Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
The Lady’s House was aglow with bright light.
Had Zek bought up every candle and lantern in the country?
Once again, Christine was in the coach with Will and Molly, while the rest of her family followed in their own equipages.
Abby and Reeve had decided not to attend, and Christine suspected that even with a nursemaid, they would be too busy to travel for some time.
Her parents had also decided to remain at home—it had been a busy time for them, too, and they were looking forward to a quiet evening.
“Last time I saw this place it was full of workmen,” Molly said excitedly.
“Zek must be very pleased,” Will added. “He said he always wanted to give his mother a proper house to live in.”
Christine remembered the hovel the Nashes had once resided in.
The children with their grubby faces peering through the grubby windows whenever she passed.
She had hated them and hated to see them at Christmastime in her house.
Now, thinking back, she suspected she had felt some guilt and shame that her family should have so much and others so little.
It had been easier to blame Zek for his misfortune.
She had always thought Zek had not been grateful enough during those festive luncheons.
She’d thought he’d sneered at her after all her family had done for him.
But it wasn’t that simple. The charity the Starlings offered must have cut Zek to the quick, and made him starkly aware of his inability to help his mother and siblings.
He was trapped in a situation he could not change.
And that resentment led to his behaviour around Christine, seeing she obviously hated him too.
She still remembered that cold snowball trickling down her back.
The coach drew up to the front of the house. As she began to descend, she heard music swell from the open front door, mixed with the chatter of many voices. Christine wondered how she would feel if Zek were to glare at her now as she entered his home, just as she had glared at him not so long ago.
Mrs Nash greeted them at the door, giddy with excitement. She welcomed them in, offering food and drink, and pointing out the room where dancing was to take place. “So many people here tonight,” she said, almost boasting. “Some even arrived from London!”
The house had been transformed since the last time Christine had been here, soaked to the bone and miserable.
Flowers and greenery were everywhere, and everything that could be polished now shone like a mirror.
It seemed no expense had been spared. Across the room, Izzy was smiling at an older man.
When asked, Will said he was Mrs Nash’s brother-in-law, the uncle Zek had gone to work for, who eventually changed the fortunes of the family.
Izzy spotted Christine. Her smile dropped away and eyes narrowed.
So, they were still enemies then.
When the last guests had arrived, Zek made a speech welcoming everyone and thanking them for coming. He was confident and calm, as if he did this sort of thing every day. As if his difficult past had never existed. Then the orchestra struck up, and the dancing began.
Will first danced with Molly, then with Christine.
She knew some of the people in attendance tonight—Sir Reginald Morton was here, along with Celeste Hunter and her husband, Mark.
The Norrises were here from Barton Manor, as was Breana’s friend Chloe Bennett and her parents.
There were also many people Christine didn’t know, most likely from London.
There was no shortage of gentlemen to dance with, and Christine was certainly enjoying herself, but something was missing.
Not once had Zek come to ask her to dance, or even to chat with her, and she wanted him to.
Despite what Izzy had said and Christine’s own doubts, she would love to be in his arms right now.
Mrs Nash approached Christine as she went to the supper table for a refreshment. “How is your sister faring? Such happy news for her and Lord Ravenhill.”
“She is well, thank you, and it is happy news. Very happy news.”
“I thought of visiting, but I wasn’t sure if I should. They probably have enough to do without me knocking on their door.” She sounded timid. It was like looking back in time, to a version of her who was ashamed of her lot in life, and not wanting to burden anyone with it.
“Mrs Nash, they would be more than happy to see you,” Christine assured her.
“Your son and Reeve are friends and business partners, after all. But apart from that, you would be very welcome for your own sake.” She then leaned in and confided.
“I’m sure they’d appreciate a visit from anyone who wasn’t immediate family at this point. ”
The woman still seemed doubtful. “I did send your sister a basket of fruit. Did she receive it?”
Izzy seemed to appear out of nowhere between them. “Oh Mother, how would she know?” Her tone was nothing short of scathing. “She’s never had time for her family. Too busy thinking of her fame on the London stage.”
Christine gave her a cool smile. “As a matter of fact, I do know. I was there when it arrived, and Abby was very pleased. She said she would write you a thank you note as soon as she had the chance, Mrs Nash. If you visit, she can thank you in person.”
Mrs Nash flushed with pleasure and Izzy scowled.
“Miss Starling?” Zek had arrived, smiling and holding out his hand as if ready to whisk her safely away from Izzy’s hateful glare. “I hope you are free for the next dance?”
Christine tried to act nonchalant about his question.
“Oh. I believe I might be.” In fact, she was supposed to have another dance with Will, but under the circumstances, she knew he would understand.
She thought about turning to look at Izzy’s reaction, but she already knew what the expression on her face would be.
The situation with her was becoming ridiculous, and yet Christine was reluctant to talk to Zek about it. What if he told her it was all true?
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked with a smile when the music started.
“Yes, very much.” Christine admitted it was very pleasant being so close to him like this. He was just the right height for her, and he danced so well. If only she could have ignored his sister glaring at them from the sidelines, it would have been perfect.
“Izzy still doesn’t like me.” She blurted it out without meaning to.
Zek frowned, his dark eyes fixed on her face. “Izzy doesn’t seem to like anyone these days. Ignore her.”
Christine had no idea how she was supposed to do that.
She thought again about telling him about his sister’s warning, but it felt too much like telling tales.
And Zek did not seem to hate her. Quite the opposite, in fact.
But could she trust him? The way he was smiling at her now... Was that real or a performance?
“Did you meet my uncle?” Zek asked.
“Your mother introduced me to him earlier.” The old man had all but claimed Zek as his adopted son, his face alight with pride for his nephew.
Zek hesitated. “I admit, when I first went to London, I found it hard to forgive him. If he had sent for me sooner, we might not have had to live so long in such dire circumstances. But he is genuinely remorseful, and I have grown fond of him.”
“You said he and your father had a falling out. May I ask what it was about?” she asked curiously.
Zek leaned in closer. “It was over my mother. My uncle met her first and wanted to marry her, but then she fell in love with my father. My uncle became very bitter. He believed his brother had stolen her away from him.”
“That is very romantic, in a way,” Christine said uncertainly. “Though I can understand why your uncle would have felt hard done by. Do you think he still has feelings for your mother?”
Zek pulled a face. “As far as my mother is concerned I don’t think it has entered her head, but on occasion, when I see him looking at her, I suspect my uncle still loves her.
He feels very remorseful that he waited so long to reconnect with us and if he had known how dire matters were, I’m sure he would have come to her rescue sooner. ”
“It would make a nice ending to the story.”
He laughed, but not unkindly. His eyes smiled into hers. “Life is not like a play, Christine.”
No, she supposed it wasn’t. Perhaps that was why Christine had always preferred make-believe, because one could turn even the worst disasters into happy endings.
“We make our own lives, our own choices,” Zek went on. “I am a man who makes spur of the moment decisions, but I have found they are also usually the right ones.”
The dance came to an end. They stepped apart, but Zek did not let her hand go. “May I speak to you?” he asked quietly. “In private?”
Christine’s heart gave a jolt. Was this when he told her he was in love with her and then she would have to decide whether to believe him and share her own feelings, or deny those feelings in the belief he was false?
There was no safe answer for her. But he was staring at her with an intensity she could not ignore, so she bravely nodded.
“Meet me outside on the terrace,” he said. “Five minutes. Eh, make that ten,” he corrected himself as one of the guests moved to intercept him.
Christine smiled back, but she was left unsettled. His hand squeezed hers.
“Courage,” he whispered, and then he was gone.
Courage? Because he was about to destroy her hopes and break her heart?
Because she had fallen in love with him, just as he’d planned?
Could she act her way out of the situation, pretend she had been lying to him too, show him complete indifference?
Christine wasn’t sure she was that good an actress after all. Not when Zek was the man she wanted.