AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The baby was hers, growing inside her, dependent on her for everything, and giving it up in order to establish a separate life for herself was never going to happen, however bravely she still spoke about the future.
She'd never suspected she could feel like this. That a few weeks could alter her entire way of thinking. She only knew that she could not ever let her baby go—see it brought up by strangers. Especially if one of the strangers turned out to be Vanessa Layton.
Would Nick be cruel enough to do that? she asked herself. Could he? Yet she'd just had proof of how ruthlessly he was prepared to move the pieces round the board in his own private chess game. And soon it would be her turn.
I thought marriage was the trap, she told herself. But I knew nothing. And now I'm caught and helpless.
'You're looking tired, Caroline,' her mother-in-law said quietly. 'Nick, why don't you take your wife up to bed? I think we could all do with an early night.'
'An excellent idea.' Nick held out his hand to Cally, who reluctantly allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. Her heart was thudding awkwardly against her nbcage, protesting over the confrontation that was bound to come.
Unless Nick had read the runes, and decided to stay away of his own accord. But that didn't seem likely.
She said a shy goodnight to Dr Tempest, and was received briefly into a lavender silk embrace spiced with some dry, sophisticated scent she hadn't encountered before.
'It's called Moi-Meme,' Nick told her in answer to her halting query, as they went upstairs together. 'And I have to send regular supplies of it to whatever far-flung hellhole Ma finds herself in.' He grinned suddenly. 'She reckons it keeps the snakes at bay. I've sometimes wished I was in advertising. Wouldn't that make the basis of a great campaign?'
Cally had thought she was beyond being amused, yet found herself surprised into laughter. 'Only if there's an outbreak of cobras in Knightsbridge.'
And they arrived at her door in better accord than they'd been for weeks, she thought, with sudden wistfulness. But she couldn't let herself weaken now. It was a case of self-preservation.
She'd expected him to leave her there, and go along to his own quarters, but to her dismay he accompanied her into the lamplit bedroom.
As always, everything was in readiness there, even down to the fresh nightgown laid out across the bed.
Nick picked it up. 'I don't know why Margaret persists with this charade,' he remarked. 'She must know by now that you never wear any of them.'
Cally made herself shrug. 'But then what's one more charade among so many? And she's offering me a choice, which I intend to make in future.' She held out a hand. 'So, may I have it—please?'
He gave her a surprised glance. 'If that's what you want.' His smile was coaxing. Almost tender. 'Don't tell me you're feeling self-conscious,' he added, as he discarded his jacket and began unknotting his tie.
Cally stood beside the bed, clutching the drift of ivory voile against her body.
She took a deep breath. 'What—what are you doing?'
The dark brows lifted. 'Getting undressed. I usually do at bedtime, as you must have noticed by now.'
She touched the tip of her tongue to her lips. 'Didn't Dr Hanson—talk to you?'
'Yes.' Nick was unbuttoning his shirt. 'She suggested a spot of abstinence on my part. Although I suspect it's a little late to worry about that,' he added ruefully. 'However, I won't put the baby in any more jeopardy, I promise.'
'Then why are you here?' She spoke more sharply than she'd planned, and saw him pause, his attention entirely arrested.
He said quietly, 'You're my wife, Cally. This is our bed. Where else should I be?'
'You mean to ignore the doctor?'
'Oh, for God's sake,' he said wearily. 'I was planning a cuddle, not an orgy.'
'And I was counting on a little peace and quiet.' Even to her own ears her voice sounded breathless. 'Now that you— you've achieved your objective, you've no real reason to be here. And I'd hoped my—my privacy might be restored to me.'
He was frighteningly still. He said slowly, 'So—for abstinence, substitute total banishment? Is that it?'
Somehow she lifted her chin. 'Unless you have any objections.'
'So many that it would probably take something like the Domesday Book to list them all,' Nick said icily. 'But I doubt that any of them would do any good, and I'm damned if I'll plead for the right to sleep with you, Cally.'
He picked up his clothing and walked across to the communicating door. 'Would you like me to have a bolt fitted—in case I should forget and stray on to forbidden ground?'
She shook her head, her mouth so dry she felt as if she'd been chewing ashes. 'I'm sure that—won't be necessary.'
