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The cheque at the charity ball. She’d asked if it was made out to the fundraiser, and he hadn’t even clicked then. How many little signs there had been that he’d missed?
He wasn’t sure it mattered. He wasn’t sure he could change anything. Had she been telling the truth about Arthur Pennington? And her motives for sleeping with Stavros? Or had she simply needed to get away from him before he’d learned the truth?
And hell! He returned to the letter, flicking away from it to the previous correspondences from the school. There were several, each of them firmly instructing Christopher that he would need to consent to Claudia’s being enrolled in special classes.
Why hadn’t he done so?
Why hadn’t he allowed that?
Stavros needed answers, and suddenly, he didn’t care that it was a snowy Christmas eve. He cared only that he saw Claudia for a moment and explained. He had to let her know that he knew, and that he was sorry.
He couldn’t get to London fast enough.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO do that, dear,” Sister Connelly called from the entrance to the church kitchen. “You’ve been here all day.”
“It’s fine,” Claudia smiled, but her heart was heavy. “I’m almost finished.”
“Let me dry, then.” The nun bustled into the kitchen, her ample rear swishing as she moved. “Will you be at the service tonight?”
Claudia nodded, pushing away the truism that she had nowhere else to be. “Of course,” she smiled brightly. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
“You really are so good to us,” Sister Connelly sighed, taking the last pot from Claudia’s hands and wiping it dry, lifting it up onto the shelf above the sink. “Coming down here like you do, helping prepare the Christmas dinner…”
“Everybody should feel special at Christmas. Especially those without a home.”
“But the presents,” Sister Connelly sighed. “All those children’s smiles. You’re so generous.”
Claudia shrugged. “It’s easy to be generous when you have money. Did they like the gifts?”
“Very much so. I wish you’d come out and watched.”
“Oh, no. I think that would detract from the good work you do. I’m just here to help behind the scenes.”
Sister Connelly flicked the tea towel over her shoulder and put her hands on Claudia’s arms, turning her around so that they were facing. “You really are a good soul.”
“Thank you.” Claudia smiled, her heart thumping for the first time in almost a week, since she’d walked out of The Maychester and away from Stavros Aresteides.
“Have you got someone to drive you home?”
“I’ll walk,” Claudia said. “It’s only a couple of blocks.”
“Of course. Thank you again, dear. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
The nun wrapped Claudia in a hug then, bringing her close to her and kissing the top of her head. Claudia felt the warmth of the embrace and let it comfort her.
“See you tonight.” The words were emotion-tinged and Claudia smiled to cover that. She moved through the kitchen, grabbing her bag up before sliding out of the back door. She moved quickly down the street, her head bent, her arms wrapped around her body.
She was almost home when she realized she’d forgotten her coat. She swore softly and turned to look back, then shook her head. She could get it later that night. She was closer to home now than she was the church, and once she was home she could sit in front of the fire and warm up.
“Claudia.” His voice whispered across her flesh, and her gut clenched with a thousand remembered sensations.
She had barely a moment to settle her racing nerves, to calm her body, to shut off her instant response of desire and need. She was careful to appear calm. Annoyed, even.
“Dear?” Another voice called her attention and she spun away from Stavros, conscious of his nearness the whole time. “You forgot your jacket, dear.”
“Oh.” Claudia’s cheeks darkened. “Thank you.”
