She was beginning to realize that she wasn't in control of this conversation. With a hint of desperation she said, "But don't you see? Marriage is totally unnecessary. I know you're a proud man, Raoul, and you always face up to your responsibilities. Well, I intend to face up to mine, as well." Unable to sit still she rose and stepped behind the sofa once again. Placing her hands lightly on the back for support, she said, "I really think we've covered everything that needs to be said." She fought to keep the tremor from her voice.
"Thank you for stopping by. Please give the children a hug for me. Tell Maman and Danielle hello."
He stood and stared at her for a long, tension-filled silence. "You're right. You're not like Sherye. Even she would never have been so cruel as to deprive me of my child. I feel very sorry for you, Alisha. You are so determined to have your independence that you are refusing to see what you are doing to everyone else involved. You didn't become pregnant on your own. Our baby deserves a great deal more than you're willing to offer it. Our baby has a right to grow up with its brother and sister, to be a part of a loving family, but you in your wisdom—" he spit out the word "—feel justified in making godlike decisions for this innocent being."
She felt each word as a blow to her heart. Our baby. She had never thought of it that way. As soon as she'd learned of her pregnancy, it had become her baby, much as she'd felt about the baby she'd carried during those weeks after Dennis had died.
When she'd found out about this pregnancy Raoul had been dead to her, as well.
She loved him. Of course she did. But she hadn't considered the possibility of marrying him, even if he had ended up divorcing Sherye. The thought that Sherye wouldn't recover was one she'd refused to consider.
Now she had to face the unthinkable— Sherye was gone and Raoul was here, demanding in his usual arrogant manner to be allowed to do the "right thing." Was it fair to her baby, to their baby, for her to refuse him?
"Will you give me a little time to think about your offer?" she asked, her voice echoing in the tension-packed room.
His steadfast gaze touched her like a laser beam of light-probing, dissecting, judging. "If it will help you better understand my position in this matter, yes. If you intend to use the time to marshal more arguments against me, don't bother. I cannot force you to marry me. I can't think of anything that would be more inappropriate, given our peculiar circumstances. If you feel that being married to me will make you as unhappy as it obviously made Sherye, I'll leave now and promise to stay out of your life."
His bleak words and matter-of-fact tone wrenched her heart. Of course he was angry with her. She had handled today's unexpected meeting very badly. "I think we both need a little cooling-off time,'' she said carefully. "Our circumstances have changed dramatically. You've had two months to adjust to Sherye's death. I've only had a few hours."
Raoul became aware of how pale she was. He was still getting over the shock of learning she was pregnant and learning that she had lost a baby earlier. How could he have lost his temper with her in her condition? What if she lost this baby? What if he didn't have her pregnancy as leverage to coax her into marrying him?
He shook his head, disgusted with his behavior. Once again he approached her, this time stroking her cheek with his thumb. "I'm being an unmitigated ass, yelling at you.. .upsetting you." He brushed his lips across hers. "I'm sorry. I'm never quite in control of my behavior when I'm around you. You trigger my deepest emotional reactions."
His sudden and unexpected tenderness almost undid her. "I should have realized how you would feel being confronted by the news without warning," she said, finding his nearness extremely distracting.
"I will give you all the time in the world to decide what you wish to do and I promise to accept your decision, whatever it may be." Once again he gave her a light kiss. "For now, I will request the use of a phone to call a taxi and give you some space. Perhaps, if you don't mind, I will call you tomorrow to see what you have to say, hmm?"
Darn him. He knew very well how to charm her into agreeing to anything—to everything—he wanted.
"There's, uh, there's really no need for you to leave. What I mean is, I have plenty of room if you'd like to stay here."
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Well, it's rather silly to have you look for a place to stay, given our circumstances. Come. I'll show you the guest room and then I'll dress. You must be hungry by now. I can fix you something—"
"I would rather take you to dinner, if you don't mind. There's no reason for you to put yourself out, just because I dropped in unannounced."
"If that's what you want."
"Yes. Yes, it is."
She studied him for a moment, then nodded, walking toward the hall. He followed her and waited while she opened one of the doors for him. She gave him a brief, rather distracted smile, then turned and walked to the end of the hallway, where she opened the last door, closing it quietly behind her.
Raoul knew that the next few hours would be the most important ones he'd had to face. It was up to him to convince her to believe that they could make a relationship work, regardless of the irregularity of its beginning.
He retrieved his bag in the hallway and placed it in his room. The enormity of what he'd just learned hit him, causing his knees to buckle. Fortunately there was a chair nearby.
The most miraculous experience of his life had resulted in the beginning of another child. In the midst of tragedy and wasted lives, God had seen fit to offer him new hope and new dreams. He had to do everything in his power to win Alisha's trust and her love.
❧
They had stayed out later than Alisha had expected, lingering over coffee and dessert while she shared some of her memories of growing up in Dallas, her schooling, a few things about her marriage and how she felt about teaching young daughters of prominent families.
Raoul had seemed engrossed in everything she had to say. How could she resist the captivating and flattering attention he'd given her all evening? He had driven them to and from a favorite restaurant of hers, following her directions without a sense of strain.
They pulled in to her garage and he helped her out of the car. "I'm sorry for keeping you up so late," he said when she fought to stifle a yawn.
She laughed. "I've enjoyed every minute of it. I'm just used to going to bed early because of my teaching schedule. I can sleep in tomorrow if I feel the need."
They stepped into her kitchen through the connecting door between the garage and her condo. "I enjoyed putting the frame of your background in context with the woman I know today. Thank you for sharing it with me."
She grinned. "I'll admit if s much more comfortable now that I have most of my memories, although talking about them reminds me of how ordinary my life has been." She glanced up at him, then quickly away. "Meeting you under such strange circumstances has been the most dramatic thing that has ever happened to me."
"If you'll excuse me," he said in a lazy tone, "there's something I've wanted to do all evening." Taking his time, he pulied her into his arms and kissed her. When she didn't resist, he held her closer, deepening the kiss.
This was what she'd been afraid of, Alisha told herself, in the back of her mind. This was also what she'd wanted very much. The rights and wrongs of their relationship were too much for her to deal with just then, and she gave herself to the moment.
When Raoul picked her up she didn't resist. Instead she clasped her arms around his neck and allowed him to carry her into her bedroom. There he carefully removed each item of clothing that she wore, placing kisses on each area of her body that was revealed, until he had her completely uncovered.
He pulled back the covers and placed her on the bed, then ran his fingers lightly over the contours of her body, coming to rest on her stomach. "You are so beautiful. I noticed the glow about you right away without understanding it. Perhaps it is wrong of me, but I am glad you are carrying my child. I am grateful that a part of me is now a part of
you. I love you, Alisha, even before I understood who it was that I loved. I think I began to topple when you decided that if I was your husband that you had great taste in men."
She made no effort to cover her body, reveling in his enjoyment of her. When he reminded her of her embarrassing remark from her early days in the hospital, she couldn't control her blush. "I was hoping I hadn't really said that out loud," she admitted.
He grinned. "It was a startling comment totally out of character for my wife to make. Never wonder why I want to marry you, Alisha. I want you in my life because it is you that I love. The baby adds some urgency to the need, that's all."
"I've promised to work until the end of February."
"All right. I will return home and prepare the family, as well as take care of some business matters, then I'll come back here and stay with you until you are ready to go home with me."
"You'd do that for me?" she asked.
"There's no limit to what I'd do for you. You have become my heart. I do not want to be without you for any longer than absolutely necessary."
She leaned up on one elbow and reached for his tie. "One of us is wearing entirely too many clothes."
He smiled. "Does that mean you agree with my plans?"
Coming up on her knees, she pushed his jacket off his shoulders and began to unbutton his shirt. "I've always had a weakness for anything French. How can I possibly resist you?"
Chapter 16
Once again she was returning to the French chateau with her husband, Raoul DuBois. However, there were several differences from the first time she had turned through the stone gateway and followed the paved driveway to its end.
Summer had dotted the landscape with lushness the first time she'd entered those gates. Now winter had its grip on the surroundings.
She'd come the first time with no memories of the place and with the name Sherye DuBois. Now she had a great many memories of the place—wonderfully fulfilling memories—and she knew that her name was Alisha Conrad DuBois. She wore the wedding ring that confirmed it.
The first time she'd come here she'd been confused and a little afraid. Her confusion was gone, her fear was gone, but there was a residue of anxiety that still clung to her.
Raoul had reassured her that the family was looking forward to her arrival. He had convinced her to discuss with her boss the possibility of having her replacement take over the first of February. Then Raoul had come back to Dallas in time to appear at the school to meet her students and to allow them to practice their French with him. Every single one of them had fallen madly in love with him.
Who could blame them?
After overseeing the packing and shipping of those items she wanted to keep, Raoul had helped her to list her condo with a real estate agent and found a buyer for-her car.
His help had been a godsend and she had found herself falling more in love with him each day, even though she'd protested his high-handed suggestion soon after she agreed to marry him that they be married immediately. Nothing she said could sway him from his determination to have her his wife at the first opportunity.
She still felt their marriage was too soon, despite her increasing girth, but she had given in because he'd been so adamant.
When they'd arrived in Paris he'd surprised her by announcing that they would be staying in the city for at least a week because he wanted a honeymoon with her. He'd also arranged for her to order a new wardrobe, pieces that she could wear in comfort for the remainder of her pregnancy as well as other things for immediately afterward.
He wanted her to fill her closet with items that she personally had chosen, and she had been whisked around the city for measurements, fittings and some sight-seeing. However, he'd made certain that she spent a considerable part of that time in bed.
Resting was only part of his carefully planned agenda while she was there.
By the time they reached the chateau Alisha felt pampered and well loved by the man who sat beside her in the car. She glanced at him, delighted to see how much better he looked now than he had little more than a month ago.
Besides looking more rested, he had gained back some of his weight, although he still appeared too thin to her. He smiled more now, which softened the rather harsh lines that had appeared on his face.
"Why are you looking at me?" he asked without taking his eyes off the road.
"I enjoy looking at you," she promptly replied. "Don't tell me it makes you nervous?"
"And if it did?"
She laughed. "I'll never believe that anything ever makes you nervous."
"You'd be surprised."
The truth was that she was the one who was a little nervous about the upcoming reunion with his family. "You did tell them that I was pregnant, didn't you?" she asked, more for reassurance than real concern.
He snapped his fingers. "I knew there was something I was supposed to do."
When he didn't look at her, she leaned forward to see his eyes. As soon as she did, she made a fist and hit him on the shoulder. "Oh, you!"
"I'm certain I'm wasting my breath, but I would like to point out that it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, you know."
Alisha nibbled on her bottom lip. "In theory, that's true. Practically speaking, it makes a big difference to me."
They pulled up and stopped at the front door. He immediately got out of the car and came around to help her out. She was rapidly becoming a size where she actually needed the help, particularly in a small car.
They were still in the foyer when Danielle came out of the salon. "I thought I heard you!" she said, dancing toward them. She hugged Alisha. "Oh, it's so good to have you back here." She drew back and looked at Alisha. "You're positively glowing with good health."
"I told you," Raoul pointed out, as though he was personally responsible for her condition, Alisha decided. Actually, he probably was, for the most part.
"You're looking rather glowing yourself," she said to Danielle.
Danielle laughed and held out her hand for Alisha to inspect the sparkling ring she wore. "For good reason. You've arrived just in time to help me plan a wedding!"
"That's marvelous! Oh, Danielle, I'm so happy for you." Alisha gave her another hug.
"It would never have happened without you," Danielle said, her eyes sparkling.
"Me! I haven't even been here."
"But you were here last summer and you befriended me, made me feel like I'm attractive, even if I'm not beautiful like you."
"Oh, Danielle. I can't believe you ever thought you weren't beautiful." Alisha looked up at Raoul. "Would you listen to her?"
Raoul hugged his sister, dutifully admired her ring and said, "I'm ready for something to eat and a chance to relax in front of a warm fire." He took each woman's arm and escorted them into the salon. "Ah, there you are, Maman. "
The older woman stood and faced them, her eyes on Alisha's protruding stomach. Slowly she raised her gaze until it locked with Alisha's.
Alisha didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to handle the blatant once-over. Then her jaw dropped when Felicity gave her a welcoming smile and held out her hands. "You must be very tired after your trip. Come, sit here by the fire and tell me how you've been doing. I want to hear all about Dallas and your students. Yvette has shared every card and letter with us."
Alisha walked over to the older woman and put her arms around her. "Thank you, Maman. It's wonderful to be home again."
The same thought continued to run through her head several days later when she lay in Raoul's massive bed, waking up after a restful night of sleeping with his arms around her, holding her close.
All of her nightmares had been fought and dealt with. The children were so happy to see her. She couldn't get over the changes in them. Yvette was now going to school. Jules was no longer a baby. Instead he was a sturdy little boy with a very stubborn mind-set. He knew exactly what he wanted at all times and fought to get it, a trait he'd obviously inherited from his strong-willed f
ather.
She stretched, missing Raoul. He'd left early, promising to be home early this evening. He'd insisted there was no reason for her to get up so early and she had obligingly gone back to sleep.
Everyone treated her with loving attention. No one referred to Sherye, or how Alisha had come to be at the chateau in her stead last summer.
Yesterday she had driven to the cemetery to visit Sherye's grave. She'd stood there a long time, and when she had left she'd determined to leave the past there in that peaceful spot.
The baby decided to shift at that moment and Alisha smiled, rubbing the spot and feeling a wealth of love and contentment sweep over her.
Driven by hunger more than a great desire for activity, Alisha forced herself to get up and face the day. When she reached the dining room, her setting was the only one left. Obviously everyone else in the household had been and gone.
She filled her plate with brioches and croissants and sat down, noticing for the first time there was a letter beside her place. Janine must have written almost as soon as Alisha had left Dallas.
She picked up the letter, smiling, before she really looked at it. Only then did she note that it had been posted in France and that the handwriting was unfamiliar. The letter was addressed to Madame Raoul DuBois. Puzzled, she opened the envelope, and several sheets of paper fell out.
As soon as she unfolded them she froze, staring at the top line with a sense of dread. Reluctantly she scanned the expensive paper containing the slashing scrawl.
Dear Sherye,
So you think you're too good to acknowledge an old friend, do you? Saw you earlier this week in Paris. You sailed past me like you'd never laid eyes on me..Sorry, babe, but it won't work.
I was glad to see you up and about these days. I don't mind admitting you had me a little worried with that fainting act you pulled last summer. From the looks of things you've decided to cozy up to the unsuspecting hubby. Nice try, but then you've always been a ballsy woman.
Mystery Wife Page 20
