Page 34 of The Last Warrior

Suzette didn’t answer. She tried to change the subject instead. “Irena, have you told Mr. Cody your true age?”

“Of course I have, dear. I signed a contract,” said Irena matter-of-factly. “But let’s return the subject to Black Lion…”

Suzette twisted in her chair, and, though the chair was more than comfortable, she was not.

“Well?” prompted Irena. “Are you going to tell me about it?”

“About what? There’s nothing to say, really. On that day in England, I was trying to find you. But I ran into the man, he pushed me in the mud, I got angry at him, and he proposed.”

Irena’s head came up. “He proposed?”

“Well, he meant it as a jest, I would venture to say. He told me because we had spent so much time in one another’s company, that to save my reputation, he would have to marry me.”

Irena was perched at the end of her seat. “Now, this does sound like something he would propose. And what did you say back to him?”

“I laughed at him.”

Irena bobbed her head. “Yes, I can see why you might have done this. And then?”

“That’s all there was to it really. We had a moment’s conversation, and then I went my way and he went his.”

“Hmm… And yet, there must have been something unusual about it for you both, for him to have bestowed the honor of his attention on you…and, might I add, for you to throw your hat to him.”

Suzette remained silent.

“Unless you have seen him in between the time then and now.”

Suzette frowned. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean is this: A man does not shower attention on a person when he is performing, unless the person…means something to him. Come, Suzie dear. Tell me everything.”

Suzette shut her eyes, opened them and looked Irena directly in the eye. “I suppose I will have to tell you the truth.”

“This is an excellent idea.”

“After all, you will probably hound me about it until you learn every little detail.”

“I should think so.”

“Then, I guess I am forced to tell you that we are married.”

An uncomfortable, deep and protracted silence followed the announcement. “Did you say married?” Irena said finally.

“I did.”

Irena, who had been practically ready to pop out of her chair, did the opposite and flopped back into it. “Married?”

“Don’t tell me you, too, are prejudiced against him or our marriage because he is Indian. To do so would be the height of hypocrisy, since I know that you are here for no other reason than to find an Indian man whom you profess to love.”

“It’s not because I am prejudiced. Rather, I am…shocked.”

“Well, as long as you are shocked, I might as well tell you another bit of information which I have not told anyone else, except Black Lion. And I only told him because he guessed the truth. Are you prepared for this next?”

Irena sat up stiffly. “No, but tell me anyway.”

“Very well. If you must know, I am pregnant.”

“By Black⁠—”