The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,225

in . . .’

‘I’m sure they would initially, but they would say the same as me. You cannot be a mother to a black child. It would not be accepted anywhere in the world. And please don’t say you’ll go and live with the Maasai, because they wouldn’t want you either,’ Bill said, making a weak attempt at a joke. ‘Cecily, do you hear what I’m saying? The fantasy world you’ve created since I’ve been away cannot ever be real. You must know that, surely?’

Cecily bit her lip, knowing that to some extent what her husband said was true.

‘But I can’t give her up, Bill. She was given to me to care for. And besides, this is all your fault to begin with. If you hadn’t let Njala come stay here on our land, then we wouldn’t be in this situation now.’

‘I’m aware of that, Cecily, and I now rue the day I said yes. Come, let me hold her,’ Bill said, reaching his arms across the table.

‘You swear you won’t make off with her in the night to Nairobi?’

‘I promise. Here,’ he encouraged, and reluctantly, Cecily placed Stella in his arms.

‘Hello, little one,’ he said as he stared down at her. ‘You’re just like your mother – absolutely beautiful.’

Cecily watched as Bill held out his finger and one of Stella’s tiny hands grabbed it and held it tight. The sight brought tears to Cecily’s eyes.

‘My goodness, Mrs Forsythe. You’ve certainly led me a merry dance since I married you.’ He gave her a weak smile. ‘And there was me driving home, thinking that we were sailing into calmer waters because you seemed so much better.’

‘Divorce me if you wish,’ Cecily shrugged defensively.

‘Cecily, in order to sort this situation out, you need to behave like a grown woman, not a petulant child. Can I ask you, does anyone else know of Stella’s presence here? Katherine, for example?’

‘Nobody – that’s why I didn’t let Katherine in the other day.’

‘You’re absolutely sure?’

‘Totally.’

‘At least that’s something.’ Bill looked down at the baby. ‘Let me think calmly about what is best to do for all of us . . .’

‘But I—’

Bill put a finger to his lips. ‘No more tonight, Cecily. I’ve heard you. Now, it’s time we all got some sleep. I’m exhausted.’

Bill stood up and handed Stella back, then kissed Cecily on the forehead. ‘Merry Christmas, my dear wife. That’s one hell of a present I’ve come home to.’

To her surprise, Cecily wasn’t woken by Stella until five. Fearing her cries would wake Bill, she gathered her up and took her into the kitchen to feed her.

‘Happy Christmas, darling,’ she said as a glorious sunrise began to peek above the horizon through the window. ‘And don’t worry, I’ll fight for you, whatever it takes.’

With Stella fed and asleep in the bassinet, Cecily donned her apron and prepared a fresh batch of bread to accompany the smoked salmon, then used the two-day-old bread from the larder to make stuffing for the chicken Bill had brought home. Preparations made, she put on her favourite emerald dress, then added some powder to cover the dark circles beneath her eyes and dabbed a little rouge on her pale cheeks. Then she returned to the kitchen to peel some vegetables. Next year, her vegetable garden should be thriving and she could just pick them fresh . . .

She checked herself. What was she even doing being so jolly? There was every chance that Bill would wake up and say that Stella had to go, which meant that she’d be packing her bags too . . .

‘Good morning,’ Bill said, as though her thoughts had summoned him to her. ‘You look bright and breezy. Might I beg a cup of tea?’

‘Of course.’ Cecily put some water on to boil.

‘How did you – and she – sleep?’

‘Very well indeed, thank you. She doesn’t fuss much at night.’

‘But she’s obviously up with the lark, eh? Thank you,’ he said as Cecily passed him his tea. ‘Right then, Bobby and Katherine are due round at noon, so I’ll complete my morning ablutions and I’ll see you in the drawing room after that. We have to talk, Cecily.’

Fifteen minutes later Cecily was sitting in the drawing room, her heart hammering, when Bill returned fully dressed and sat down in the armchair opposite her.

‘I will tell you that I spent a great deal of last night thinking about what was best to do,’ Bill began. ‘I realise that I am ultimately responsible for