Who Loves Them? (Who--? Series) (16 page)

Christina
intervened.  “Anne loves Peter!  She would be devastated, heartbroken, if she knew the truth.  What if you told everyone that Lilly is already engaged to someone else?  It would be the same as mine and Gordon’s situation.”

Gordon nodded
.  “That is true.  You could say that Lilly is already engaged to someone else, so she cannot possibly be engaged to Peter as well.  She cannot be engaged to two people at once, so she would have to break it off with Peter.”

Jacqueline nodded
.  “Okay…that might actually work.  But who can Lilly be engaged to?”

Lilly sat up
.  “Angelique Blackwood has a brother….Thomas Blackwood.  He’s a very charming young man, and I hear he is still single.  He and his sister live together at the Blackwood farm estate.  Maybe I could marry Thomas and live with him and his sister?  They are known to give to charities, and Thomas’ mother loves betting on the races.”

Christina
smiled.  Sometimes she was surprised by her friend’s cunning plans.  “That would be a perfect match.  Thomas is quite handsome and polite.  And Angelique would be fantastic company for Lilly when Thomas goes away on his long business trips.”

“And I have always secretly admired Thomas,” Lilly added
, blushing.

Jacqueline smiled
.  “I must say I am impressed by how much you’ve thought this through.  I didn’t even know you were interested in getting married at all, Lilly.  We were starting to have grave doubts about you…”

“Lilly is very shy!”
Christina added, smiling.

Jacqueline nodded
.  “Well, that settles it then.  Don’t get your hopes up, since it’s not set in stone like it is with Christina and Gordon.  But I am sure it will be fine.  You should be able to marry Thomas and live with him and his sister.”

Lilly smiled
.  “Perfect.”

Jacqueline excused herself to use the bathroom, and Ch
ris stared at Lilly.

“But what about Ginger?”

Lilly frowned.  “Oh…I don’t know.  Maybe she could come around a couple of nights a week and clean?”

Christina
frowned.  “
Clean? 
Lilly, you cannot expect to have both.  You need to choose, one or the other.  Who do you want to clean your house the most?’

Lilly bit her lip
.  “I…well, Thomas’ sister, of course.  Angelique.  She’s such a darl.  And I love her company.”

Christina
smiled.  “So what are you going to tell Ginger?  That her contract has expired?” she said sarcastically.

Lilly nodded sadly
.  “I suppose so.  I just wish this was not so hard.”

Gordon smiled
.  “You know Lilly, I had to make a hard choice, and at the time I didn’t choose for love, but I think it worked out in the end.  Choose the person you see yourself with in ten years’ time.  In twenty years’ time.  Who do you want to grow old with?  It’s that simple.”

Christina
felt a well of affection for her soon-to-be husband.  She knew they were a perfect match.

Dinner was a much nicer affair
.  Jacqueline found herself alternately rolling her eyes and smiling at the way Christina and Gordon kept looking at each other and touching each other.  Jacqueline sighed softly and wondered whether she wouldn’t mind getting married if she found someone who looked at her the way Gordon looked at Christina.  Oh, hell no.  She had decided long ago that she was never going to be tied down and answer to any man, and that was the way it was going to be.  Still…the thought of two marriages, Christina and Gordon, and Lilly and Thomas, was enough to make her wistfully dream of walking down the aisle herself.

“Alright, you two lovebirds
, it’s time to talk,” Jacqueline said as soon as the dishes had been cleared.  “Let’s adjourn to the library, where we can have a drink and figure out how we are going to pull this off.  Lilly, are you coming?”

Lilly looked up and smiled
.  “Only if you’d like me to.”

Jacqueline nodded
.  “I am sorry I was a little brusque with you earlier, only your visit came as such a surprise.”

“
That is fine.  I really didn’t need to impose.  I guess I was just desperate for some advice.”

As they walked to the library, Gordon kept his arm around
Christina as if afraid she was going to run away or disappear, but she seemed perfectly content where she was.

When they had all been seated with Gordon and
Christina snuggled up on the leather love seat, Lilly on the hard-back wicker chair, and Jacqueline comfortable in a high-backed chair with a small fire going in the fireplace, she started.  “Alright.  You know it isn’t going to be easy to pull this off without both of your families finding out, don’t you?” They both nodded, looking solemn, but determined.

“What it really boils down to, is what do you want the wedding to be
?  If you really want to elope, that means no family, no friends, no one but you two, the preacher, and me.  You need to really consider if that is what you want, just to get back at your parents.”

Christina
listened carefully, nodding, and then said, “Well, if it were just to get back at our families, I don’t think either of us would be so set on doing it.  It is more about proving to them that they may have forced us into the marriage, but we will not be controlled by them any longer.  I think one of the downsides of an arranged marriage is the feeling of hopelessness, but it doesn’t have to be that way with us.  We can be happy without feeling like we’re being pressured into doing anything we don’t want to do.  And if we rebel now, it will be better for the future.  What if they want to tell us what house to buy, what car to drive, what clothes to wear, and what to name our children?  We cannot have that ruining our lives.”  She sighed.  “And that’s something that ruins relationships.  Negative outside influences always affect relationships.  Why do you think there are so many Lifetime movies?”

Gordon nodded, “
Exactly.  We cannot live our lives if we are going to always be expected to do whatever our families decide they want.  Most of them have flouted tradition in one way or another, and that is how we ended up here in the first place.  Now it is time to stand up to them.  Any scandal that is caused is just what they deserve.  For me, I couldn’t care less about the scandal.”

Christina
was also nodding as he spoke, silently agreeing with him.  “Good.  That is what I needed to hear because if we go through with this, God knows there will be a scandal,” Jacqueline responded.  She looked over at Lilly.  “And then another with you….this is going to be tricky!”

Lilly smiled
.  “It will be fine, trust Christina and Gordon, trust me.  We can do this.  And don’t worry about me.  I can handle this.”

“Alright,
do you both agree that we need to do this as soon as possible to keep anyone from figuring out what is going on?” Jacqueline waited for both of them to nod, and she continued.  “We have been here four days, so we have three more before we are scheduled to return home.  Any objections to trying to get it done before we leave?”

Christina
and Gordon looked a little surprised at that, but they looked at each other, smiled and they both said, “No, no objections,” at the same time.

“Ok, then what will you both wear
?  Do you need to go shopping or do you have something that will do?  Even if you are technically eloping, do you still want the dress and flowers, and tux?” Jacqueline questioned.

Christina
looked thoughtful for a moment.  “I’ve actually given it some thought, and I have several lovely gowns that my mother made me pack for some reason.  None of them are white, but I don’t really care.  If I’m bucking tradition, I might as well go all out,” Christina said, getting excited and standing up.  She began to pace in front of the little fire.  “Actually, I have a beautiful dark green gown that I think would work beautifully.  Gordon, did you bring a suit with you?” she asked as she turned back toward him.

“You silly thing,” Ja
cqueline admonished jokingly.  “There is no way that he left home without at least two custom-tailored suits in his garment bag.  Right, darling?” She looked at Gordon and smiled, knowingly.

“Well, you caught me, Aunt Jackie, I have a black suit and a navy suit with me
.  I don’t know what possessed me to bring them, but I did.”

Jacqueline smiled
.  “Maybe your subconscious knew you would be getting married here all along!”

Christina
resumed her pacing.  “I would like at least a few flowers,” she said.  “I can go to the local florist tomorrow and order some for…” she trailed off, looking at Jacqueline questioningly, “the day after tomorrow?”

“
That is what we will plan on.  I will call a local lawyer in the morning and get him to get all of the paperwork together.  I will have to think up some excuse to explain why we need both of your birth certificates, but that shouldn’t be a big deal.” Suddenly Jacqueline started laughing and she continued laughing until she had to lean back in the chair to get a deep breath.

Gordon and
Christina looked at each other questioningly, but neither had any idea what had set off the laughing fit.  Smiling, they waited until she got her breath back.  “Care to share?” Gordon inquired with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, my, I haven’t laughed like that in so long I thought I had forgotten how.”
She paused a moment, and then continued, “I was just imagining your families’ faces when they learn that you two eloped.” She started snickering again, and this time Christina and Gordon joined her.

“It’s not really funny,” Jacqueline said, “but it is about time someone stood up to them and told them no
.  I am just delighted to be a part of it.”

Lilly smiled from her coz
y chair.  “I can bake a nice cake if you like.  Something small.  But it can be special, and of course, everyone has cake on their wedding day.”

Christina
nodded.  “Yes, that would be great.  You can get all the ingredients in town.”

Lilly had stayed over at
the lodge, but Christina didn’t mind.  No one seemed to care about her intrusion, and in fact, her input was much needed.

Christina
had never known Lilly had such a good eye for color coordination.  It was like she was meant to be here.  She smiled to herself.  She knew that everything was going to work out just fine. 

Chapter 12

Peter Van Willem angrily strode up and down his father’s study.  He ran a hand through his thinning brown hair.  Peter was an attractive man; some people thought he was
too
attractive.  With his light blonde hair, his bright blue eyes, and his chiselled features, most women would have given up their fortunes to marry him.  That was, until they’d learn of his true intentions.

The Van Willem’s were an
industrious family.  They were old money; as they had inherited and maintained their wealth through at least eight generations.  Their ancestors had immigrated from Holland and had made their money on the railroads.  Their family was estimated to be worth around five point four billion, and rising.

Peter
checked his watch and sighed. 
Why was his father taking so long?  Didn’t he know he was busy? 
He had so many things to sort out today.  His new suit, his new shoes, his new car.  In fact, there were so many things he had to deal with that the matters of a silly little girl were not important to him.  In fact, they were rather arbitrary.  He just wanted to get a wife, send her away to the university, and have the house to himself to do as he pleased.  Of course, she would study the arts: nothing so fancy as commerce or law.  She would be the perfect trophy wife.  If only she wasn’t Lillian Baltimore.

“She’s a nightmare
.  Honestly, how do you expect me to marry her?  She’s an old spinster! she said so herself!”

“She’s the same age as you!” his father exclaimed
.  “You will marry her and that is final.”

Peter
sighed.  “Is this because of Gordon and that Christina woman?  Huh?  Because if it is, that is just unfair.  Even I disagree with marrying off your children.”

Peter
’s father sighed.  “It’s not as bad as it seems.  They seem to be civil to each other.”

“Curt and abrupt is more like it.”
He shook his head in defiance.  “Sure, Lillian is pretty enough, but she’ll be the laughing stock of our family.  Everyone knows she’ll grow up to be an old spinster.  Sure, all the boys want a piece of her…she’s attractive and speaks when she’s spoken to…but that is it.  She’s not wife material.  She’s artsy and flowery and has
ideas! 
No, our marriage will be in shambles before it’s even begun.  I’m not marrying a woman with ideas!”

Peter
’s father sighed and stroked his pointed beard firmly.  “You will marry her and make a lady out of her.  Her family needs this marriage.  She’s shown no inclination of even wanting to date a man, let alone marry one, so if this doesn’t happen soon there’ll be no heirs!  Arranged marriages work, Peter.  Besides, I don’t expect you to stay faithful to her.  Do you imagine Gordon will stay faithful to Chris?  Use your head for once.  You will marry this woman and that is final.  And I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

Peter
groaned.  “Do you really think I’m going to be as gullible as Gordon?  You can’t make me marry someone I don’t want to marry.  Besides, arranged marriages are a disaster.  Customs have changed, father.  Sure, arranged marriages usually occur as a business transaction between families trading their eligible children for financial security, but we don’t need financial security.  In fact, I think we’re more than ok.”

Peter
’s father shook his head “No son, we’re not.  We have large gaps in our finances that need to be filled.  Sure, we will never be poor, but we seem to be losing money as soon as we make it.  We need this to strengthen our family’s financial status.”

“What
?  I thought we were fine.”

“We are,
for the moment.  But now no one can say it will last.  You will marry this girl.”

Peter
nodded.  “Yes father.”
No father, three bags full father…

His father strode off, leaving him
alone in the study, brooding and angry.  He sighed.  He would have to figure out a way to get rid of Lillian Baltimore, and soon…..

****

The next day flew by in a crazy race to get everything done.  Christina felt like she had hardly seen or talked to Gordon.  By lunchtime, she had arranged for the minister, some flowers, and the catering.  It seemed like everything was coming along nicely.  The night before they had stayed up late making plans and discussing how they would tell the family, and they had ended up back in her room, but they were both so tired they both fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows.  Everything seemed to be going great.  That was until she wondered what had happened to Lilly.

Christina
noticed Lilly was not bustling around in the kitchen around lunch time.  She looked around the house. 

“Gordon…have you seen Lilly?”

Gordon looked up from his paper and shook his head.  “No….she’s outside hanging out the towels, isn’t she?”

Christina
shrugged.  “I peeked outside ,but couldn’t see her.  I’ll go and check.”

Gordon nodded
.  “I’ll come with you,” and they both made their way to the clothesline outside.  She looked around, but couldn’t see Lilly.  Then she gasped.  Lilly had fallen over the other side of the hedge, and she was lying unconscious on the ground.  Christina ran to her side.  Gordon pried open the girl’s mouth and found traces of mushroom lodged in her mouth.  He quickly dug them out and inspected them more clearly.

“She’s eaten some of the mushrooms….but,
they are poisonous.  Didn’t anyone tell her?”

Christina
began to pale.  “To be honest, I had forgotten myself.  Oh, it’s all my fault!”

Lilly opened her eyes
.  “I’m fine.  And it’s not your fault.  Peter called me and said he wanted to…he wanted to become friends with me, and he suggested I make the family a mushroom pie as a peace offering….”  Her voice faltered as she tried to sit up.  Gordon leaned down and picked her up and carried her into the house.  Christina was surprised at his urgency, and for a moment she felt a sense of pride that he was going to be her husband tomorrow.  That was, if everything was okay with Lilly.  How could someone try to kill her?  She was a lovely, innocent young woman.  She wouldn’t hurt a fly!  The thought was sickening.

Jacqueline appeared in the garden
.  She had been taking a shower, and still had her towel wrapped around her head.  “What has happened?”

“We need to get her to the hospital,” Gordon announced
.  “I’ll go, you two stay here.”

Christina
began to protest, but Gordon had already run through the front door, with Lilly’s head lolling in his arms.  Christina’s bottom lip began to tremble.  “What if she’s not okay?” she whispered to no one in particular.  “It’s all my fault…”

“Someone tell me what happened!” Jacqueline protested
.  As soon as Gordon had left, Christina told her that Lilly had been poisoned.

“But I thought she knew about those mushrooms…”
Jacqueline said, steadying herself by leaning on the kitchen bench.  “Didn’t someone tell her about them?”

Christina
nodded.  “Yes.  Her soon-to-be husband did.  Peter told her to pick them for a mushroom pie.  How would he know there were mushrooms here?  He’s never been here, has he?”

Jacqueline shook her head
.  “Not that I know of…are you suggesting?”

Christina
frowned.  “We all know how Peter treats women.  I’ll admit poisoning is a little far-fetched…but when you think about it, Peter is a nightmare to women.  They all look happy on his arm, but then after a few weeks they look like a train wreck.  He beats them up and down till they stop attending social gatherings.  I don’t know why he hasn’t been arrested before!  I suppose his father paid everyone off, what with all the money he has,” she sighed.  “I can not imagine him with a wife.”

“Wow…
.” Jacqueline was speechless.  “We’ve really got to get her out of this marriage.”

“I
can not get married now,” Christina said sadly.  “This is more important.  Lilly could be in real danger.” Her heart sank, but she knew she was making the right decision.  How could she enjoy her happy day knowing Peter’s intentions?

Jacqueline pursed her lips in a hard line
.  “Now, don’t get ahead of yourself.  I’m sure Lilly will be ok.  We’ve just got to inform her parents and let them know what is happening.”

Christina
frowned.  “What about Peter’s parents?”

Jacqueline
sighed.  “We have to tell them.  Who wants to be the lucky person to let them know the truth about their son?”

Everyone was silent for a few minut
es, so Christina spoke up.  “I will."