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'Right, so a masked ball it will be.' Dominic turned to Christy, smiling at her with such warmth and sincerity that she literally felt herself holding her breath. She remembered that smile from long ago, and the effect it had had on her—once, but not now, she reminded herself, hardening her heart.
'I suppose we'd better select a sub-committee to organise the details. I nominate Christy as… er… organiser, and chief liaison person. I also vote that we appoint Lady Anthony as Chairwoman.'
A regal inclination of her head confirmed that Her Ladyship was pleased to accept such an office, although Christy knew from observing her mother's experience that she would be the one who was called upon to do all the running around. Not that she minded, she needed something to occupy those hours when she was not taking care of her mother, and organising the ball wasn't likely to bring her into any contact with Dominic.
The Major was appointed to take care of the financial side of things, and Christy wondered if she was the only one to observe the petulant droop of Amanda's mouth when all the nominations had been confirmed.
Her only verbal objection to Christy's appointment had been a pouted, 'Dominic, there was really no need to involve Miss Marsden. I'm sure that my godmother's social secretary would have been more than pleased to handle all the details. She is terribly experienced at that sort of thing. She organised my coming out ball and the wedding.'
'That's very kind of you, Amanda,' was Dominic's diplomatic reply, 'but it would hardly be fair of us to deprive your godmother of her secretary, especially since we couldn't afford to pay for her services.'
The meeting broke up a little later than Christy had expected. They were the last to leave because she had to collect the plates from the kitchen, and she wanted to wash them first.
As she had dreaded that he might do, she heard her father inviting Dominic back for supper. Her body tensed as she waited to hear his acceptance, and then went stiffer still when he said apologetically, 'I'm afraid I can't tonight. I've already agreed to dine with Lady Anthony and Amanda.' He glanced at his watch as he spoke, and Christy felt a furious stab of resentment that he should make it so obvious that he was anxious for them to leave—a resentment that was entirely on her father's behalf, she assured herself, as she picked up her plates.
'We'll leave you to get ready for your date then, Dominic' She gave him a smile as icy as her words. 'I should hate you to have to keep Amanda waiting on our behalf.'
Of course, once they got home, her mother wanted to hear about ev
erything that had gone on.
'You're supposed to be resting,' Christy scolded her, but nevertheless, she made three mugs of coffee and took them upstairs on a tray together with some of the scones she had baked. Perching on the side of her mother's bed, she told her about the evening.
'Lady Anthony's god-daughter,' Mrs Marsden murmured at one point. 'Oh, yes, Dominic said that she was staying at the Manor. What's she like? Dominic said that she'd recently gone through a rather bad divorce.'
Recalling the animosity and the innate coldness she had sensed in the other woman, Christy lifted her eyebrows a little.
'She's very attractive—brunette and petite—but she and I didn't exactly take to one another.'
'Of course not,' her mother agreed. 'She wants Dominic, and she'll have heard all about how close the pair of you used to be. She's bound to be resentful of the fact that you've come home.' She saw Christy's face, and it was her turn for her eyebrows to lift in surprised amusement. 'Oh, come on, Christy love, you're not that naïve,' she teased. 'You and Dominic were very close at one time. We live in a very enclosed community round here; you can hardly expect that there weren't those who, shall we say, wondered out loud whether your childhood friendship might lead to something closer?'
'You mean people gossiped about us,' Christy put in bitterly.
'If you want to put it like that, but it was never unkind gossip. It's only natural that people should be interested in one another. Dominic and his family are very popular around here, and I personally always thought there was something rather noble and endearing about the way he allowed you to follow him around. It can't have been easy for him at times, especially in the early days, when he was only a teenager himself.'
'Well, Amanda has no need to feel jealous or resentful towards me. Dominic and I are both adults now.'
'Mmm… perhaps that's what she's afraid of,' her mother commented cryptically, but she wouldn't be pressed into giving Christy an explanation of her remark. Not that Christy needed one. It was as clear as though she had spelled it out for her. As adults, she and Dominic were now both free to pursue the sort of relationship they could never have had before. The eight years that separated them meant nothing now.
But far more than mere age held them apart, and always would do, and despite the local romantic imaginings, she and Dominic would never be more than distantly polite enemies.
She changed the subject, telling her mother about the potential site for the new health centre that they were going to see, and asking her what she thought about her idea for the masked ball.
'I think it's an excellent one,' she told her promptly. 'So romantic…'
'That's what the Major said. 'They both giggled as Christy repeated the Major's reaction to her proposals, the atmosphere lightening a little.
'Poor man; he's never married, you know, and he's the type who probably cherishes some impossibly romantic idea of a girl who never even knew that he cared about her. He's one of these old-fashioned true gentlemen who don't seem to exist any more.'
'Rather like Lady Anthony. She's another anachronism in many ways.'
'Mmm… They're very much of an age, as well' Her mother yawned hugely, and Christy, remembering that she was still supposed to be recuperating, got up off the bed hastily.
'I'm tiring you, and you're supposed to be resting. I'm tired myself, as a matter of fact. I think I'll have an early night.'
She was tired, but not so tired that she didn't wonder as she lay in bed how Dominic was enjoying himself with Amanda. A queer, bitter little pain seemed to come out of nowhere and curled itself around her heart. A funny pain that had no logical explanation, and which because of its very lack of logicality worried her even more.
CHAPTER FOUR
