Harlequin Presents January 2015 Box Set 3 of 4(150)

Slowly, Andre stirred the light brown liquid in his cup. ‘I used no protection, ma mie, so it could matter a great deal. Tu comprends?’

Ginny stared at him, wondering why he seemed to have receded to some far distance. She said huskily, ‘I understand—but I don’t believe it.’

The dark brows lifted. ‘You do not believe how babies are made?’

‘No,’ she said hotly. ‘I mean it’s not that easy to get pregnant. People try for years—take fertility drugs. Do IVF. It can’t possibly have happened just like that on—on my first time.’

His mouth twisted. ‘But for many millions, ma belle, it does happen every day—just like that. And you may be one of them. For which I blame myself entièrement. I should have known how innocent you truly were and taken adequate precautions.’

She looked down at the table. She said in a voice she didn’t recognise, ‘And my sister?’

‘You concern yourself unduly.’ He shrugged. ‘She knows very well how to protect herself. One would not think she was the younger.’

She gasped. ‘Is—is that all you have to say?’

‘For the moment, yes.’ He paused. ‘As for you, Virginie, it is time to think only about yourself and the child we may have made.’

She swallowed. ‘Well, if it’s happened, it’s my problem, not yours. And if necessary I’ll deal with it.’

‘And how will that be?’ There was a note in his voice which made her shiver. ‘A few hours in some clinique and the baby will be gone, as if it had never existed. You think you can do that?’

She looked down again. ‘If I have to.’

‘And I say you cannot,’ Andre told her harshly. ‘That for you, at least, such a thing could never be forgotten and you would regret it for the rest of your life.’

She made herself meet his gaze. Spoke icily. ‘Not my only regret, believe me.’

He made a slight cynical bow. ‘At least we can agree on that. But we cannot change the past, only deal with the present. And the future.’

‘I can manage that for myself,’ she flashed.

‘Vraiment? I doubt that. You have lost your job and may soon be homeless, unless you hope to join your mother at the cottage.’ He watched her colour deepen and nodded. ‘Eh, bien, I have another plan. You heard me say I am returning to France? Come with me.’

The breath caught in her throat. When she could speak: ‘That’s ridiculous. You must be quite mad.’

He smiled faintly. ‘Sometimes, I think so too, but not now. You have a passport. You know where to find your birth certificate? Because you will need it.’

‘What for?’

‘For the legal formalities,’ he said. ‘Before we can be married.’

There was a silence, then she said unsteadily, ‘Now I know you’re crazy. Because I would never marry you. Not if...’ And hesitated.

‘If I were the last man on earth?’ he asked drily. ‘Merci du compliment.’ He paused. ‘Virginie, it is not easy to be a single mother. If my own mother still lived, she would tell you so and that she was thankful to be offered a home and the protection of a man’s name. I offer you the same.’

‘It’s impossible,’ she said stormily. ‘For one thing, we’re practically strangers.’

‘Hardly that.’ He had the gall to sound faintly amused. ‘After yesterday.’

‘That was no wish of mine,’ she flared in return.

There was another silence, then: ‘Forgive me,’ he said, too courteously. ‘I am a little confused. Are you saying that I took you against your will?’

Ginny bit her lip. ‘Well—no. Not exactly.’

‘I am relieved to hear it.’ His tone was harsh.

‘But it changes nothing,’ she went on quickly. ‘Marriage is out of the question, particularly when we don’t know if I am pregnant.’

‘Then until we can be sure, I will make you a different offer,’ he said. ‘A roof over your head and paid employment.’

‘As what?’

‘Not what you are so clearly imagining.’ His retort was brusque. ‘I have never yet paid a woman to share my bed and you, ma mie, will not be the first.

‘I have heard from my father how much you contributed to the running of his household,’ he went on. ‘Alors, a solution presents itself.’

‘You want me to be your housekeeper? I wouldn’t dream of such a thing.’

He pushed away his untouched coffee and sat back, regarding her thoughtfully. ‘The time for dreaming is past, Virginie, and you must face reality. What is your own plan for the future?’