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In Pursuit of His Wife(26)

By:Kristi Gold


She lowered her eyes and clasped her hands tightly in her lap. "I  cannot discard my worries, Sebastian. Not after what I discovered  today."

Concern came crashing down on him as he braced for confirmation of what  he suspected she was about to say. "Please tell me you're not  pregnant."

She centered her gaze on his. "I am pregnant, and I am thrilled. I hope you will put aside your fears and celebrate the news."

Celebrate? He came off the couch, laced his hands behind his neck and  began to pace like a caged cougar. "How can you expect me to be happy  after what you've told me about my mother?"

"I knew I was taking a chance by unveiling the truth, yet I had to be forthright."

He spun around to confront her. "That truth only cements my apprehension."

"Your mother chose to become pregnant against medical advice and your  father's protests. She also chose not to seek appropriate treatment  after she lost the baby, and in turn inadvertently caused her own death  due to her deception. In a way I understand-"

"Of course you would," he said, noticeable anger in his tone. "I imagine you would do the same."

Fury turned her features to stone. "I would not do the same, and I  cannot fathom why you would believe I would risk my life to have a baby  if I had been told the cost would be so high. But I have not been told  that, Sebastian. On the contrary, the doctor said I have every reason to  believe this time will be different."

"And what if it's not? What if you lose another child? Worse still, what if you lose your life?"

She finally rose from the sofa. "I refuse to buy into your pessimism  and fears. I choose to be optimistic and hopeful. If you cannot join me  in that optimism, then there is no hope for us at all."

He experienced a different fear. "What are you saying?"

"I am saying go back to London, Sebastian. If you do not want this  child, and clearly you do not, then I cannot be with a man who will not  support me during my pregnancy. I would prefer to be surrounded by  people who will be happy to provide that support. I have that here with  Rafe and Violet."

"I need time to think." Time to assess the possibilities.

She picked up her purse, withdrew the bracelet with the rattle charm he  had given her all those months ago and laid it on the table before him,  as if she was bent on wounding him further. "Then think, but I warn you  not to take too long. In the meantime, I am going to stay with Rafe  until you decide what you want. I respectfully request you not attempt  to contact me until you've made up your mind. I will have someone return  the car later this evening."

As he watched his wife walk away, Sebastian experienced a strong sense  of déjà vu. Her departure from London a brief month ago had come with  the same demand not to contact her. Then, too, he had suffered an  emotional pain that stole his breath and his resolve. With his  overriding fear of losing Nasira, he had definitely cemented that  self-fulfilling prophecy he'd been so concerned about.

He wasn't the kind of man who would abandon his child, provided that  child came to be, yet he worried his wife had already abandoned any  expectations of salvaging their marriage.

If he did not come to terms with impending fatherhood, and learn to  embrace it, he risked saying goodbye to his beautiful Nasira for good.                       
       
           



       

He had too much to consider, and too little time.

* * *

"Have you heard from your worthless husband?"

Seated in the chair next to the window, Nasira glanced up from the book  she was pretending to read, steeling herself against her brother's  consternation. "Have I?"

He moved from the doorway and perched on the bench at the end of the bed. "If I knew, I would not have asked."

"If my memory serves me correctly, you failed to tell me Sebastian  called when I arrived here. How can I trust that you have not thwarted  his attempts to contact me this time?"

"I assure you he has not called and if he had, I would have informed you immediately. I have learned my lesson in that regard."

She highly doubted that. "I truly do not want you to worry about my  situation during what should be a joyous time for you and Violet. Are  you looking forward to the wedding tomorrow?"

"I am looking forward to having Violet back in my bed. I do not  understand the tradition involving withholding the bride from the groom  before the wedding."

"It is believed that sleeping with the bride the night before the wedding will invite bad luck."

"It only invites sexual frustration."

Spoken like a man. "Has she left yet?"

"No. She is still packing her suitcases while Mac remains downstairs,  growing increasingly impatient. What will you do if Sebastian returns to  London without contacting you?"

Nasira refused to give up on him yet. "I am trying not to entertain that possibility."

"Regardless, I will contact Nolan Dane after Violet and I return from  our honeymoon. He's a lawyer here in Royal who used to work for me."

"I do not need a barrister." At least not presently.

"You might in the future. He will provide a reference for a family law  attorney should you decide to pursue a divorce. Preferably a  high-profile attorney to ensure you will receive an equitable share of  your husband's assets. One who has experience dealing with international  divorce."

She tossed her book onto the side table and sighed. "I do not need  Sebastian's money, Rafe. I have more than enough left of my  inheritance."

"That is your decision."

"Yes, it is."

"At the very least he should be required to support the child."

She should not be surprised that Violet had told Rafe about the baby.  Somewhat disappointed, yes, but not at all shocked. "I see you have been  talking to your fiancée."

"Do not blame Violet, Nasira. I pressed her for information when you  arrived on our doorstep, looking as though you had lost your dearest  friend. She had no choice but to reveal the details to put my mind at  ease, although she did not accomplish that goal."

"You need not worry, brother," Nasira said. "I will manage on my own if necessary."

Rafe took on an angry guise. "I would like to seek out Sebastian and tell him-"

"You will not say a word, Rafiq. This is not your concern."

"You have always been my concern, my petite pearl."

She smiled at the brotherly term of endearment. "I am no longer your life, Rafe. Violet is. Your unborn child is."

He rose from the bench, crossed the space between them and pressed a  kiss to her forehead. "You will always be a part of my life. I will  always be there to protect you if your husband refuses to do so."

She had to learn to accept that Sebastian could be absent from her  world forever. That she might never converse with him again. Hold him  again. Make love with him again...

The shrill of the doorbell thrust her thoughts back to the present. The  sound of the deep, endearing voice demanding he see her sent her  shattered heart on a sprint.

Had he come to tell her he intended to stay, or to say farewell for all eternity?





Ten

As his brother-in-law descended the staircase, stood in the opening to  the parlor Sebastian prepared to be thrown out on his arse. Yet when  Nasira followed not far behind, sporting a plain cotton blouse, light  blue slacks and a champion scowl, he sensed she would prefer to do the  honors herself. He would accept that fate. He deserved it.

He glanced to his right to see Violet and her brother, Mac, Sebastian's  former nemesis, seated on the sofa as if they planned to preside over a  kangaroo court with him playing the defendant. Rafe brushed past him  and claimed the overstuffed chair adjacent to the settee, not bothering  to hide his disdain for his sister's spouse.                       
       
           



       

Nasira remained in the foyer, her arms folded beneath her breasts, looking every bit the hanging judge. "Well?"

"May I speak with you in private, Sira?" he asked with forced civility. "It's extremely important."

She regarded the curious onlookers before bringing her attention back  to him. "Whatever you need to say, you may say it in front of my family  and friends."

She had turned his privacy plan on its proverbial ear, and he would  have to accept it, even if it meant an unwelcome audience. "You're  absolutely right. Your friends and family are most welcome to witness  what I have to say. I only hope they support my decision."

Her shoulders immediately tensed. "I assume that decision involves your return to London."