"And what about Tommy? He won't understand why Philip is still here." John paused, shaking his head. "This is all my fault, Crissy. I should never have talked you into marrying Tommy."

"That doesn't matter now. I'll talk to Tommy in the morning. I'll make him understand this was just an innocent meeting."

"I doubt he'll believe that. What do you intend to do when you marry Tommy? He'll never allow Philip in his house."

"I don't know. I'll handle that when the time comes. And when you speak with Philip, tell him I said we spoke about Philip Junior. And although it was improper, you'll forget about the matter as long as it doesn't happen again."

"Is that what you told Tommy tonight? No wonder he was so angry. Did you think Tommy was naive enough to believe that? He's not a fool."

"Well, I'll just have to insist it's true," said Christina. "I don't want any more confrontations between Philip and Tommy."

"Just you talk to Tommy before I run into him. I wouldn't know how to explain why Philip is still staying here. I don't really understand it myself." John came over and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "I imagine Tommy will be over early, so you had best get some rest. Good night, little sister. I hope you know what you're doing."

She smiled weakly but didn't answer him. After John left, Christina glanced about the empty room and felt a pang of regret. She wondered what would have happened if Tommy hadn't burst in. She slipped into her nightdress, crawled into bed, and a burning desire came over her as it had so many nights before. She wanted Philip—his hands exploring her body, his lips taking her will away, the feel of his muscles rippling across his back when she caressed him. She turned over and cried softly into her pillow for what could never be.

Chapter Thirty-three

CHRISTINA awoke to her son's loud crying. She grabbed her robe and ran into the nursery. She glanced about the room to make sure Philip wasn't there, then walked to the bassinet. Philip Junior stopped crying when he saw her, but still thrashed his arms and legs. She had been blessed with a son who slept through the night. But when morning came, he would not be kept waiting any longer, and he made sure she knew it.

She changed him, then sat down in the rocker to satisfy his hunger. While he suckled, Christina thought again of what Philip had called him. Our son. It had such a natural ring to it. She had always thought of Philip Junior as her son, or as Philip's son.

She put Philip Junior back in his bassinet and moved it into the sunlight streaming through the window. She gave him a few toys to keep him happy until it was time for his bath, and went into her own room to prepare for her confrontation with Tommy.

The small clock on the mantel showed ten after seven, but Christina had no doubt that Tommy would be downstairs any second. She chose a low-cut, deep-violet satin dress with long, tight-fitting sleeves. Hardly a dress for morning wear, but she hoped it would distract Tommy from his anger.

Christina decided on her ruby-studded pins to hold her curls in place, and her long, dangling earrings of small rubies. She didn't wear the matching necklace for fear it would hide what she wanted Tommy to see. With a last turn before her full-length mirror, Christina was satisfied with her appearance.

Christina went downstairs and was glad to find that Tommy hadn't arrived yet. At least she would be able to have breakfast in peace. She went directly to the counter filled with covered serving dishes in the dining room, and filled a plate. From the half-emptied dishes she judged that John and Philip had already eaten, and had probably left the house.

After Christina finished her meal, she got up to pour another cup of tea. When she turned around again, Tommy was standing in the doorway. He was handsomely dressed in a suede riding outfit and held a crop in his right band. As she'd hoped, his brown eyes were drawn straight to the low neckline barely concealing her full, rounded breasts.

She smiled warmly. "I didn't hear you come in, Tommy, but never mind. Come and join me for a cup of tea."

"What?" He finally looked up to meet her eyes.

"I said, come and have a cup of tea."

"Yes." He came over to her, gazing hungrily at her breasts. "Christina, how can you wear such a dress in the morning? It's—"

"Don't you like my dress, Tommy?" She smiled beguilingly. "I wore it just for you."

Tommy melted. He pulled her into an embrace. His lips searched hers, yet she felt no deep trembling of excitement. She didn't feel the fires that surfaced every time Philip kissed her.

"It is a beautiful dress, Crissy." He held her at arms' length and studied her from head to foot. "I don't mind your wearing it now Caxton is gone."

•Tommy."

"God, Crissy, you don't know what I've been going through since that man came. It's been hell! I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I couldn't do a damn thing. I could only think that he'd been your lover."

"Tommy."

"But everything is going to be just fine now. Tell me, did John kick him out last night, or did he leave this morning?"

Christina sighed wearily. "Philip isn't leaving, Tommy."

He looked as if he'd been slapped unexpectedly across the face, but she went on quickly.

"John believed me when I told him that nothing happened last night It was all perfectly innocent, Tommy— nothing did happen. Philip Caxton doesn't want me anymore— You've seen how he acts with Estelle. There's no reason for you to be upset."

"No reason!" Tommy stormed. "He was in your room, and you were—you were undressed! Do you call that nothing? I won't have him here any longer, Christina. I won't have it!"

"Now, Tommy, stop it! Philip has a right to stay here. His son is here."

"I'll talk to John about this! That man is not going to remain in this house with you!"

'This is my house as much as it is John's!" Christina yelled. "And I say Philip can stay here."

"Damn it!" He slammed the riding crop down on the table.

"Tommy," she said, "Philip is here only because of his son—not because of me. Can't you understand that?"

"Then why in God's name don't you give him his son?"

"You can't be serious," Christina laughed.

"If all Caxton wants is his son, give him to the man. I never wanted the brat, anyway," Tommy said bitterly. "We'll have sons of our own, Christina, just as soon as we're married. My sons!"

Slowly Christina said, "I'm thankful you told me how you feel about Philip Junior before we were married. Now there will be no marriage. If you don't want my son, I can't possibly marry you, Tommy."

"Christina!"

"You don't understand how I feel about my child, do you? He is my baby, Tommy, and I love him with all my heart. Nothing on this earth could make me give him up."

"You never intended to marry me, did you?" Tommy screamed, bis face contorted. A cold chill went down Christina's spine. "You've loved that man all along! Well, you won't have him, Christina. Mark my words! Philip Caxton will regret the day he ever came into this house. And so will you!"

"Tommy!" she screamed. But he ran from the house, slamming the entrance door behind him.

Christina started to shake uncontrollably. What was she going to do? What was Tommy going to do? She had to find Philip and warn him, but she had no idea where he was.

Christina ran up the stairs two at a time. She went straight into Philip's room and closed the door. She would wait for him here. Oh, Philip—please hurry! Tommy was like a madman!

Twenty minutes passed while Christina paced the floor in Philip's room. They seemed like hours. She kept going over what Tommy had said, wondering what he had meant When she heard footsteps in the corridor, she held her breath, praying it was Philip. When the door opened, she almost fainted with relief.

"What the devil are you doing here? Are you trying to pay me back for last night?" Philip asked coldly. He came into the room taking off his heavy riding jacket.

Christina was stung by his harshness, but she remembered why she was here.

"Philip, I came here to warn you. Tommy made a threat against you, and he was acting so oddly that I—"

"Don't be absurd, Christina!" Philip cut her off. "You asked me to leave your room last night, and now I am asking you to leave mine. Your brother has made it quite clear that he doesn't want us alone again."

"Did he say that?"

"Not exactly, but it amounted to the same thing," he returned.

"But Philip, Tommy said he would make you regret ever coming here. He—"

"Do you actually imagine that I give a damn what Huntington says? I assure you, madam, I can take care of myself." He turned away from her, leaving her in a state of confusion. "If your young lover attempts anything, I will try not to hurt him. Now kindly get out of my room!" " Christina grabbed Philip's arm and turned him back to face her, her stormy blue eyes clashing with his angry green ones.

"I think he means to kill you! Can't you get that through your thick head, damn it?"

"Quite right, Christina, that is exactly what I intend to do," said Tommy.

Christina felt suddenly sick, and she felt the muscles tense in Philip's arm. She turned slowly to look at Tommy standing in the doorway. He held two pistols pointed directly at Philip.

"I knew I'd find you two together. Well, your warning was a little too late, Christina. Nothing is going to save your lover now." He laughed shortly.