The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,156

local to here?’

‘I . . . no, he isn’t. I met him in England. And no, he wouldn’t be . . . willing to take responsibility. He’s engaged to someone else. I only found out after . . .’

Cecily could hardly bear to look up into Dr Boyle’s sympathetic eyes.

‘I can understand how shocked you are,’ Dr Boyle said eventually, ‘but you’re not the first and certainly won’t be the last young lady to find herself in this predicament. I’m sure that you will find a solution; most usually do.’

‘Is . . . there any way I could, well . . . stop the baby coming?’

‘If you are asking me about an abortion, then I would tell you that it is not only illegal, but very dangerous. I think you must accept that your baby is coming in about seven months’ time and make your plans accordingly. Do you have family?’

‘Yes, in New York.’

‘Then maybe you should think about returning to America sooner rather than later, especially given what is happening in Europe.’

Cecily remained silent; her brain was fogged with shock and it was impossible to think of anything at all, let alone a plan for the future.

‘I’ll leave you to it now, my dear, but as I said, I’d certainly advise confiding in your godmother. She is in loco parentis while you’re here, after all. And not to put too fine a point on it, she’s bound to notice in the next few weeks. Here’s my card. Please call me if you need any help, medical or personal.’

Cecily watched him put the card on the bedside table next to her.

‘Thank you. Surely I must owe you some money for this morning’s . . . consultation?’

‘Consider it on the house. And of course, if you do decide to stay here, I’ll be delighted to look after you during your pregnancy. Good day, my dear.’

Cecily watched him leave the room. She stared at the wall in front of her, on which hung a dreadful painting of a Maasai warrior standing over the body of a dead lion, his spear piercing the animal’s side.

Her hands were freezing cold, despite the heat of the room. Pulling back the sheet, then tugging up her nightdress, Cecily tentatively placed her hands on her stomach. What was she meant to feel? She just didn’t know. Perhaps she could ask Mamie . . .

No! No, no . . .

‘Oh my dear Lord, my God . . .’ She shook her head as she curled her body up into a ball and turned away from the door as if to avoid any more bad news coming through it. ‘What have I done?’

There was another knock on her door and Cecily, her sight blurred with tears, remained silent.

‘Cecily, it’s Kiki. Can I come in?’

‘No,’ Cecily whispered to herself, shaking her head from side to side as she heard the door behind her open and then close again softly.

‘Oh, my poor darling, my angel . . . What is it?’

‘Please, Kiki, I’m begging you, just leave me alone . . .’

‘What is it that Dr Boyle told you? Is it terminal? Why, I just saw him in the hallway when I arrived here for breakfast . . . I’ll go fetch him now and ask him myself.’

‘No!’ Cecily sat upright, wiping her eyes. ‘Please, Kiki, there’s no need to do that. The problem I have is not’ – Cecily swallowed hard – ‘terminal or life-threatening.’

‘Okay.’ Kiki took another step towards her. ‘So you don’t have malaria?’

‘No.’

‘Or cholera?’

‘No.’

‘Or cancer?’

‘No, Kiki. I promise you, Dr Boyle confirmed that I’m not sick. Please don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.’

‘Of course I worry about you, sweetie, you’re my beloved goddaughter. And I’m responsible for you while you’re here. I haven’t been very good at looking after you recently, have I?’

Cecily, who still had her eyes firmly shut, could hear Kiki breathing above her and smell her perfume, which made her feel immediately sick.

‘So, what did Dr Boyle say to upset you so?’

Again, Cecily gave a shake of her head and remained silent. Which engendered silence from above.

‘So, the symptoms you have are dizziness and nausea,’ Kiki said after a pause. ‘Along with exhaustion, right?’

‘Really, Kiki, I’m feeling much better. I . . .’

Kiki laid a gentle hand on Cecily’s arm and Cecily felt her sit down on the bed behind her.

‘He’s told you you’re pregnant, hasn’t he?’

Cecily squeezed her eyes shut even tighter so the tears couldn’t dribble out. Maybe if she played