She needed to be deprived of his love until she learned obedience. “You can sit by the fire with me tonight. Clive won’t be coming.”
She sank onto the sofa without even acknowledging his gracious manners. He’d overlook it tonight, considering the circumstances. But after the wedding, she’d learn her role as an Allistair wife.
When she said, “I’m worried about Clive,” she almost redeemed herself. But as she explained her frivolous concerns, he revised his opinion downward. He listened with polite interest until she’d finished her tale of his grandfather’s ill temper in the library, and then he dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
“He speaks his mind, that’s all. I admire that.”
“Do you?” What did she mean by that remark? “Then I’ll speak mine. I’ve given this a lot of thought, Stephen. I let myself be rushed into an engagement, but I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been here. You and I have basic differences that won’t change with a marriage certificate.”
“What are you saying?”
“You and I no longer work as a couple. It’s not your fault, and I don’t think it’s mine. But I won’t enter into a marriage that is doomed from the beginning. I can’t marry you.”
He struggled to keep his face a careful mask. Maybe he’d been hasty not to greet her with a kiss. And he’d certainly made a mistake trying to protect her reputation until the wedding. If he’d done like that clod, Griff Perkins, he’d already be awaiting the birth of his son.
“Darling, I’m sure that’s stress talking.”
“No. It’s me talking. I don’t mean to be cruel or abrupt, but sometimes a crisis brings out truth in a way that going about your ordinary business cannot. I’m sorry.”
She reached toward her ring. She was actually going to pull a ten-carat diamond solitaire off her finger and hand it back as if it were a cubic zirconium knock-off. How ungrateful could she get?
Suddenly, he saw his carefully laid plans circling the drain as if Lily had thrown them into the toilet and flushed them down. He couldn’t let her do that.
“Wait.” He was across the room and kneeling at her feet before she had the ring off her finger. “Darling, you’re upset now. This thing with Cee Cee has been too much for you.”
“It’s not just that, Stephen.”
“I know.” He crooned to her as if she were one of his rose cultivars. “I shouldn’t have asked you to redecorate this huge mansion before the wedding.”
“I’m sorry about all that. I can finish the renovations or recommend someone else to do the job, whatever you want.”
“I want you to stay here. You and Annabelle. She loves working with me, and we have her presents already under the tree. She’s so excited about seeing the sunset over the bay on Christmas Eve, I’ve made sure my boat’s ready down at the marina.” Was he trying too hard? Not hard enough?
“I’m sorry, Stephen. I see no reason to prolong the inevitable.”
“Wait!” He kissed her hand, even managing to linger over it as if he weren’t seething inside. “Darling, there’s no reason to rush off and ruin Christmas for her, is there? And what if Cee Cee gets to come home before then? Are you going to send her back to that impoverished hovel to celebrate the holidays with a foster mother Annabelle calls the Wicked Witch of the West?”
That almost brought a smile from her. Good.
“I suppose I could stay through the holidays. It would give me time to find another apartment.”
“Darling, I hope it will give me time to prove to you that I’m the man who can give you and Annabelle the future you’ve always dreamed of.” From her expression, he might as well have asked her to go mop the kitchen floor.
“Maybe I should just find another place, Stephen.”
He dug deep for the famous Allistair charm.
“Listen, Lily, my love for you hasn’t changed. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, needed and dreamed of. And I’ve come to absolutely adore Annabelle. She’s the daughter I’ve always wanted.” Her face softened. Was she thawing? When he sat on the sofa and put his arm around her, she didn’t pull away. “I’ll admit that I’m hoping you’ll change your mind.”
“I don’t want to encourage false hopes. And I don’t want to take advantage of your generosity.” She started pulling at the ring again.
“Don’t. Please.” He covered her hand, utterly galled that he’d been reduced to begging. “Just give me another chance. If you don’t change your mind,