Page 8 of Summer Storms

“True. But then, Abby has far too many siblings.”

“Yes, I can see that may be a disincentive,” he said with a wry smile. “I have four myself.”

She almost asked him if he desired a large family, but that was far too personal a question. She did wonder though. She had never given children much of a thought, and wasn’t sure with her burgeoning career whether she would want the distraction. And children were definitely a distraction. She supposed if she became a star of the theatre, she could hire nannies and make it work. Always assuming she found an amiable husband who saw his wife as a person in her own right rather than an appendage of his own consequence.

Why was she thinking of children? Impatient with herself, Christine pushed the thoughts aside.

The coach rattled through the village, which had become temporarily deserted because of the rain, and out the other side. She’d be home soon, she thought, huddling into the borrowed cloak with a shiver. She risked a glance at Zek. It felt disorientating to be here with him, and confusing that she didn’t seem to loathe him as much as she used to.

“Who would have thought the two of us would be here now?” she blurted out.

“Do you mean the poorest boy in the village and the daughter of one of the wealthiest?” He said it easily, but there was a glint in his eye that made her wonder if his prior resentments hadn’t been entirely forgotten.

“I suppose I do.”

He looked away. “I prefer not to dwell on the past.”

That put an end to the conversation. They sat there awkwardly until the coach arrived at the Hall. As it drew to a halt, Christine thanked him again and went to hand him back his cloak, but he objected.

“Return it to me the next time we meet.”

“I insist.”

“As do I.”

They stared at each other, neither one backing down. Was this some contest of wills? His eyes weren’t as black as she remembered, but rather a dark brown. He had long lashes too, but she had no idea what had made her notice that fact. There was something about his eyes she found fascinating, and she found herself leaning forward as if she might fall into them.

Christine blinked and looked away. “As you wish. I will keep it for now.” She smiled coolly and stepped down from the coach. As she made her way to the door, she heard it trundle off behind her. Had she won that round? She wasn’t sure. But the experience had left her unsettled.

Once inside the Hall, she shrugged off the cloak. She was thinking about where she would store it when her mother came rushing down the stairs.

“There you are!” Lady Meg declared. Her eyes were wide and rather wild.

“I told you I was⁠—”

“Never mind that now. Abby is having the baby! I have only just heard. Reeve sent a servant over with the news, and I am to go there immediately!”

“Oh!” Christine wasn’t sure what to say. It was good news, of course, but she understood her mother’s concern. Childbirth was not something to be taken lightly, and until her sister and the child were safe, none of them would be able to completely relax. “Should I come?”

“Do you want to?” Her mother sounded surprised that she had asked. In truth, Christine was a bit surprised herself. Before she went to London she was more focussed on herself than others. “Molly will be staying here to keep an eye on everything, and I would be glad of your company.”

She seemed to mean it, and suddenly Christine really did want to be there, to make sure Abby was safe. Although what she could do in any practical sense eluded her.

“Can you wait until I change?” Christine asked. “I got rather wet when I went to see Mrs Nash.”

Questions were obviously on the tip of her mother’s tongue, but thankfully her father chose that moment to hurry by, calling out for haste. “I’m afraid I can’t wait,” her mother said, “but I’ll send the coach back for you, so follow on when you are ready.”

A moment later, they were gone.

Christine made her way up the stairs. She would change and go to Ansford Keep. Perhaps she could be of some help, or at least of some support to her mother, if not Abby. It seemed unlikely she would be allowed in while her sister gave birth, nor did she want to. She shuddered at the thought of what she might see.

The tower room, which had once been Abby’s, had become messier since Christine began to occupy it. When she was at the theatre, people tended to pick up after her, but at the Hall there weren’t enough servants to spare. Her parents had always insisted the Starling children look after themselves as much as possible.

She began sorting through her clothing, looking for something practical and warm to wear, until she was distracted by the view from the window. She could see Ansford Keep in the distance. For the time being, the rain seemed to have passed, and there was even a beam of sunlight shining upon it in a very picturesque manner.

Abby was over there, with her husband and her parents, and Christine felt a moment of doubt. Did they really need her there? Abby was much closer to Molly and Breana, but Christine had always loved her, even when she resented her. The thought of anything happening to her was unbearable. She needed to be close. Even if she wasn’t needed, at least she would be there.

She quickly changed, wrapping the fur-lined cloak around her once more and going downstairs to wait for the coach to return. She read nothing into this act, it was lovely and warm, and that was all that mattered.