Rebecca Winters - Pregnancy Proposals - The Duke's Baby

Corinne didn’t move a muscle.

Geoff gave a happy nod of approval. “If your mother were alive she’d be overjoyed.”

“Once Andrea has seen the place, we’ll get going on the nursery.”

“While you do that, Corinne and I will get together with Helene and start planning the wedding reception won’t we.”

“Of course.”

Andrea didn’t trust the other woman. Nothing about her behavior was natural or normal.

“In case it rains, let’s do it inside, Papa.”

“I was going to say the same thing. We’ll open up all the rooms on the main floor. What date shall I tell Helene?”

“Andrea and I were thinking three weeks from now. Shall we say June 30? It’s a Saturday. For her sake I want it kept fairly small so she doesn’t have to be on her feet a long time greeting guests.”

“Excellent idea, mon fils. “

“I’ll phone Père Loucent at the St. Vierge Church in Lyseaux. I think a morning ceremony followed by the reception would be best.”

“So do I.”

“Don’t you have a voice in any of this, Andrea?” Corinne had finally ventured a question.

“Lance and I discussed everything in detail at dinner.”

Geoff burst into laughter. “You two remind me of my marriage to Lance’s mother. She got her way in private, but she let me direct traffic in public. I was the envy of my friends.”

“I wish I could have met her.”

“So do I, Andrea. So do I.”

Maybe it was the melancholy note in Geoff’s voice that prompted Lance to stand, bringing their lunch to a close.

“Andrea and I are going to run into the village for our marriage license. We’ll see you two at dinner. I’d like to hear about your trip to Australia, Corinne.”

“So would I,” Andrea echoed him. “I’ve never vacationed outside the States except to come here. According to Geoff you’re the world traveler. You’re so fortunate to be able to do that, I envy you.”

When there was no response Lance helped her to her feet, keeping a possessive grip on her waist.

His father smiled up at them. “You’ve made me an extremely happy man. Another daughter joining the family, and a grandchild on the way—what more can we say, eh, Corinne?”

Andrea admired Geoff. For his stepdaughter’s sake he pretended nothing was wrong. Yet they all knew their announcement had shattered her world.

Corinne pushed her chair back and stood up. She’d leveled her gaze on Lance. “Could I talk to you for a moment before you go?”

Andrea put a hand on his arm. “I’ll get my purse and meet you at the car.”

Lance pressed a brief and reassuring kiss to her lips. “I’ll see you in a minute.” After she disappeared through the French doors he turned to Corinne. “Why don’t you walk out with me.”

With a nod to his father he headed for the foyer with Corinne in pursuit. By the time he’d reached his car, she’d caught up to him.

“After what you’ve done, I’m going to have to tell him the truth.”

Lance opened the driver’s door and got in behind the wheel. “Which version of the truth, Corinne? That you and I got too close while he was on his honeymoon? Or that you offered yourself to me ten years ago and I said no thank you.”

“Lance—” She moved closer. “I’m prepared to be generous and forget everything if you’ll call off your wedding to her and marry me.”

It was chilling to come face-to-face with someone who wasn’t in her right mind. “You’re delusional, Corinne. You need help.”

“What I need is you.” There was a fanatical gleam in her eyes. “I’ve won the right.”

“Won the right?” he growled the question.

“While I’ve been waiting for you all these years, I’ve taken care of Geoff like a daughter.”

“Then you’ve already received your reward. You’ve earned his affection.”

“He expected us to get married.”

“No. That’s a piece of fiction you invented so long ago, you actually believe it.”

“I told him I’d give him a grandchild.”

“Then you need to find a man who wants to marry you.”

“I found the man I wanted a long time ago.”

“Those wants have to be mutual, Corinne.” Lance added gently, “I never wanted you.”

“You’ve never given us a chance, yet in four days you’ve decided you’re going to marry a perfect stranger.”

“That’s right.”

Her cheeks looked blotched. “I could have turned Geoff against you, but I never did.”

“Your cry of rape is a figment of your mind. Don’t lie, Corinne.”

She gave him a strange smile. “It’s your word against mine. Are you sure you want to risk his revulsion of you?”

He’d had enough of this conversation and started the car. She put her hands on the door.

“I suggest you listen to what I have to say, Lance. If you insist on going through with this travesty of a marriage, then I’ll have to go through with my plan for you.”

He shook his head. “I must admit I’m disappointed you’ve wasted all these years thinking up your revenge against me when you could have worked on becoming a decent human being.

“Going after me will earn you Papa’s loathing. Then where will you be? What will you have accomplished?”

Her question coincided with Andrea’s appearance outside the château. His pulse raced just looking at her.

“You’d be surprised,” Corinne muttered.

Without waiting to hear anything else he got out to open the door for his future wife. She was carrying precious cargo. He’d do whatever it took to see her safely through this pregnancy.

EIGHT hours later Andrea was finally alone with Lance in her bedroom. The solemn look on his handsome face set off alarm bells.

“You know your father better than anyone in the world. He wasn’t putting on an act at dinner tonight, was he?”

“No. In fact I would go so far as to say he had to hold back most of his joy in order not to hurt Corinne.”

“Then what’s wrong besides the obvious?”

“It’s Corinne.”

Andrea nodded. “I know that.”

“I thought I knew, too …”

A strange nuance in his voice sent a chill down her spine. “What did she say to you before I came down to the car with my purse this afternoon?”

He slid his hands up and down her arms. “Corinne made a threat.”

“What kind?”

“I didn’t give her the chance to tell me.”

“But you can’t dismiss it? Why didn’t you say something to me while we were in the village. I thought we were in this together.”

His eyes roved over her upturned features. “Because I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily.”

“I already am worried. Her behavior is irrational, Lance. One minute she’s hysterical. The next she’s like the calm before a storm.”

“She’s mentally ill. I’m sure my father believes it, too. He chose his words very carefully tonight.”

“I have to know what you’re thinking!”

His hands circled her upper arms. “Last night I asked if you trusted me, and you said yes.”

“I do.”

“Then let me deal with this in my own way first. I’ve already taken some precautions. If the need arises to talk to you about it, I swear I will. In the meantime we’ll do everything together. I’m not leaving you alone.”

For him to say that could only mean one thing. “You think she could be physically dangerous?”

Lines marred his face. “At this point I believe Corinne is capable of almost anything.”

Andrea groaned. “When your father gave us his blessing, she saw her dreams smashed. There’s a violence in her, Lance.”

“It’s always been there.”

“At the lake you told me it was a woman who gave you that scar. Women commit crimes against men on a regular basis. When I think Corinne once came to your room uninvited—there’s nothing to prevent her from doing it again to make certain you don’t get married.”