Page 12 of Summer Storms

“Keep it. For now, at least,” he said quietly. “I would like to think of you wearing it.”

She didn’t know what to say to that, but he had already climbed back into his coach, and any chance for a reply was gone. She lingered on the driveway, watching him disappear back the way he had come, wondering what on earth had just happened.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Christine was met with a barrage of questions the moment she reached the stairs. Nigel and Molly and Will were there, and she was able to tell them that Abby was well and that she and Reeve had had a son. It was only when Will and Nigel had left for the breakfast room—there seemed no point in going back to bed—that Molly gave her a long look.

“Did I see you kissing Zek Nash just now?” she asked, fighting the smile on her lips.

“He was kissing me,” Christine blurted out, then wished she had denied it instead, or at least pretended not to understand the question.

Molly’s eyes lit up. “Well!” Then she added, more thoughtfully, “You and he had always hated each other with such passion. I knew there had to be more to it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! It was just...” She searched for the right words. “We were overcome with emotion and relief after the baby arrived. That is all. It didn’t mean anything.”

Even to her own ears, it sounded like a feeble excuse.

“Oh, I believe you,” Molly said, smiling again. “A kiss with your childhood enemy. How could that possibly mean anything?”

Christine escaped into the house, refusing to be baited any further. She had planned to go to bed for an hour or two, but now she felt too restless. Her emotions were running rampant. She could still feel Zek’s lips on hers, as if he had branded them.

Was she overthinking this? Perhaps it had just been an overflow of feeling, as she had told Zek and Molly. And, truthfully, was it likely to ever happen again?

That was when she realised that she would be disappointed if it didn’t happen again, and that was even more confusing.

Perhaps now was a good time to finally visit Josh. It would take her mind off Zek, and she could share Abby and Reeve’s news with him. She would take one of the horses. It wasn’t that far, and she was done with walking for a while after that drenching.

She set off, taking the brown mare she’d always favoured for short journeys, and breathing deeply of the fresh air. The sun was shining, as if celebrating the arrival of Abby and Reeve’s son. She wondered what they were going to name him. So far, she had not heard any names mentioned. Perhaps she would suggest some names from famous plays? Algernon or Hamlet? Well, perhaps not those, but there must be one that would appeal. These thoughts kept her occupied until she reached Allingham Farm.

Josh was already up and working. Two big horses were attached to his plough, ready to prepare one of the fields for a winter crop. Christine dismounted and picked her way through the wet grass along the fence. Josh noticed her and looked up, smiling warmly at her.

“There you are! I was wondering when I would see you. I thought you might be too famous now to visit your lowly brother,” he said in his quiet voice. Josh had always been shy, quite the opposite of Will, and there had always been something very restful about spending time with him.

“Never too famous for you! I meant to come yesterday,” she confessed, “but that summer storm kept me away. Then word came the baby was on its way and I ended up at Ansford Keep.”

Josh stopped what he was doing and stared, his breath held, waiting.

“It’s a boy,” Christine announced, her smile stretching.

“And Abbey?”

“She and the child are both well.”

Josh took a deep breath. “Oh, thank God. I admit, I did worry a bit. That’s wonderful news! I will have to drop by and congratulate them. Reeve must be over the moon. I know how much he wanted this.”

“The others will be visiting today.”

“Perhaps I will wait until tomorrow then,” he said with a wry smile. “Don’t want to overwhelm the poor child with Starlings.”

“I held him,” Christina blurted out, then felt silly for doing so.

Josh eyed her curiously. “And what was that like?”

“Strangely emotional,” she admitted. “Zek Nash was there. He felt the same way. For two people who said they never wanted children of our own, we were both uncomfortably moved. Then he drove me home and... he kissed me.”

Josh’s eyes widened in astonishment. Why had she told him that?

“Zek Nash kissed you! Did you slap his face?”