“A wife’s lot is sometimes a difficult one,” he went on. “The Bible tells us that a wife must submit to her husband in all things.”
“In all things?” Christina repeated the words numbly, knowing full well what his answer would be. She wondered if the easily-mouthed command was really meant to include the vile acts
her
husband expected of her.
“Yes.” What other choice could he, as her spiritual advisor, offer her? “If it’s any comfort to you, men who stray often return to their wives more devoted than before.” He knew the words were empty and he found himself, not for the first time, regretting the day she and his brother had been separated.
Christina remained silent.
“I’d be happy to confess you, Christina. Perhaps you’d find some comfort in it?” It was a last resort. He could see that his words were having little effect.
“I’m sorry. I can’t.” Her religion had always been an important part of her life, her faith the only thing that had sustained her in Richard’s absence. Now, there was no comfort left to her at all.
Robert looked at her, sadly. “I’m sorry, too. But you may change your mind. And if there’s anything I can do for you, I will. Believe it.”
As he watched her go, his thoughts turned to Richard. He’d believed his brother content in his relationship with Arabella when he’d left them on Corsica, but he was beginning to wonder if that was true. It had been more than a year since his visit and they’d still not wed.
Robert shook his head as he returned to the work that littered his desk, wondering how two lives, as carefully planned as Richard and Christina’s had seemed, could go so terribly wrong.
The days passed and Christina began to relax into the peaceful life at the great abbey. There were only two other pilgrims there: an ancient, regal looking woman and a well-dressed, but very thin and haunted-looking man. They, like Christina, kept to themselves except for an occasional nod as they passed in the hallways or the cloister. That suited Christina perfectly. She found the isolation and the silence profoundly peaceful.
Every afternoon, Christina followed the path to the little chapel of Ste. Croix nestled in the grove just below the tower. She could sit alone in the quiet darkness of the tiny Romanesque building and think of the many times she and Richard had played out their wedding there when she was small. Richard, a mature young man of twelve, had been so patient with her. But though she felt an enormous sense of peace and tranquility when she was there, she still couldn’t bring herself to pray for anything beyond a blessing for her beloved Richard’s soul.
Christina’s quiet retreat came to an abrupt end two weeks later when her worst fears were realized. For the second time, she had missed her monthly courses. She was pregnant.
Another week passed as she resolved to make one last attempt to save her marriage. She bade Robert goodbye and returned to Guy’s house.
When she arrived, she found Guy and Stefano in the library. She knocked on the door and Guy answered it after a brief delay that was accompanied by muffled voices and hurried movements.
“Christina!” Guy brushed the hair out of his face and straightened his shirt nervously, awkwardly reaching for her hand as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Christina smelled the liquor on his breath and felt the heat in his hand.
“I’m so glad you’ve come home. We were worried about you.”
She looked past him to Stefano, who hadn’t moved from the sofa. Though he didn’t get up, he turned and smiled at her.
“I…I must speak to you before supper,” she said to Guy. Her voice was unsteady.
“Of course, my dear.”
“Alone.” She turned abruptly, and headed for the stairs.
Guy closed the door and returned to Stefano, resuming his place on the floor.
“You see,” Stefano said, smiling as he put his hands to Guy’s cheeks. “I told you she’d be back.”
Christina paced nervously back and forth across her room rehearsing, as she had for the last two days, the things she would say to her husband. Finally, he arrived. He’d cleaned up and dressed for supper and his eyes seemed clearer. He went to her immediately and took her hands.
“I’m so happy you’ve come home, Christina. I’ve missed you more than you might believe.” It was all he could do to keep from taking her in his arms, but slowly she withdrew her hands.
“Guy, I want you to send Stefano away.”
He looked at her, wondering what on earth could make her ask such a thing. After all he’d gone through to make Stefano a part of their lives, why would she want to send him away? Hadn’t he returned her lost Richard to her?
“I’m begging you,” Christina said quietly. “It’s our only chance.”
“Our only chance for what?” Guy strove to keep his voice calm and his temper under control. He was so happy that she’d come home and he was doing his best to try and understand what she was talking about.
“Our only chance to be a family.”
“Christina…”
“I’m pregnant,” she said firmly. “We can be a family—a real family, now. But you must send Stefano away.”
Guy’s was stunned.
A baby, after all these years? Is it possible?
And more importantly, did he want a child? In the beginning, he’d hoped to have children. It seemed at the time as though it would have been his final triumph over Richard. But now…now things were different.
Now
, he had Stefano.
“You’re sure?” he asked quietly, playing for time.
“Is that all you can say? Of course I’m sure.” Guy wasn’t responding as she’d hoped. “Guy, please. Don’t you see? This is our last chance. It’s the only way we can make a worthwhile life for ourselves. For us and for the child.” She reached for his hand then and pressed it to her cheek as she felt the sting of tears. “Please. I’ll do anything you ask. Just send Stefano away.”
Guy found himself enjoying her change of attitude. He tenderly stroked her hair.
“Don’t upset yourself, Christina. This news is rather sudden. I’m afraid I’ll need a little time to think.” He kissed her forehead. “Dry your tears and come down to supper.” With that, he left her.
Christina joined them in the dining room a half an hour later. Guy was anxious to see how she’d react to Stefano, and he wasn’t disappointed. She was cool, but her manner turned to ice when Stefano proposed a toast to the baby. She cast a disappointed look in Guy’s direction. Had she really thought he wouldn’t share the news with Stefano? The rest of the meal went smoothly, though Christina said little and excused herself early.
The sight of Stefano had thrown all her emotions into turmoil once again. She knew she had to find some way to make Guy send him away and at the same time realized it might not be possible. As she got ready for bed, she wondered if Guy would come to her. She could only hope that if he came, he would come alone.
There was a knock at the door and she turned, but the man who entered her bedroom was not her husband. Stefano closed the door quietly. As he came toward her, Christina immediately retreated to the far side of the bed, shivering in spite of the warmth from the small fire burning in the hearth. Stefano stopped in the middle of the room.
“Oh, Christina…don’t be that way,” he said, shaking his head. He was disappointed. This was not the warm welcome he’d hoped to receive when they were finally alone together. Then he moved quickly, stepping around the end of the bed and taking her firmly by the arms. He looked at her for a moment and then embraced her. “Thank God you’ve come back to us,” he whispered.
Christina struggled to free herself. “I haven’t come back to you. I’ve come back to my husband!”
“Do you expect me to believe that?” He studied her expression of indignation. “Oh, my dear, we both know that’s not true.” He started to run the tips of his fingers over her cheek, but she slapped his hand away.
“Have you no decency?” she asked from between clenched teeth.
Stefano laughed.“Decency? You stand there, pregnant with the child of your husband’s lover, and talk of decency?”
Christina stared at him, horrified. Somehow, she had simply not considered that the child could be Stefano’s.
He read her expression correctly. “Really, Christina, could it be otherwise? In all these years Guy’s never been able to give you a child. I’d have thought you’d be grateful to me for that, if nothing else.” He gave her a meaningful look as he took her trembling hands and lifted them to his lips. “Please don’t look so distraught. Remember, our child will certainly look like any child you would have had with Richard.”
Christina pulled away, sickened by his words, and clutched at the bedpost for support. He put his hands on her shoulders for a moment, then brushed her long, dark hair aside and gently kissed the back of her neck, just above the edge of her gown.
“Would you like me to stay with you tonight, Christina?” His voice was soft, his words suggesting things she couldn’t bear to remember, even as his lips tenderly reminded her of his skill as a lover.
“I think that under the circumstances, I’m the one she should be with tonight,” Guy said from the doorway, knowing neither of them had heard him come in.
Christina went to him immediately. “Yes, Guy, please. Send him away.” She clung to his sleeve.
Stefano’s expression was one of surprised acquiescence as he left them, but the smug look on Guy’s face as he passed did not please him. Christina’s return complicated his relationship with Guy. Her pregnancy endangered all he’d worked so hard to achieve. Somehow, he must find a way to turn this new development to his advantage.
The next morning, Guy and Stefano walked together to the warehouse. For a long while, Guy said nothing. It was obvious something was on his mind. When he finally spoke, his tone was brisk and decisive.
“I think that for the time being, it would be best if you left Christina alone. I’m afraid she still finds our relationship upsetting.”
Stefano watched him, wondering what was behind the pronouncement. Guy’s expression was inscrutable and Stefano gave up.
“You’re right, I’m sure. I admit, she was an amusing diversion, but you know where my real feelings lie.” He briefly laid a hand on Guy’s arm for emphasis. “I do, however, think that a little bonus of some sort might be appropriate.”
Guy looked at him, his face revealing nothing. Uncomfortable, Stefano felt obliged to elaborate.
“Well, I think I’ve performed well, done everything you asked of me and now that I’ve caused her to turn to you and away from me, and therefore away from Richard…well…it should please you.” The statement, begun with confidence, ended weakly under Guy’s icy gaze.
“And how, exactly, do you feel you’ve accomplished that?”
Guy’s tone was matter-of-fact and Stefano made the mistake of being a little too flip with his answer. “Well, really…by getting her pregnant, of course.”
“What did you say?” Guy asked calmly.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Stefano’s impatience got the better of him. “I mean, it’s obvious, isn’t it? You’ve been married to her for some time and there’ve been no children. Three months after I turn up in her bed, she’s pregnant. I’m just suggesting that sort of success may well deserve some compensation.”
Without any warning Guy grabbed him by the lace at his throat and flung him up against the nearest building. “You bastard!”
Guy’s tone was as cold as the stones against his back and Stefano realized he’d made a mistake. Nevertheless, he was angry. Who did Guy think he was? He had no right to treat him that way, and in public, at that. Passersby were beginning to stare.
Guy, unconcerned by the looks they were getting, refused to loosen his grip.
“The child is mine and there’s nothing you can do to change that,” Stefano said defensively. “I know it, your wife knows it, and soon the whole town will know it since it’s bound to look far more like Richard than like you.”
After a moment, Guy began to smile and his fingers loosened on Stefano’s
jabot
. He smoothed the younger man’s coat, picking a piece of nonexistent lint from his shoulder. His expression softened.
“Maybe Christina’s right. Maybe I should send you away,” Guy said lightly.
The change in Guy was disconcerting and Stefano realized he was in danger of losing his comfortable lifestyle…if not more.
“Don’t you think you might miss me?” he asked softly. “Just a little?” He reached out for him, but Guy grabbed his wrist, his thumb pressing painfully against the heel of Stefano’s hand.
“Oh yes, I’d miss you. But I’m beginning to think about turning you in to the police, as Richard. I might enjoy seeing you hang, even more.”
Stefano froze. He remembered all too well his first day in Arles. He had been in the city less than two hours before the police picked him up and escorted him to the
Hôtel de Ville
for questioning. It was some time before Guy arrived and persuaded the authorities that he was not, in fact, the Baron’s son who was still wanted for questioning about the murder of a young man.
Guy walked away from him. Recovering quickly, Stefano followed, feeling his prospects for a bright and carefree future fading before his eyes.
“But you’ve already convinced them I’m not Richard,” he said, as he caught up with Guy. He hoped he sounded unconcerned by Guy’s threat. “Besides, he’s dead, isn’t he? Surely they know that?”
Guy cast a smug sideways glance in his direction.
“They’ve been told that by several reliable sources, but no one ever found the body. And the old Baron has become quite confused and still believes his son is alive.” Guy smiled when he reached the gate to the warehouse. “You know, I suspect even the Baron would swear you were his son, if we asked him.”
Stefano had no reason to doubt Guy’s words. Hadn’t Christina’s father believed him to be Richard?
From that moment on, the relationship between the two men changed. Guy became more aggressive, displaying a new penchant for violence. Stefano had seen the results of Guy’s temper with Christina, something not uncommon in a man who preferred the company of other men. But now Guy was no longer content to be pampered and petted by Stefano. He seemed anxious to punish Stefano for fathering Christina’s child. While he was confident of his own physical strength in any contest with Guy, it was obvious to Stefano that he’d lost control of the situation.