Shannon's Daughter (35 page)

“Not
really.
 
I told you I never plan to
marry.
 
I know we’ll have to be discreet,
but no one will think anything of our going around together.
 
We are part of the same family, after
all.
 
As long as it won’t cause you any
sort of trouble, with Jenny’s family, I mean, I don’t see why we can’t go on
the way we’ve been.”
 
She continued to
stare past him, her face set with an amazing lack of expression.
 

“I
don’t know what to say.
 
Especially not here.
 
We should talk later.
 
I don’t
believe you’ve really thought this through.”

She
shrugged gently.
 
“I have, you know.
 
But you can take me home when this is all
over.
 
We can talk as much as you like
then.”
 
He felt the subtle pressure of
her hand on his shoulder, as reassuring as the smile in her eyes when they
finally met his.
 
In response, his heart
seemed to erupt from beneath the weight of the past days and he drew her
closer.

“Have I
ever told you how much I adore you?”

“You’ve
hinted at it.
 
That’s something else we
can talk about later.”

Michael
Shannon buttonholed him briefly, inquiring after his job and then informing him
that he expected him to look after his “little girl” this summer.
 
“She’s sure she can make it all on her own,
and she probably can, to give her credit.
 
But I’ll feel better knowing you’re around to keep an eye on her.
 
Girls like Peg attract too much attention at
times.”

He’d
wanted to ask about whatever had gone on in New York, but hadn’t wanted to give
away his knowledge of Brendan O’Hara in case he’d been the source of the
problem.
 
Instead, he said casually that
Peg wasn’t all that thrilled about Hammonds dogging her steps around
London.
 

“All
the more reason for you to spend time with her, then, son.
 
She doesn’t mind having you around at all.”
 
Michael’s broad wink had left him with the
uneasy thought that for Peg’s father, their future was still a real
possibility.

Four
o’clock saw the newlyweds dashing to their getaway car.
 
Amid showers of rice, the bouquet was tossed
into the hands of one of the younger Shannon cousins, an adolescent who
reminded Kendall of Peg all those years earlier.
 
When he turned to tell her so, he found her
holding her head with a shaky hand and visibly wilting.
 
Just in time, he caught her with a steadying arm
around the waist, turning her back inside the hotel entrance.

“Here
now, you’re not going to faint on me are you?”
 
Her answer was to moan and slump onto a nearby chair, dropping her head
onto her knees.
 
“I’m going to find a
doctor.
 
God knows there are plenty of
those about.”
 

“No, I’ll
be okay,” she sighed thickly.

“Maybe
so, but it won’t hurt to have someone take a look at you.
 
I just promised your father I’d look after
you, and that’s what I mean to do.”

Lifting
her head, she smiled shakily.
 
“What
you’re going to do is take me home.
 
I
just need to get out of this silly dress and curl up with a hot water
bottle.
 
Then you can look after
me.”
 

The
crowd outside was breaking up, the stragglers drifting back through the
lobby.
 
With admirable determination, Peg
straightened and forced a brighter smile.
 
“Would you mind getting my bag?
 
It’s still at the table.
 
Then you
can hail us a cab and we’ll make our escape.”
 

“You’re
sure?”

“I’m
positive.
 
If you see Agnes, tell her
we’re leaving and I’ll call her tomorrow.”

When he
found Agnes talking with one of the catering staff, he immediately detected
suspicion in her eyes, once again magnified behind her glasses.
 
“I suppose you’re taking Peg back to
Brown’s?”

“Yes.”
 
He held up the pink handbag in evidence.
 
“As a matter of fact, she wanted me to tell
you she’ll phone you tomorrow.
 
She’s not
feeling the best, I’m afraid.”

“I
know.
 
She hasn’t slept all week.
 
You have a lot to answer for, Kendall, if you
don’t do the right thing by Peg.”

He
swallowed hard.
 
“The
right thing?”

“You
might as well know, she told me all about New York and if you let her down now,
I’ll be very disappointed in you.”
 
Flashes
of what Peg might have told Agnes in the depths of her disappointment froze him
in place.
 
Before he could come up with a
response, Agnes went on, “There’s nothing wrong with a good healthy
relationship between two mature adults of the opposite sex, Kendall.
 
Why you’ve gone all prudish on Peg is beyond
me.”

“Prudish,”
he echoed.

“She
told me you refused. . .” Agnes dropped her voice to a hiss, casting owlish
eyes around the room before finishing, “. .
.to
be
intimate with her.
 
She said you were
insisting on getting reacquainted or some such foolishness.
 
Every woman knows a man only has to be so
well-acquainted before he gives in to his impulses.
 
Honestly, there are times when I wonder if
Maeve wasn’t right about you not taking a normal interest in women.”

Several
answers popped into his head, but he chose what he hoped was the least
inflammatory.
 
“I must say, Aggie, I
never expected to have this discussion with you of all people.
 
That said, I appreciate your concern, but I
believe Peg and I have worked out our difficulties.
 
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to Brown’s
to do precisely the right thing by Peg.”
 
With a pointed nod, he turned on his heel and swinging the pink handbag,
strode out of the ballroom and across the lobby.

“Feeling
any better?”
 
Stopping in front of Peg’s
chair, he held out his hand.
 

“Yes.
 
Are we ready?
 
Did you find Agnes?”
 
Taking his hand,
she got to her feet.

“I
did.
 
And that’s something else we’re
going to talk about later.
 
I had no idea
you and Agnes had become such confidantes in the past few days, but she just
gave me a lecture
on.
. .now how did she put it. .
‘healthy relationships between mature adults of the opposite sex,’ and accused
me of going ‘all prudish on you.’”

As he
had anticipated, Peg smiled innocently.
 
“You were right when you said Agnes has hidden depths.
 
It turns out she and I have the same view of
many things, including ‘healthy relationships between mature adults of the
opposite sex.’
 
Her particular mature
adult is named Gavin O’Rourke, the history instructor at Agnes’s school.
 
From what she tells me, their relationship is
not the least bit prudish.”

Chapter
Thirty-four

“I’ve
ordered you some supper and a hot water bottle.
 
Now what else can I do?”
 
Shrugging
out of his coat, he draped it carefully over a chair, following suit with
waistcoat and tie.
 
Cufflinks dropped one
by on onto the nightstand, and he rolled up his cuffs, at which point he finally
began to relax.
 
The day had been long
and varied and it was far from over yet.
 

Through
the bathroom door, he heard her sigh with what he hoped was pleasure.
 
“Nothing.
 
Can I eat in the tub, or do I have to get
out?”

He
chuckled, resisting the urge to open the door.
 
“We’ll see.
 
I suppose I could
come in and spoon feed you while you soak.”

Her
low, husky laugh warmed him to the soles of his stocking feet.
 
While he hung her dress in the wardrobe and
tucked the pink satin slippers back into their box, he eyed the luxury of the
room.
 
No wonder Peg had looked at his
bed so unenthusiastically.
 
This was hardly
on a par with the brownstone, but it far surpassed anything he had to
offer.
 

“Kendall,
do you see my robe in there?”

“It’s
right here.
 
Are you ready for it?”

“No,
but you can bring it to me anytime.”
 
He
was sure he heard her laugh softly.

“Oh,
no.
 
I can’t afford to fall into that tub wearing
a hired suit.
 
I’ll just hang it over the
door.”
 
After the torment of the past few
days, he marveled on their return to this kind of ease with one another.
 
“I’m going to let room service in.
 
I ordered soup for you.
 
I thought something light would be best.”

Signing
for the meal, he silently prayed no one would question his authority, or his
attire, for that matter.
 
Peg had
mentioned discretion, but he wondered if she’d thought far enough on that
subject.
 
On the other hand, her father
had been the one to suggest he spend as much time as possible with her.
 
Maybe everyone from the family to the hotel staff
would just assume he was taking his cousinly role to heart.
 
For his part, his imagination was wafting
between traditional
courtship
and moving his clothes
into the wardrobe alongside Peg’s.
 
He
dared not speculate on what Peg had in mind.

“That
smells good.”
 
He turned abruptly to see
her standing in the doorway wrapped in her bathrobe, the wedding flowers still
in her hair.
 
“Did you order something
for yourself?”

“A
sandwich.
 
I hope that was all right?”
 

“Of
course it was.
 
You can have anything you
want.”
 
She sat in the chair he held for
her and smiled up at him.
 
“Relax.
 
Brown’s prides itself on protecting the
privacy of their guests.
 
That’s one
reason Dad and I decided on my staying here this summer.
 
No one will think anything of my having a
guest for supper, and definitely not my cousin.”

“And if
your cousin should be here for breakfast?”

“Not
that either.
 
Would you like to stay for
breakfast?”
 
She fixed him with a gaze so
warm he felt beads of sweat break out on his brow.

“I
don’t know.
 
That all depends on whether
you invite me.”

Her
answer was a satisfied moan as she sipped the rich golden broth.
 
“This is really good.
 
Thank you for taking such good care of me.”

“Oh, I
almost forgot!
 
Here’s your hot water bottle.”
 
He leapt to his feet, taking up the flannel
wrapped bottle and tucking it on her lap.
 
“How’s that?”

“Nice.
 
I’m feeling a lot better.
 
It’s just one of those annoying girl things
that always
comes
around at the wrong time.”

“Do you
always feel faint, when it comes around?”

“Sometimes,
but that probably had more to do with not sleeping all week.
 
I’m sure I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.”
 
Laying down her spoon, she rested her chin on
her hand.
 
“Kendall, I meant what I
said.
 
It doesn’t matter.
 
I want us to be together.”

“What
does that involve, precisely?”

“I want
to see you every minute I can.
 
I know
I’m only here for three months, but I can come back at Christmas and again next
summer.
 
If you have some time free, I
can fly you to New York.
 
At least for a
while, people will just think we’re dating, which is all right isn’t it?
 
Since no one knows about Jenny.”

“I
suppose.
 
I don’t think her parents will
say anything.
 
They know I’ve seen other
women in the past.”

“I
don’t want you to feel guilty.
 
Can you
be with me without feeling you’re being unfaithful to her?”

He
grimaced.
 
“How can I be unfaithful to a
woman who doesn’t recognize me anymore?”

“I’m
sorry.
 
I can’t imagine what that must be
like, but I would understand if you felt wrong about us.”
 
Her lower lip trembled slightly and his heart
twisted.

“The
only thing wrong with ‘us’ is what it means for you.
 
You’re denying yourself the kind of happiness
Maeve will have with Reggie.
 
You’re
sacrificing the chance to have your own home and children with a man who can share
his whole life with you, not just a few weeks here and there in a hotel room
somewhere.”

He
waited, watching her study the tablecloth, tracing her finger back and forth
next to her plate.
 
“Are you
finished?”
 
When she looked up, there was
an angry spark in her eyes.

“Yes.
 
I think so.”

“Then
listen to me, please.
 
I have told you
repeatedly that life you describe is not something I’ve ever wanted.
 
It isn’t even something I could have if I
did
want it.
 
There are too many other things I have to
take care of to be a wife to anyone.
 
What
I have with you, or what I
want
with
you, is perfect for me.
 
And it turns out
it will work for you too, if you’ll let it.
 
We care about each other, understand each other, and I think we can make
each other happy, a few weeks here and there wherever we are.
 
Now tell me again what’s wrong with our being
together.”

“Nothing,
when you put it that way.
 
Remind me how
old you are?”

“You
know very well I’ll be twenty-one next month.
 
And don’t you dare say I’m too young to make a decision like this.”
 
The spark flared to a flash and she gripped
the edge of the table.

“Not
at all.
 
I was going to say that I admire your
maturity and your pragmatism.
 
I’m afraid
I haven’t reached that level yet.
 
You
see, love, I still want those things, the home and the family.
 
I would want them with you if it were
possible.
 
I’m too much of a romantic to
be completely resigned to never having them, I suppose.”
 
He watched as the anger drained from her
face, giving way to compassion.

“I’m so
sorry you can’t have what you want.
 
I
guess I was hoping what we have would be enough.”
 

Before
he realized what he was doing, he was on his feet, pulling her into his arms,
aware of the hot water bottle sliding to the floor with a thud.
 
As if she understood his loss for words, she
offered her face, letting him spread kisses from her forehead to her cheeks and
finally to her lips.
 
He tasted tears,
not sure whether they were his or hers or perhaps both.
 

“Enough?”
he gasped.
 
“Peg, you are infinitely more
than I deserve.
 
And you are everything I
want.
 
Can you forgive me for wishing I
could give you more in return?”

“You
mean like marriage vows and a little ivy-covered cottage with a white picket
fence?
 
Kendall, I’m not that kind of
girl.
 
All I want is to know you care,
that you understand me, and that you want me.
 
You’ve already given me that.
 
Please
don’t sell yourself short.
 
You’re giving
me exactly what I want.”

“Promise
me one thing?”

“I’ll
try.”

“If at
any time you want out, for whatever reason, you’ll tell me?”

She
smiled, skimming a finger along his jaw.
 
“That depends.
 
Can you promise me
the same thing?”

“I
would be mad to ever want out.
 
I adore
you.
 
Always and
forever.”

“My
feelings exactly.”

He
stayed the night with her, holding her while she slept.
 
At dawn he eased from the bed, dressed again
in the hired suit and slipped down the rear stairs to walk home just as the sun
rose.
 
By nine, he was back at Brown’s,
striding through the lobby with a cheerful nod to the desk clerk on duty.
 
Showered, shaved and dressed for the day in
his weekend best gray trousers and navy blazer, his knock on Peg’s door was
answered by a sweet-faced young woman in a blue uniform.

“Good
morning!
 
Is Miss Shannon available?”

“May I
say who’s inquiring, sir?”
 
The maid
seemed skeptical.
 
He was grateful to see
her protective instincts launch into gear.

“I’m
sorry.
 
I should have introduced
myself.
 
Kendall Gregg.
 
And you are?”
 
The girl might be protective, but she was giving him a thorough
appraisal, her eyes traveling bolding over his frame until he felt himself
blush.
 

“Alice,
sir.
 
I’m Miss Shannon’s personal maid here at
Brown’s.”

“It’s a
pleasure to meet you, Alice.”
 
Now it was
Alice who blushed, apparently awarding him a passing mark, at least in the
looks department.
 
“Is she available, or
have I come at a bad time?”
 
Beyond the
door he caught sight of Peg standing in the bedroom door, struggling to
suppress an impish grin.

“It’s
alright, Alice.
 
I don’t mind if Kendall
sees me in my nightclothes.”
 

“Good
morning.
 
How are you feeling this
morning?”
 
Crossing the room, he dropped
a chaste kiss on her cheek.
 
A quick
assessment confirmed dark smudges beneath her eyes and a definite lack of color
in her cheeks.
 
“Did she tell you she was
ill last night, Alice?
 
I had to bring
her home from the wedding early.”

“No,
sir.”
 
Rushing to the table, she eyed the covered
dishes recently delivered by room service.
 
“Are you feeling poorly, miss?
 
Should I order something else for your breakfast?
 
I just assumed you’d want your usual.”
 

“No,
Alice.
 
I’m fine this morning.
 
Mr. Gregg took very good care of me last
night.”
 
Without a word, Peg reached up
to draw his head down, planting a blatantly unchaste kiss on his mouth.
 
Standing in his arms, she stared up with
shining eyes, laughing at his surprise.
 
“Alice,
we’ll need to make some space in the bathroom cabinet.
 
And the wardrobe as well, I suppose.
 
You see, Mr. Gregg will be visiting from time
to time and I want him to feel at home.”

Alice
nodded, her eyes widening slowly.
 
“Yes,
Miss Shannon.”
 
Another nod as she looked
from one to the other, her face stretching into a perceptive grin.
 
“Oh, yes, miss.
 
Oh, that’s lovely, miss!”
 
Dashing toward the bedroom, she turned to
take a step backwards, still grinning.
 
“I’ll take care of it right away, miss.”