"Since when has that stopped me? Just look at yourself, Magnus. You have bags under your eyes, you are as grouchy as all hell, and the best thing that has probably happened to you in years is just over that bloody fence." Nell slapped her palm on the table, bringing his attention back to her. "If she is carrying your child, and there is every possibility of that, isn't that just what you need?" she asked, her voice softening as she put a hand on his arm. "You need this child. You know you do. Nothing can replace the babe that Adele took with her, but don't you think that Kate deserves a chance? She isn't the money-grabbing type. Just look at her. She's terrified that she is going to upset you. And she hasn't asked for anything, has she? That alone speaks volumes in my book."
"It's early days yet," he said, avoiding meeting Rolf's gaze. "You've seen her finances, Rolf, does it surprise you that she might have managed to fall pregnant?"
The look Rolf gave him was one of sympathy. "Do you honestly believe that is the type of person she is? If what Nell says is true, I think you might have the wrong idea about her. It was your idea to make her your mistress, so you can't really say she is the one after the money, can you?" Rolf replied. He took a sip of his wine while regarding Magnus over the rim of the glass. "Maybe it's time you pulled down that wall you built around yourself. It could be that this young Kate is just what you need."
"Can you two hear yourselves?" Magnus growled. "Give her a chance, right? A chance to flaunt her baby to the press and demand a huge settlement. She's all about money. Look how easily she gave me what I wanted."
"You should be ashamed of yourself for asking her for what you did too, but you know why she did it," Nell cried. "She did it to save her farm and the people that work for her. Is that so bad to have someone give their life for those that she loves? She didn't seem to think so at the time. I bet she is wondering about it now though."
"How can you side with her?"
"How can I not? She is an honest person, Magnus. Nothing like Adele or any of the women you used to hang around with. I wish you could see that. Did she ever hint or give any indication that she wanted more than you were prepared to give her?" Nell asked.
"No, she didn't. She rounded on me when I made her the offer, said she wasn't for sale like a bale of hay. But it didn't take her long to change her mind," he said, the bitter taste forming in his mouth as he remembered her signing the deal and taking his money.
"Did you give her any choice?" Rolf asked, his accusing gaze making Magnus slightly embarrassed.
"I'm putting this poppet to bed." Nell pushed her plate away and reached for the baby. "You try and talk some sense into him, Rolf, before he loses what he doesn't realize he has."
Magnus watched as she cradled the child to her breast and soothed her as she walked away.
"You know you can have it too, the whole family deal." Rolf topped off their wine glasses. "You just have to lose that pigheaded attitude and let yourself believe in someone for a change."
"How can I? It's just too hard most days after what I've been through." Magnus leaned back in his chair. "The curse of the rich."
"Look, Magnus, just for a minute change your track of thought. What if Nell is right and Kate isn't after your money?" He held his hand up as Magnus made to interrupt. "Give it some consideration. Imagine if I hadn't found those figures and you hadn't made her that offer. Do you think that you could have a relationship with her. Have you been happy to have her in your bed or not?"
"Do we really need this discussion, Rolf?"
"I think it's long overdue actually. It's been over twelve years since Adele died, and it's time to put it behind you. It is more than long enough to grieve for what you might have had. If what Nell says is true, you have another chance at being a father. Is Kate pregnant?"
"Yes." Magnus tapped his fingertips on the table, feeling ashamed of himself while Rolf looked on.
"What do you plan on doing about it?"
Magnus took a drink of his wine and fiddled with the stem while he found the words. "I really don't know. My initial reaction was one of horror. I thought she had done it deliberately to trap me or get more money. Look, I know I should have been the responsible one and taken precautions, and I did to start with. It's just that one time passion got away on us, and it was too late. She said she was on the pill, and I believed her. Turns out she is hopeless remembering to take it, so here we are."
"What do you want, Magnus?"
"I thought I was happy as I was, just having her in my bed when I wanted, no strings attached. Things didn't work out how I thought they would because she is so different from all the others. Nell met her and saw it straight away." He gave a small smile and shook his head. "There is something about her, so fresh and unspoiled; nothing like Adele or the women I have been involved with all these years. She's getting under my skin, but I am so… God, how do I put it, scared to want too much in case I lose it all again. I don't think I could take another kick in the guts like that."
Rolf leaned his arms on the table and looked Magnus in the eye. "Then I think it's
