The Pursuit (33 page)

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” Edward finally said, coming closer.

When Niki saw that Edward was moving, her chin lifted ever so slightly. Edward kissed her without haste, and Niki kissed him right back.

“Again?” Edward asked when he’d put a fraction of space between them.

“Again.”

Edward was still kissing her when he heard the door, but he didn’t jump like a man caught in the act. He straightened slowly and walked around the davenport to sit with Niki.

“I think I have it,” Lizzy told them, crossing the room to hand the book to Edward before retaking her seat. She had the distinct impression that something had gone on while she was away, but not for any reason would she have asked. She did notice, however, that Edward was sitting closer to Niki.

“I think this must be the book,” Edward said and thanked her. “I’ll see that Henry gets it.”

“Tell him there’s no hurry.”

“All right,” Edward said easily, still working to gather his thoughts. “Where are the boys?” he asked of Niki, wanting a reason to look at her.

“With Mr Morland.”

“I believe they went outside,” Lizzy put in. “The day is perfect for it.”

“Shall we go find them?” Edward suggested, thinking that if he had to keep sitting there, he would begin to squirm.

Lizzy’s smile as she agreed told him that she was onto him, and he thought that Niki looked ready to laugh as well. The threesome had no more stood when Morland came through the door, the boys in attendance.

“Edward!” they cried in unison as if it had been years. The pair bolted across the room to see him. They remembered to smile at their mother, but Edward was clearly the person they wanted to see.

“Mr Morland has a big tree, like you saw in Africa!” Christopher told him in excitement.

“We can show you,” Richard offered.

“I would love to see it. Shall we bring your mum?” Edward asked, thinking it a stroke of genius.

The boys were even more excited about that idea, and in short order the adults—all of them—trooped after the boys to see this large tree. The day was ideal, and the six of them took their time until Lizzy suggested tea and refreshments. For this enticement the boys were willing to go indoors. Niki walked with them while they moved back inside, intent on questioning them.

“How did things go with Mr Morland?”

“We didn’t kick,” Richard told her.

“I’m glad to hear that. Were you well behaved?”

They nodded, not looking at all hesitant.

“Did you thank him for taking you outdoors?”

The boys looked at each other then, and Niki had to cover her mouth over the quizzical looks on their faces.

“Take care of it as soon as you can,” their mother put in and then let the matter drop. Suddenly she was weary from so much emotion in one day. The boys had argued, she was worried about her visit with Lizzy Morland, and then Edward had arrived. And all of that before the kiss. Niki wanted to go somewhere private so she could relive it in her mind and think about him, but that wasn’t possible.

Forcing herself to attend to what Morland was saying, Niki put her own wishes aside. She was a little hungry, and the tea that had been prepared looked lovely. Even at that, Edward’s kiss kept swimming back into her thoughts.

It would have done a great deal of good for Niki’s heart if she had glanced at Edward. One look would have told her he was thinking about it too.

Pembroke

Cassandra felt Tate’s eyes on her, but she wouldn’t look at him. The hour somewhat late, the two were reading in bed. She knew he was curious about her behavior, but she wasn’t going to open the subject. Right now she hoped he would grow sleepy and forget about it.

“Are you all right?” Tate ventured, not sure he could sleep if he didn’t question his wife.

“I think so,” Cassandra hedged.

“But you’re not sure?”

Cassandra was silent about that.

Tate watched her. He wanted to reach over and take the book from her hand, but instead he set his own down and turned a little more so he could stare at her.

“Don’t do that!” Cassandra’s voice was sharp.

“What is it, Cassie?”

Cassandra gave up and put her book aside but still didn’t look at him. She was angry that he’d pushed the point, but she couldn’t say as she blamed him. She had changed in the last few days, and had the situation been reversed, she would have had plenty of questions of her own.

“What is it you want to know?” Cassandra asked, hoping they were not on the same subject.

“I want to know why you don’t want me to see you when you’re undressed. You’ve been hiding from me behind doors and in darkness for three days.”

Cassandra’s heart sank. This was the very thing she didn’t want to speak about. She glanced at her husband and still found him to be the man she fell in love with and married, but deep in her heart she didn’t think he would understand.

Without looking at him, she admitted, “I feel fat. I feel thick around the middle.”

“And that’s why you’re hiding from me?”

“Yes.” Her voice dropped before she continued. “I think the freckles on my body stand out more now that I’m pregnant. I don’t want you to see me.”

Tate had been on the verge of growing impatient, but then she’d mentioned her freckles. Her freckles had almost kept them apart. He’d decided a long time ago that he would always be patient about her freckles, and this time was not going to be any different.

“I love your freckles,” he said gently, meaning it with all his heart. “If you recall, I didn’t get to see them when we first met, so I’m still making up for lost time.”

Cassandra smiled a little. It was so like him to say something sweet. She glanced at him, feeling a little better.

“So,” Tate said slowly, “do I give you time with this, or do I push the point?”

Cassandra frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, are you going to work at believing me in the very near future, or do I need to show you how much I like your freckles right now?”

Cassandra bit her lip, a little uncertain. Tate watched her, reminding himself how gentle he needed to be.

“Why don’t I scratch your back,” Tate suggested.

“You don’t mind?”

“Not at all.”

Cassandra smiled at him and then rolled over so he could reach her. With a smile of his own, Tate began a gentle motion with his neatly-trimmed nails. They had been down this road before. He knew it was only a matter of time before she realized that doors and darkness were not needed: He loved every freckle she possessed.

Chapter Eighteen

From a window in his bedroom, Pastor Hurst saw the threesome alight from the carriage and walk into the church. He thought someone might have left a jacket or Bible on Sunday, but several minutes passed and no one emerged. He was done for the day and wanted to be home, but he knew that the Walkers were away, which meant that Mrs Bettencourt was on her own.

“Frederick,” Judith said as she entered the room, finding his back to her. She was ready with a question but waited.

Finally he turned. “Can you make time to go over to the church?”

“Certainly.”

“Right now?” he pressed.

“Yes.”

With a word to the ever-faithful Phoebe, the two left the house and headed across the yard. Pastor held the door for his wife, who slipped in ahead of him and sat down in a rear pew. She watched as he approached the small family down front.

Niki Bettencourt sat with a son on either side of her, a few tears on her face. She heard Pastor Hurst coming and turned to him.

“Can I help you, Mrs Bettencourt? Or my wife perhaps? She’s with me.”

“I can’t explain it,” she said softly. “I was hoping if I came here I would somehow have the words, but it hasn’t helped.” Niki sniffed. “Chris asked me about Jesus Christ, and I tried to tell him how I had believed, but I’ve only confused him.”

Frederick sat near the huddled family.

“Which one of you is Chris?”

“I’m Chris,” he volunteered. “Mama never cries. I didn’t mean to make Mama cry.”

“You’re a very kind boy, Chris,” Frederick said, seeing some of his own son, John, in that small, sweet face. “I’m sure she appreciates that.”

Richard looked from the pastor to his mother, his own face pale with confusion. His brother had asked a few questions, and the next thing he knew they were headed to church on a Tuesday!

“Since your mother is crying right now, Chris, do you think maybe I can answer your questions?”

“I don’t know.”

“Would you like me to try?”

“Sure.” The little boy was amiable but said nothing else. Frederick fought laughter and found that Niki was smiling a little too.

“Chris,” she prompted gently, turning a little to see him. “Ask Pastor Hurst the question you asked me.”

The little boy looked up at her, his face hesitant until Niki nodded in encouragement.

“All right,” Chris said quietly, now turning to the pastor. “Why did Jesus have to die to save people? If He’s God, why couldn’t He save people and stay alive?”

“What a very good question, Chris,” Frederick praised him. “And I’m glad you asked it. You see, the Bible says that sin has to be paid for. Do you know what I mean by that?”

“No.”

“It means that someone must pay a price. If I were to steal something and go to jail, then I would be paying a price for my crime, wouldn’t I? The Bible tells us that all sin is against God and that sin must be paid for in blood. That might sound confusing, but I’ll tell you what I mean. A very long time ago, before God sent His Son, people who believed in Him would sacrifice a lamb or a goat, and by shedding the blood of that animal they would show God that they were sorry for their sins.

“But then God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of all men, and when Jesus shed His blood, He paid the price for all the sins of all people. If Jesus had stayed alive, then His blood would not have been shed, and our sins would not have been paid for.”

Both Frederick and Niki watched Christopher nod, his little face intent.

“But there’s more to it than that, Chris, and I think that’s what your mother has been trying to tell you. You see, just because God offers us forgiveness for our sins, that doesn’t mean everyone believes. Your mother has chosen to believe, and you could believe too.”

“I’m only five,” Christopher felt a need to tell him.

“I’m glad you told me, Chris, but I have something to tell you. I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ to save my sins when I was five years old.”

Christopher’s eyes got a little big with this announcement, and he turned to his mother. Niki nodded, a gentle smile on her lips.

“Aunt Mary said it’s about agreeing with God, Chris,” his mother said gently, “and believing Him. And salvation is for anyone who will do that.”

“I’ll do that,” Richard said suddenly, surprising his mother and brother; Niki had nearly forgotten he was there.

“Do what, Rich?” His mother had to be sure he understood.

“I’ll believe in God to forgive my sins.” He suddenly looked hesitant, his voice growing very soft. “I sin when I bite Chris.”

Niki put an arm around him, kissed the top of his soft head, and tried not to sob her eyes out.

“Shall I tell you what I did, Rich?”

He nodded against her.

“I told God that I needed His salvation. I prayed and thanked Him for sending His Son to die for me. I asked Him to save me from my sins, and He did.”

“How do you know, Mama?” Chris asked this question.

“I know because God’s Word promises that all who believe will be saved, but I also know because I was different inside. I never felt alone anymore, but more than that, I wanted to know more about God. It took me awhile to ask questions about His Word and get answers, but I wanted more of God.”

“Do you
feel
saved every day, Mrs Bettencourt?” Pastor asked.

“No.”

“And what do you do on those days?”

“I remember Scripture and God’s promises to me. I let His Word remind me of the gift I’ve been given.”

Pastor Hurst smiled at her, his heart pleased that she understood the way emotions could deceive.