Page 3 of Summer Storms

Christine struggled to salvage what she could of the situation. “Of course. How nice.” The words rung hollow even to her own ears.

Abby and Reeve led the way into the dining room. Abby fussed about, making sure everyone was seated according to her table plan. Which meant, unfortunately, that Christine was placed opposite Zek Nash.

Throughout the evening, she had to stare him in the face whenever she raised her eyes from her plate, so she tried to do so as little as possible. Yes, the food was delicious, but it may as well have been cold and raw for all she could enjoy it.

Why did he have to come here tonight and spoil everything? It was Christmas all over again. And what did Reeve mean that they were business partners? The Zek Nash Christine remembered could no more be someone’s business partner than fly to the moon. He might look different, but that didn’t mean he was different inside.

Yet despite all of her clamouring doubts and long held grudges, she knew she had to apologise. Uncomfortable as it was, and even though he didn’t deserve it, she knew she had no choice. She could not allow anyone to think her to be a vicious person. And she wasn’t! Christine was always caring when it came to the poor. Why, she made certain to present the old man who sat near the theatre door with a pie or some cake whenever she passed him. She was a good person!

Blurting out such horrible things to Zek was something Christine the child would have done. In truth, she hadn’t given him a thought since she went to London. She had grown. Now here she was, turning back into the person she had thought she had left behind.

The guests all chatted easily together. Zek seemed to fit into their company as if he did so all the time, while Christine struggled to join in. She was only comfortable when she was answering questions about her life in London and the play that was coming up. She was proud of her accomplishments, and she could tell her family was proud of her. Then someone would ask Zek a question, and she would withdraw once more.

This would be so much better if only Zek were not here to ruin it all! She had been so looking forward to seeing everybody, to once more being a part of her family, and now she felt as though that had been taken away from her.

As dinner came to a close, Reeve suggested the men take some brandy, and the women removed themselves to the drawing room. Abby seemed quite relieved to sink back into her comfortable chair. She was pale and tired, and Molly fussed about her, finding her cushions and pouring her a cup of tea.

“You do too much, Abby!”

Abby smiled contentedly. “Oh, I don’t mind. I love having my family about me.”

“There will be plenty of time for all that once the baby is born.”

Christine could still hear Molly gently scold Abby as she went to the window. The room felt overwarm, but Abby seemed to need it that way.

As she stood there, she noticed the long windows that led from the dining room open, and saw Zek stride out. For a moment he stood still, then he wandered onto the terrace.

Here was her chance to speak with him alone. She would apologise to him, without having to embarrass herself in front of the others, and then she could put the matter behind her. With luck, she wouldn’t have to see him again while she was here in Barton Lacey.

Christine took a deep breath, put on her Christina Silk face, and clicked open the door.

CHAPTER THREE

Christine stepped outside into the summer evening. Right away, she smelled the honeysuckle that was rioting up onto the roof of a pergola... and tobacco.

Zek turned at the sound of her skirts swishing, and she saw he was smoking a cigar. A cigar? Zek? Weren’t they only for wealthy people? By all rights, he should have had a pipe. One of those cheap clay ones she saw so many people puffing on in the poorer parts of London.

She only just stopped herself from saying so aloud. What was wrong with her? Did she want more social gaffs to have to apologise for?

Zek’s lips quirked, and she had the awkward feeling that he may have read her mind.

“Miss Starling,” he said in a polite voice. “I’m surprised you would want to spend time with a disreputable person like me. Hurry back inside, quick, before you are contaminated.”

She waved a dismissive hand. “We all have our crosses to bear,” she said, then glared at him when he laughed.

“I’m not sure whether to be flattered or affronted.” He said the words easily, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

Christine wanted to stamp her foot. The Zek Nash she had known would have glared at her hatefully or muttered something uncomplimentary and stalked off. The least he could do was be annoyed by her stinging barbs.

No. She had come to apologise for her behaviour, and so she would.

“I wanted to say I am sorry for how I behaved when I first saw you this evening. You surprised me, and I suppose I... I reverted to a past version of myself. I didn’t expect… that is, I wasn’t...”

“Past version? Oh, do you mean when you were a spoilt brat?”

Christine had been babbling, but now she stopped, and her voice turned dangerous. “We were never friends, Zek, so do not pretend we were. You hated me just as much as I hated you.”

“True. Although ‘hate’ is a strong word. I knew you resented us coming to your house every Christmas, despite the fact that we had nowhere else to go. I do remember that. Is it any wonder I behaved likewise?”