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Sarah and Robin Frederick were the first to ask to see Melissa's son. "He was born early," Alanna reminded them, "and he| really too small to have visitors as yet."
"Nonsense," Byron contradicted. "Sarah and Robin were Melissa's closest friends, and I'll be happy to take them to see Christian. We can go tomorrow, if the weather clears. Do you want to come with us, Elliott?"
"Someone ought to stay with Ian. I don't think he should be left alone."
/> Alarmed, Sarah stepped close and lowered her voice to a hushed whisper, "You don't think he'll harm himself, do you?"
"I don't want to give him the chance."
"Well, if Elliott has to stay here with him, couldn't you come with us, Alanna? I know Melissa would expect us to take an interest in her son. Have godparents been chosen?" Robin asked.
"Yes," Alanna surprised herself with that answer. "Elliott and I will have that honor."
"When was that decided?" Byron asked.
Readily understanding Alanna's reasoning, Elliott was quick to take her side. "You mustn't be insulted. Alanna and I simply have more time to devote to Christian than you do. That's all."
"Is that what Ian said?"
Unconsciously mimicking one of Melissa's gestures, Alanna laid her hand on Byron's sleeve. "We're doing our best to ease Ian's burden, but if he would like to choose other godparents when the time comes to christen Christian, we'll step aside. Now let's not argue. We need to pay attention to our guests."
"Alanna's right," Elliott insisted. "So many people have brought food. Why don't we have something to eat?"
Byron watched Elliott link arms with both of the Frederick sisters, then moved in front of Alanna to prevent her from following them. "Wait just a minute. Mother didn't want us to stop and see Christian, and something's made you equally reluctant to take others to see him. Is there something wrong with the baby? Is that why you don't want him to have visitors?"
Alanna wished Elliott were still with her, but left on her own, did her best to stall him. "It's really too crowded in here to talk. Can we discuss this later?"
"There is something wrong, isn't there?" Byron glanced over her head to survey the crowded parlor. "You're right, it's much too crowded here to talk. Let's go upstairs to my room."
"Your room?"
"Don't look so shocked. You're like a sister to me, and I'll not try and seduce you."
"I know that. It's just that this is such an awkward time to discuss anything and—"
"Right now, Alanna. Come with me."
Not wanting to create a scene, Alanna managed a few shy smiles as she followed him to the stairs, but she dreaded every step. Byron was only two years older than Elliott, but he had always been the more serious of the two, and he and Alanna had never been close. Explaining to him was going to be every bit as difficult as speaking with Ian, and she didn't have nearly enough time to phrase her words carefully before he shut his door behind them.
"Is the babe sickly?" he asked. "If you don't expect him to live more than a week or two, then we all ought to hurry on over to see him, rather than wait until he's dead, too."
Alanna glanced around the room, started toward the chair at the desk, and then decided she would rather stand. "Christian appears to be a healthy little boy. He is small, of course, but that's to be expected, since he was born a month early."
"I thought he was due in January, not December."
"Oh, yes, I'd forgotten you and Elliott were never told about Melissa and Ian's elopement."
"What elopement?"
Byron now had his hands on his hips and looked ready to wring the truth out of her, if she didn't hurry up in telling it. She explained the secrecy about the elopement had been his father's idea, and that Ian and Melissa had agreed to go along with it and have a second wedding. The rest of her tale was far more difficult to tell.
"I know you loved Melissa."
"I asked you to tell me about the baby, Alanna, not my sister."
"First you must promise me not to tell Ian what I'm about to tell you, until he's far stronger than he is now. Will you give me your word?"
"I thought you said the baby was healthy?"
