Captive Bride (31 page)

"Very well, Crissy, if you won't believe me. But sit up slowly this time. You've been in bed for three days."

John finally had to carry her into the nursery. He set her down gently beside the bassinet and held her so she wouldn't fall. Christina looked down at her sleeping son. She put her hand close to his small face and felt his warm breath, then she caressed his cheek. He stirred and turned his head.

"He is alive," she whispered happily. John picked her up and carried her back to her bed. She started crying again from sheer joy.

"I'll have some food brought up, Crissy. And then you should rest some more."

"But you said I'd been sleeping for three days. The last thing I need is more rest. I want to know what happened, John," Christina said soberly.

""One of the Huntington servants found me in the stables. Lord Huntington had sent the lad over to warn me that Tommy was coming here armed. I heard the first shot before I reached the house. I found Tommy in the hall. The second shot was fired accidentally. You screamed, and I thought Tommy had already killed Philip. But when I got upstairs, I found that you'd been shot. Crissy—I thought you were dead. But Philip assured me you had only fainted on hearing the second shot If you hadn't blacked out, you would have known that Philip Junior was all right. The first shot didn't bother him, but the second shot echoing through the house scared him and he was screaming his lungs out. He wouldn't even stop crying for Johnsy."

"Philip is all right, too?"

"Yes. You both would have been all right if you hadn't run into the line of fire. I know why you did it, Crissy, but I didn't think it my place to tell Philip. Thank God the bullet only grazed you."

"Where is Philip now?"

"I believe he's downstairs getting drunk, as he has done these last three nights."

"And Tommy—is he all right?"

"Tommy, I think, was more shaken than the rest of us. He really thought he'd killed you. He cried like a baby when I told him you were only unconscious. But I'm afraid he was arrested. After all, he did shoot you."

"But I'm all right—it was only an accident. I don't want him in jail, John. Tommy went crazy because I broke off our engagement. I want you to have him released—tonight."

"I'll see what I can do, but first I'll get you some food."

"Miss Crissy, love, wake up. There's someone 'ere who'd like to see 'is mama."

Christina turned over in bed to see Johnsy rocking Philip Junior in her arms. She smiled, for even though he was being cuddled, he was still fidgeting. She unbuttoned her nightgown, then put him to her breast while she watched Johnsy, who was obviously agitated, straightening the room.

"Whatever is the matter with you?" Christina asked.

"I don't mind sayin' you scared the wits out of me—you lyin' up 'ere in bed three days. And your brother, of all things, tells me to come and ask you if you're up to seein' Master Tommy. If 'e'd asked me, Fd'a said no, but nobody asks me anything anymore."

"Oh, stop your grumbling, Johnsy. I'll see Tommy as soon as I'm finished feeding Philip Junior."

"Perhaps you're not up to it yet?" Johnsy ventured hopefully.

"There's nothing wrong with me. Now get along with you and tell Tommy I'll see him shortly."

A while later, Tommy knocked on the door as Christina came back from putting Philip Junior in his bassinet She opened the door and noticed that Tommy was wearing traveling clothes. She invited him into the room.

"Crissy, I—"

"It's all right, Tommy," she interrupted. "You don't have to say anything about it."

"But I want to," he said, taking her hands in his. "I'm so sorry, Crissy. You've got to believe that I wouldn't have hurt you for the world."

"I know that, Tommy."

"I realize now how much you love Philip Caxton. I should have seen it sooner, but I was too obsessed with my own feelings. When Caxton came here, I saw him only as a rival. But now I know you were never mine to have— you were always his. Tell him I'm sorry for what happened. He's still sleeping or I'd attempt to tell him myself."

"You can tell him later." ' "No, I won't be here. I'm leaving this morning."

"But where are you going?"

"I have decided to enter the military, as John did," Tommy said sheepishly.

"But what about your lands? Your father will need you," Christina said. But she could tell that Tommy had already made up his mind.

"My father is still a young man. There's nothing for me here. I'm like you were, Crissy, living all my life here. It's time I saw a bit of the world." He kissed her lightly on the cheek, his brown eyes warm with friendship. "I'll never find anyone like you, but perhaps there will be someone."

"I hope so, Tommy, I really do. And I wish you all the luck in the world."

Christina stood in the middle of the room for a long time after Tommy left. She felt very sad and lonely, as if a little piece of her heart had just been chipped away. The Tommy she'd just spoken to was the old Tommy, the Tommy she loved as a brother, and she would miss him sorely.

P

HILIP woke with a splitting headache. The sunlight streaming into the room didn't help matters any. He pressed his hands against his temples to ease the pain, but it didn't help. He glanced down at his fully clothed body, minus one shoe, and groaned slightly.

John had said last night that Christina had finally awakened. Or had he dreamed it all? Well, there was one way to find out. He stood up. A sharp pain shot through his head again, and he vowed he wouldn't touch another glass of whiskey for a long time. He splashed water liberally on his face, then stood there holding onto the dresser until the pain eased somewhat

After a while, Philip was able to kindle the fire that he hadn't bothered to light the night before. He shaved the stubble off his face and changed his clothes. He began to feel almost human again, and decided this was as good a time as any to see Christina.

He walked the few feet to her room and went in unannounced, to find her propped up in bed and wearing her black-velvet robe, of all things, over a white-lace nightdress. Her long hair was spread out on the pillow behind her framing her in a golden halo of beauty.

"Don't you ever knock?" she asked curtly.

"You would only tell me to come in, anyway, so why should I waste both your time and mine?" Philip closed the door and sat down in the chair that John had pulled up beside the bed. "So—you are finally awake. What the devil do you mean by sleeping three days, madam, and leaving my son to the mercy of a wet nurse?"

By the tone of his voice, Christina didn't know whether Philip was chaffing her or if he was serious. She chose the latter and became annoyed.

"I'm sorry if my delay in waking has upset you, but I have seen my son this morning. And he seems to have fared rather well. And since you appear to have a dislike for wet nurses, tell me, Philip, how would you have managed if I'd agreed to give you my son?"

"Damn it, woman!" he bellowed, then groaned at the sound of his own voice.

Christina realized what was the matter with him, and she started to giggle.

"What the hell is so damn funny?" He scowled at her through reddened eyes.

"You are," Christina said, repressing her laughter. "What could have possessed you to drown yourself in liquor three nights straight? I know you were upset about nearly losing Philip Junior, but is that any reason to make yourself sick? He wasn't harmed."

"You are up here in bed in an unconscious state, and I don't know if you are going to live or die—and you ask me what possessed me to drink!"

"What would it matter to you if I lived or died? I am sure that if I hadn't come through, John would have given you Philip Junior. You should have been quite happy at the prospect of getting what you wanted. I'm sorry I disappointed you."

Philip leaned back in the chair and stared at Christina. "I ought to tan your hide for that remark! Ah, hell— never mind. I shouldn't have come to see you this soon. I should have realized you'd be upset knowing your lover is in jail."

"He was not my lover, damn it!" Christina snapped angrily. "For the record, Mr. Caxton, you are the only lover I've ever had."

"You don't have to shout, damn it!" he shouted himself.

"Don't I? It would seem that is the only way I can reach you. And furthermore, Tommy is no longer in jail. He was—"

"Did I hear you correctly?" Philip cut her off, his green eyes turning a shade darker.

"You did," she replied, ignoring his rising anger. "Tommy was released last night—at my insistence."

"For the love of God!" Philip exploded, forgetting his headache. "After what he did to you, you turn him loose as if nothing happened?"

"He didn't mean to shoot me."

"I know! It was me he was aiming at. Did it occur to you, madam, that I might want to press charges?"

"I wish you wouldn't, Philip," Christina said quietly. "Tommy regrets what he did. He asked me to apologize to you. He—"

"You've talked to him already?" Philip interrupted.

"Yes. He came to see me this morning."

"And now you're pleading with me for his freedom." Philip leaned back in the chair as if a heavy weight pressed him against it. "You must really love him."

"I grew up with Tommy. We were close friends until he decided he loved me. But I didn't love him in the same way."

"But you were going to be wed?"

"He asked me to marry him the first day I came home and every day after that until I couldn't stand it anymore. I told him no, but he wouldn't give up. I went to Victory to get away from Tommy, but he started all over again when I returned home. I asked John to make Tommy leave me alone, but he took Tommy's side. I never expected to see you again, so I gave up. I agreed to marry Tommy because everyone wanted me to. We were friends and I loved him as a friend—I still do. When he came to say good-bye this morning, he was like his old self again."

"Good-bye?"

"Yes, he's gone to join the army. I'll miss him. When I broke off our engagement he went crazy from jealousy, but he's all right now. Do you still wish to press charges against him?"

"No. If he's gone, I wish him luck. So you only thought of him as a close friend?"

"Yes."

Philip laughed boisterously. He leaned forward in the chair.

"I'm going to tell you what I should have told you a long time ago. I love you, Tina, I always have. My life isn't worth living without you. I want to take you home with me—to Victory. I will understand if you say no, but I have to ask you. And if you agree, I won't press you for anything. I know you hate me for the misery I've caused you, but I can live with your hatred as long as I can live with you."

Christina started crying. She couldn't believe it.

"You don't have to give me an answer now, Tina."

She flew off the bed and knelt before him. Her arms circled his waist as if she would never let go. Philip lifted her face to his and stroked her hair gently, his eyes soft and searching.

"Does this mean you will come with me?"

"Philip, how could you think otherwise? How can you believe I hated you? I love you with all my being. I guess I have from the beginning, but I didn't realize it until Ali Hejaz stole me away from you. I would have stayed with you in Egypt forever if you hadn't sent me away. And when you did, I went through all the anguish of hell until I learned I was carrying your child. Philip Junior gave me a reason to go on living."

"Please, Tina, don't lie to me. I didn't send you away. You left mel"

"But I'm not lying, Philip. I still have the note Rashid gave me after you left for Yamaid Alhabbal's camp. I didn't believe it at first. But when Rashid told me that you wanted to marry Nura, I gave up and went with him."

"I left you no note, Tina. I went to Yamaid's camp to invite his tribe to our wedding. When I came back—"

"Our wedding!"

"Yes—I had begun to think you really cared for me. I wanted to marry you to make sure that I would never lose you. I planned our wedding as a surprise. But when I came back, I found you gone, and— Let me see that note."

Christina reluctantly let go of him and went to her dresser. From the top drawer she took out the crumpled piece of paper and handed it to him.

"Rashid!" Philip bellowed after reading the note. "I should have known! If it's the last thing I do, I'll go back to Egypt and kill that bastard."

"I don't understand."

"Rashid wrote this note! He left me one signed with your name asking me not to follow you. I thought you had tricked me that last month. I thought you'd only pretended to be happy so I'd trust you alone and you could make your escape."

"How could you believe that, Philip? I was never more happy in my life than I was that last month with you. I couldn't have pretendedthat kindof happiness."She smiled lovingly and caressed the back of his neck. "But why would Rashid do such a thing?"

"He must have hoped I would follow you back to England and not return. Rashid has always hated me because I was our father's favorite and because I became leader of the tribe. Being sheik meant more to him than anything. I understood this, and I let him have his way in many things. But he went too far to gain what he wanted. He planned your abduction and my death at Sheik Ali's hands. When I learned the truth from Amine's brother, I searched for Rashid everywhere, but he was not to be found. I finally gave up. I just couldn't stand living in that land anymore with your memory haunting me everywhere I looked. But Rashid cannot be forgiven. He made us waste a whole year of loving each other."

"It would have been pretty difficult during part of that year," Christina laughed. "But it doesn't matter—as long as we have each other now, and forever." She paused. "But what about Estelle? You told her you desired her."

Philip laughed. "Only because I knew you were listening, my sweet. Why do you think I left the door open?"

Philip stood up and pulled Christina into his arms. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, and Christina thought she would faint with ecstasy. Philip held her face between his hands and kissed her eyes, her cheeks, her lips.