Christina slammed the door shut to emphasize her irritation.
'She isn't at all what she appears to be,' Rhone remarked. 'She called us English, Lyon, as if we were foreigners. Doesn't make sense, does it?'
'Nothing Christina says makes sense, unless you remember she wasn't raised here.' He stood up, stretched to his full height, and started for the door. 'Enjoy the brandy, Rhone, while I go back into battle.'
' Battle? What are you talking about?'
'Not what, Rhone. Who. Christina, to be exact.'
Rhone 's laughter followed Lyon out the door. Christina was standing next to the front door. Her arms were folded across her chest. She wasn't trying to hide her irritation.
'Ready, Christina?'
'No. I hate carriages, Lyon. Please let me walk home. It's only a few short streets away from here.'
'Of course you hate carriages,' Lyon said. His voice was filled with amusement. 'Now, why didn't I realize that sooner, I wonder?' he asked as he took hold of her elbow. He half led, half dragged Christina to his vehicle. Once they were seated across from each other, Lyon asked, 'Are carriages as much a distraction as saddles, perchance?'
'Oh, no,' Christina answered. 'I don't like being confined like this. It's suffocating. You weren't going to tell the Countess I left without permission, were you, Lyon?'
'No,' he admitted. 'Are you afraid of the Countess, Christina?'
'I'm not afraid of her,' Christina said. 'It's just that she is my only family now, and I don't like to upset her.'
'Were you born in France, Christina?' Lyon asked. He leaned forward to take hold of her hands.
His voice coached, his smile soothed. Christina wasn't fooled for a moment. She knew he thought to catch her off guard. 'When your mind is set on finding something out, you really don't give up, do you, Lyon?'
'That's about right, my dear.'
'You're shameful,' Christina confessed. 'Quit smiling. I've insulted you, haven't I?'
'Were you born in France?'
'Yes,' she lied. 'Now, are you satisfied? Will you quit your endless questions, please?'
'Why does it bother you to be questioned about your past?' Lyon asked.
'I merely try to protect my privacy,' she answered.
'Did you live with your mother?'
He was like a dog after a meaty bone, Christina decided. And he wasn't going to let up. It was time to soothe his curiosity. 'A very kind couple by the name of Summerton raised me. They were English but enjoyed traveling. I've been all over the world, Lyon. Mr. Summerton preferred to speak French, and I'm more comfortable with that language.'
The tension slowly ebbed away from her shoulders. She could tell by Lyon 's sympathetic expression that he believed her. 'The Countess can be difficult, as you well know. She had a falling out with the Summertons and refuses to let me speak of them. She wants everyone to think I was raised by her, I suppose. Lying is very difficult for me,' she added with a straight face. 'Since Aunt Patricia won't let me tell the truth, and I'm not any good telling lies, I decided it would be best to say nothing at all about my past. There, are you satisfied?'
Lyon leaned back against the upholstery. He nodded, obviously satisfied with her confession. 'How did you meet up with these Summertons?'
'They were dear friends of my mother,' Christina said. She gave him another smile. 'When I turned two years of age, my mother took ill. She gave me to the Summertons because she trusted them, you see. My mother didn't want her sister, the Countess, to become my guardian. And the Summertons weren't able to have children.'
'Your mother was a shrewd woman,' Lyon remarked. 'The old bat would have ruined you, Christina.'
'Oh, my, did Elbert call my aunt an old bat in front of you? I really must have another firm talk with him. He seems to have taken an extreme dislike to her.'
'Love, everyone dislikes your aunt.'
'Are you finished with your questions now?' Christina asked.
'Where did you hear the sound of lions, Christina, and where did you see buffaloes?'
The man had the memory of a child given the promise of candy. He didn't forget anything. 'I did spend a good deal of time in France, because of Mr. Summerton's work, but he was very devoted to his wife-and to me, for he did think of me as his daughter. And so he took both of us with him when he went on his trips. Lyon, I really don't want to answer any more of your questions.'
'Just one more, Christina. Will you let me escort you to Creston's ball on Saturday? It will be very proper. Diana will be with us.'
'You know my aunt won't allow it,' Christina protested.
The carriage came to a halt in front of Christina's home. Lyon opened the door, dismounted, and turned to lift Christina to the ground. He held her a bit longer than necessary, but Christina didn't take exception. 'Simply tell your aunt that arrangements have already been made. I'll call for you at nine.'
'I do suppose it will be all right. Aunt Patricia need never know. She's going to the country to visit a sick friend. If I don't mention the ball, I really won't have to lie. It isn't quite the same if the Countess believes I mean to stay home, is it? Or is it still a lie by deliberate silence, I wonder.'
Lyon smiled. 'You really do have trouble telling a lie, don't you, sweet? It is a noble trait,' he added.
Heaven help her, she really mustn't laugh. Lyon would certainly grow suspicious then. 'Yes, it is difficult for me,' she confessed.
'You don't know how it pleases me to find a woman with such high standards, Christina.'
'Thank you, Lyon. May I put a question to you now?'
Elbert opened the door just then. Christina became distracted. She smiled at the butler, then waved him inside. 'I shall see the door closed, Elbert. Thank you.'
Lyon patiently waited until Christina turned back to him. 'Your question?' he gently prodded.
'Oh, yes,' Christina said. 'First of all, I would like to ask you if you will be attending Sir Hunt's party Thursday evening.'
'Are you going?'
'Yes.'
'Then I shall be there.'
'There is one more question, please.'
'Yes?' Lyon asked, smiling. Christina was acting terribly shy all of a sudden. A faint blush covered her cheeks, and she couldn't quite meet his gaze.
'Will you marry me, Lyon? For just a little while?'
'What?'
He really hadn't meant to shout, but the woman did say the damnedest things. He couldn't have heard her correctly. Marriage? For just a while? No, he had misunderstood. 'What did you say?' he asked again, calming his voice.
'Will you marry me? Think about it, Lyon, and do let me know. Good day, sir.'
The door closed before the Marquess of Lyonwood could summon a reaction.
Chapter Seven
It took over three weeks before Mylala was able to find a captain willing to take the risk of helping us escape. I don't know what I would have done without my loyal maid. She put her family and her friends in jeopardy to aid me. I listened to her advice, for she had been in my husband's household for several years and knew his ways.
I had to act as though nothing had changed. Yes, I played the loving wife, but every night I prayed for Edward's death. Mylala suggested that I not take any possessions with me. When the call came for me to go, I
