauper. Why would he? She dressed and acted like a spoiled rich girl.
“It wasn’t until a couple of months ago when my father paid for my passageway to Macapá and sent me money to buy myself some dresses that I finally felt worthy of being a rich man’s daughter. The only reason I accepted his money and decided to come was because my mother is very ill and needs a good physician. We are very low on funds and can’t afford a doctor or medicine, but if my father gives me my inheritance, then I’ll have the means to get my mother the care she needs.” She took a deep breath. “I’m stronger than the woman you expected me to be, but I still need your help getting to my father’s plantation. My mother needs care, and this is the only way I can help her.”
He wasn’t sure when she’d stopped talking, because his mind was going in several different directions at once. He couldn’t think straight. She stared at him, waiting for him to say something, but his tongue wouldn’t work. He had been wrong about her all this time, and he had treated her so poorly, especially today, thinking that she had lied to him.
In truth, she had lied, but this was nothing like he’d expected.
Closing his eyes, he scrubbed his hand over his face. For certain, this woman was different from the others he’d been acquainted with over the years. But was Katrina the type of woman he wanted to fall in love with? Could he dare trust her with his heart?
Why wouldn’t he? Katrina proved that she had a heart and cared about others. The only reason she came on this journey was to save her mother.
To be sure, he’d been a fool to doubt and mistrust Katrina.
He looked back at her. A different expression had crossed her face. Sadness? Yes, but there was something more. Dejection.
Felix cupped her face again and stared deeply into her eyes. “Iwillget you to your father. Rest assured, your mother will get the medical help she needs.”
It took Katrina a few moments to react, as if she pondered each word he said. Her lips trembled, and she nodded as more tears slid from her eyes.
“God bless you, Mr. Knightly.”
* * * *
KATRINA’S HEART WASbreaking. It wasn’t until now that she realized how much she cared for Felix. When she’d had that forewarning about him eating the poisonous banana, she acted quickly. Now he was curious about her, which was why she told him the truth about her lowly circumstance. She needed to change the subject before he kept prodding her abouthowshe knew the fruit would kill him.
Another reason for the ache in her chest was because in only a few short days, she’d been able to see that there was a kind man hiding beneath his hardened façade. Without being able to help it, she’d lost her heart to him.
Only to have him crush it.
She’d told him the truth—well, most of it, anyway, but it was apparent by his expression that he pitied her. For many years she’d met people just like him. She recognized the disappointment in their eyes at first, but then they all turned up their noses and acted as if she and her mother were so low that the Landon women weren’t even good enough to be spit upon.
The group traveled a few more hours before Felix called for another rest. She knew he did this for her, because he couldn’t stop glancing over his shoulder at her, giving her that pitiful look she’d come to loathe for so long.
Thankfully, the place they stopped at was by another waterfall. So far during today’s journey they had passed several waterfalls, all of them as beautiful as the next. Now she was grateful they’d stopped because she wanted to splash herself with the refreshing liquid. Hopefully, she wouldn’t think about the time she and Felix were together in the water as they enjoyed each other’s nearness while playing in the water.
Her heart wrenched once more. No, she definitely couldn’t think about that any longer.
Pete cut up a coconut and shared some with her. Slowly, she walked toward the waterfall. A few of the men were gathered, kneeling on the bank as they splashed their faces. Some laughed and splashed each other. Katrina smiled, and for a moment, her heart was light.
Carlos jumped into a deeper section that reached his knees. He motioned with his hands. “Knightly, come inside. The water feels wonderful,” he shouted.
She swung her attention to Felix who relaxed on the ground with his feet stretched in front of him. In his hand he held a kiwi as he munched on it.
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Not yet, my friend. Will you let me eat first?”
