Moira stared at her, obviously puzzled. "What do you mean, girl? Of course, that"s that. You"re about to become a very rich woman, Kate O"Connor. Just think of what that means! We can have a fine home, gowns." Moira indicated the dress she wore. "Miss Lillie never wore the same gown twice, you know."
Eunice interrupted. "Now, Moira, Kate"s been through a lot today. Ella was just buried. I don"t think it a good idea-"
"You aren"t thinking about this, are you?" Moira came to stand beside Kate and put her hand to her forehead. "My, la.s.s, what is this sorrowing look? Don"t tell me you aren"t sure?"
"Moira, I don"t want to talk about it-"
"That"s it!" Moira stood back, aghast. "Kate, don"t make another mistake now. For G.o.d"s sake, la.s.s, when it comes down to it, one man"s as good as the next! You can buy a hundred husbands with that money!"
"Moira, that"s enough," Paddy grumbled, then turned to Eunice. "Would you mind leaving us alone? I"d like a word with my granddaughter."
Eunice nodded, then led Sean and the protesting Moira by the hand out of the room. "What are you saying to her, Paddy? Make sure she does the right thing, for once!" Moira waved a scented handkerchief, Miss Lillie style.
Kate gave Patrick a grateful look, then sank down by the fire. Patrick came to stand beside her, then smoothed his hand through her hair as he"d done when she was a child.
"Katie, I want to make certain of something before Christopher gets here with those papers. I don"t want you considering me or Moira or Sean when you make this decision."
Katie looked at him, her smile sad. "Paddy, you know I can"t do that."
"Of course you can." Sitting beside her, Patrick took her hand. "Look at me, Kate. I know what you"re thinking, and G.o.d love you, la.s.s, it"s one of the reasons you are such a special girl. But no matter what you decide, we will be fine." Patrick waved a hand toward the grand house and its furnishings. "I don"t need any of this to live out my life. I wasn"t born to it; I don"t need it when I die. All I want now is a good jar of gin, someone to play checkers with, and to watch Sean grow into a healthy strong man. We don"t need money to make that happen."
Katie stared at him, surprised. "But the house, the gardens-"
"Doesn"t mean a d.a.m.ned thing to me. And Moira, she"s always wanting something she"ll never have. She wants to be Miss Lillie, and no amount of money will buy her that. Moira isn"t your responsibility, Kate. I"ve taken care of her for all her life, and I"ll always do that."
"But Sean." Kate smiled at Patrick, her eyes tired. "What of him? The additional money will provide him with a much better life. You know that."
"Do I?" Patrick sat for a moment, then turned to his granddaughter with an odd expression. "There was a time when I would have thought so. But now, living in this grand house, meeting some of these people...Kate, they are the same as us. Some of them are great men and women, hardworking and good, while others are rapscallions, same as if they"d been born in the street. Look at these Pemberton people."
"Yes, but I want a good life for him."
"And he"ll get that, Kate. Ella"s seen to it. Sean"s a strapping lad, and well able to work. He"ll always have a home. He"s got enough money from Ella that he can pay for his schooling and start his own business. He"ll be fine, Kate." When Katie looked up at him, her eyes full, Patrick took her other hand. "Have I ever lied to you?"
"No," she choked.
"He will be fine. I promise. So when your husband comes tonight, and you make your final decision, I want you to do it from here"-he lightly tapped his heart-"and not from here." He indicated his head. "Do you understand me?"
Katie nodded, her voice choking. "Paddy, I love you."
"I love you, too, girl. Now don"t disappoint me. Whatever you decide, it must be what you want. I"ll back you one hundred percent if that is the case. Now be off with you. He"ll be here soon and you need to freshen your face."
Reaching up, Katie pressed a kiss to his gnarled cheek. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Don"t be thanking me," Paddy said gruffly. "It"s the simple truth. Now go."
Katie smiled and did as she was told. If nothing else, she still had her family. As always.
He now had everything he"d wanted. Christopher stared at the back of the driver"s head, thinking of the irony of that statement.
One hundred thousand dollars. That was enough to pay off all his debt, including the taxes and mortgage on his home. It was enough to ensure him a comfortable future, especially with his knowledge of banking and investments. He could gamble, drink, have a h.e.l.l of a good time, live out his life the way he"d always envisioned it. He could buy new suits, frequent the expensive restaurants he loved, play the best games. He"d be rid of those O"Connors, with their musical brogues and strange ways. He"d never have to see Paddy again, with his d.a.m.nable Irish wit and legends, hear Moira"s flutterings, or have Sean racing through his house. It would be just like before- Except that it never would be again. Cursing, Christopher wished he had a drink, something to drown the despair he felt.
Of course it was the ideal answer. Christopher had no doubt that Ella had been appalled at their party and wanted to make amends. Their marriage wasn"t working; it never had. He and Katie just had too many problems, too many misunderstandings, and were too lacking in trust to make their vows meaningful. For Christ"s sake, he didn"t even know her real name until after they were wed.
Why then did it tear him apart to think of leaving her?
Even Eunice had been strangely silent since she"d heard about the will. Christopher had been hoping that she at least would be happy with the prospect of having her home to herself again, of reentering her social circle, this time with money, but she wasn"t. Although his aunt didn"t attempt to influence him, he knew she had grown to love the O"Connors and didn"t want them to leave.
Dammit! It had all gotten so complicated so quickly. He"d intended to marry Fan Pemberton for purely practical reasons, and now...
Now he couldn"t dream of his life without her.
For all her faults, for all her lies, he loved Katie O"Connor, and loved her desperately. Christopher stared out the carriage window, nearly laughing at the thought of that. Yes, dammit, he loved her, and he realized it now, when it was far too late.
The horse stopped and Christopher walked up the path to his home, a heavy feeling oppressing him. Somewhere the G.o.ds were laughing; he could feel it.
She was waiting for him. Christopher paused in the doorway, just watching her for a moment. Dressed in a simple mourning frock, her hair pulled back demurely, she appeared so beautiful that his heart stopped. Her expression was sad, but even that didn"t take away from the cla.s.sic lines of her face or the intensity of her eyes. Sensing him before he spoke, she glanced up, and he saw a strange mix of emotions on her face before she composed herself.
"Christopher." She forced a smile. "You"ve brought the papers."
His heart sank. He wasn"t sure what he was hoping, what he thought she might say. Apparently she wanted to go through with this. Taking out the forms, he lay the parchment before her.
TWENTY-SEVEN.
Katie felt the pen in her hands, as heavy as a lead weight. The parchment waited beneath her fingers, the dotted line empty. She needed only to sign her name, and she would gain everything.
And she would lose everything.
Raw emotion tightened her throat and she closed her eyes. She couldn"t do this. No matter how angry he got, she couldn"t sign this sheet unless she was absolutely certain that that was what he wanted. Stretching forth her hand, she gave the writing instrument back to him.
"You sign it."
He stared at her, then took the pen from her fingers. Katie waited expectantly while he perused the doc.u.ment, even though he must have read it thoroughly already. Finally, after agonizing minutes, he put down the pen and looked at her.
"I can"t."
Her heart pounding with hope, Katie saw him turn away from her to lean on the table in a gesture of torment, then he whispered. "I just can"t! Katie, I"m sorry." Turning back, he faced her, his eyes full of emotion. "I know this is what you want, but I just can"t do it. I love you-I think I"ve always loved you. And I can"t trade you for money, no matter how much."
"Oh, my G.o.d, Christopher!" Joy suffused her face and she flung herself into his arms, holding him tightly, as if to make him irrevocably part of her once more. Tears streamed down her face, but it didn"t matter-none of it did. She had him back now, and all would be well. "I love you...I can"t believe you love me! I didn"t dream-"
"Katie, do you mean it?" When she nodded quickly, he tightened his arms again, this time with happiness. "I"m so sorry. I never meant to put you through so much. I love you, and I"ll never leave you again." His voice was hoa.r.s.e, and when Katie looked up, she saw the same tears in his eyes. "G.o.d, I"ve been such a fool! Please forgive me, and don"t ever leave me."
"I won"t," she whispered fiercely. "G.o.d, I won"t."
They were like children, laughing and crying, overcome with joy. The parchment slipped to the floor, forgotten as Christopher leaned down to kiss her thoroughly, possessing her in a way that made her feel sheltered and protected and...loved.
When his mouth finally left hers, he spoke softly, caressing her hair and face. "Katie, I know it will be hard, but bear with me. My debts are nearly paid off, and soon I will be receiving a salary at work, just like everyone else. In truth, I like this job and don"t want to leave it Disgraceful, isn"t it?"
He was smiling, and Katie hugged him fiercely. "No, it isn"t at all disgraceful. It"s one of the reasons I love you so much. We"ve wasted so much time, Christopher. Let"s not waste any more."
Her kiss was pa.s.sionate, telling him in a timeless way just what he meant to her. Restrictions forgotten, inhibition gone, he returned the kiss with a burning desire, making Katie shudder with need. She clung to him, her knees weak as his hands swept over her, making her want him so badly that she whispered his name in a ragged plea.
"Christopher. Please."
She trembled in his arms and he swept her up, taking her into his room, their room. Clothes became a barrier to be gotten out of the way. When they were naked and alone, Katie unashamedly ran her hands down his chest, loving the feel of him, loving him.
"My G.o.d, you"re gorgeous," she spoke admiringly, then gasped as he took her in a violent kiss that made her lose all control.
"No, you are. Katie, my sweet Katie."
There was no need for conversation, no rea.s.surances. Both of them knew what they"d long denied, and gloried now in the physical expression of that feeling. When Christopher filled her with his male heat, Katie cried out in sheer ecstasy, clinging to him, wanting him to stay like this forever, a part of her and she a part of him. Softness yielding to hardness, woman surrendering to man, their minds and bodies joined, they communicated everything they felt, but most of all their love.
When it was over, Katie lay sated in his arms like a contented kitten. Somehow she knew that nothing would come between them again. The commitment they shared ran deeper than a marriage license, deeper than a wedding vow. They were together because they chose to be and because of their love.
She would never doubt him again.
"I promise you, Kate, I"ll make it up to you," Christopher said, kissing her hand as if reading her thoughts. "Everything will work out, you"ll see. I don"t even mind your family staying with us. As long as I have you."
Katie grinned. "Unfortunately Paddy has other ideas. He"s secured a position working as a gardener for the Morris family. They have a small cottage on the property, large enough for him and Moira. They plan to leave in the morning."
"I see." Leaning up in bed beside her, Christopher frowned. "Will they be all right? I mean, have you seen this place? Is it adequate?"
She smiled as she held him close. "It"s very nice. And Moira is so excited. Eunice gave her a few gowns, and she can"t wait to try out the Miss Lillie act on a new audience. And it"s within walking distance, so I"ll still see them a lot."
"Good." Christopher"s expression eased and he smiled back at her. "Eunice will miss them terribly. Please ask them to come by often."
"They will. They want to see Sean."
A silence followed her words, then Christopher spoke thoughtfully. "Kate, I"ve been meaning to talk to you about him. I think now is the time."
Her heart froze. Surely he didn"t mean to send her son away? It was a real possibility-most men didn"t want the responsibility of some other man"s child. Her breath stopped, Katie waited as he spoke once more.
"I really care about Sean, and want him to have a good life. Ella"s taken care of his schooling, and for that I will always be grateful. But do you think he would let me adopt him? And would you be agreeable to the idea? I would really like to be his father, and take care of him."
Hot tears stung her eyes and she tightened her embrace. "Do you mean it? Really? You want to-"
"Adopt him." Christopher laughed, lifting her face and smoothing away the tears. "Come on now, Katie, I"m not that bad. I know I"m not the ideal father figure, but I"m trying. And I can teach him things, like how to play cards and drink."
"Christopher Scott!" Katie threw her pillow at him and giggled as he pulled her into his arms once more. "I think you"ll be a wonderful father," she said, grinning. "But it"s a lot of responsibility. Are you sure?"
"I"m sure." He spoke earnestly. "I think you"ve done a wonderful job raising him, and so have Paddy and Moira. But I do think he needs contact with a man who can help him through the difficult years ahead, take him hunting and fishing. There are some sporting clubs for boys his age; I could help him to learn some of the games and to meet other boys so he"ll have more friends. He seems a little lonely."
Her heartstrings tugged within her as Katie realized what he meant. Christopher had thought about this for some time before making his decision. That was very rea.s.suring, and he evidently spent some of it thinking about what would make Sean happy. Overwhelmed, she wrapped her arms around him and cuddled him close.
"I"m so glad you feel that way, especially now," Katie whispered, feeling his arms tighten around her.
"Now?"
"When we"re going to have a baby of our own."
Delight brightened his features and he stared at her in amazement. "Kate, are you sure? I mean, do you really think? Don"t you have to have tests and things? Are you all right?"
"Yes." Katie laughed. "There is no mistake. I"ve already had one baby, you know. You"re going to be a daddy."
"My G.o.d, I love you." Christopher hugged her tightly. "A baby! I just can"t believe it."
They lay together, antic.i.p.ating a future that seemed very bright, in spite of the odds. Katie smiled, content. "You know, at this moment I am perfectly happy."
"Even without the money?" Christopher asked cautiously.
Katie nodded. "I"ve got you-the rest is just arithmetic."
"And you really mean to walk away from two hundred thousand dollars?"
Martin Shuler sat on the other side of the desk, his expression incredulous. Christopher nodded.
"I"m sorry, Martin, but that"s what we"ve decided. Ella made it clear in her will that the only way we"d get the money was to separate. Well, neither of us wants that. It wasn"t really a decision at all."
"I see." The lawyer sat back in his chair, an odd look on his face. "Are you absolutely sure, then? I should just tear up these doc.u.ments?"
He looked from Kate to Christopher. Both of them nodded, then Katie, snuggling closer to Christopher, spoke.
"Tear them up."
"All right." Martin did as he was told, a.s.suming a resigned air. The only sound for several minutes was that of the parchment tearing, the money disappearing into nothingness. Christopher winced, but Katie held his hand tightly. They would regret the loss of the money, but never their decision.
"That"s it then. Before you two leave, there is another issue," Martin said as Katie and Christopher rose, prepared to go. Sharing a puzzled look, they sat back down as Martin withdrew another envelope and gave them a secretive smile.
"When Ella made out this will, she spoke to me of her concerns about your situation. She felt responsible for bringing you both together, and didn"t want you to stay in a loveless marriage."
"We know," Christopher said impatiently. "But we discovered we really did love each other."
"Enough to walk away from two hundred thousand dollars."
Christopher glanced at Kate, but when she squeezed his hand, he nodded. "Yes."
"Good." Martin fingered the envelope, then slid a silver letter opener beneath the seal. "I need to be absolutely certain on that point. You see, Ella thought there was a possibility that you might come to that conclusion. In fact, she rather hoped you would. In which case, she added a codicil to the original doc.u.ment."
"What is this?" Katie turned to Christopher as Martin handed the doc.u.ment to him. Frowning, Christopher read the paper, his expression changing from puzzlement to incredulity, then finally to joy.
"Kate." He handed her the paper. "The codicil...it says we inherit the estate if we stay together."