When it was evident Josh thoroughly enjoyed his grouper sandwich, Honor joked, “Thank goodness! Frenchy’s Cafe has been one of my favorite restaurants since I was a little girl. If you didn’t like it, I’m afraid I would have been forced to dump you.”
Wide-eyed, Cody exclaimed, “I like Frenchy’s too, Honor… so you don’t have to dump me, either!”
Honor grinned, watching the two of them share the last bite of a fried Oreo and memorizing this perfect moment. She couldn’t remember ever being this content.
Later that night, after they tucked Cody in, Honor and Josh lay in her bed, talking softly.
Honor tried to downplay her grave concerns about her business. “I have an appointment with that attorney, Sarah Jacobs, tomorrow. I’m sure she’ll be able to straighten out this situation with William.”
Josh saw through her phony optimism. “Honor, no matter what happens, I sincerely believe you’ll land on your feet.”
“You’re right. If William takes Soft Fix from me, I’ll just start another software business down the street.”
Josh had been cuddling against her comfortably as they talked, but now he slid his hand down and pulled up her pajama top, sucking her nipple into his mouth.
She took a sharp breath, melting into the sensation. “So… you’re… changing the subject then?” she moaned.
“Yep.” He rolled on top of her, kissing away any further conversation.
A few minutes later, Josh suddenly stopped; his body rigid. “Damn. We can’t do this. I don’t have any protection.”
Her voice thick with passion, Honor whispered, “It’s okay.”
He pulled back slightly, searching her eyes. “Are you sure?”
She nodded and slid her fingers around his penis, moving him into place between her legs. He needed no further encouragement. Hungry for her, Josh plunged himself into her welcoming body, moaning at the sensation of his bare skin rubbing against her wet, velvety core.
Honor gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay quiet so as not to wake Cody, but exercising this restraint was difficult. Her body writhed beneath him, as if using movement instead of words to express herself. Her hips bucked up against him, trying to take him into to her as deeply as possible.
Honor knew her rapid movements would make it difficult for Josh to last much longer, but she took guilty pleasure in his erotic agony. With every push, he took her soaring to heights her body had never experienced with other men. Finally embracing an overwhelming desire to feel him come inside of her, Honor arched her back and tensed her pelvic muscles. “Now!” she hissed through her clenched jaw.
Josh didn’t hesitate. He tossed his head back as he released; a small cry escaping his lips with his final exploding thrusts. Then he collapsed on top of her, shaking with exhaustion.
They clung tightly to one another until their breathing slowly returned to normal.
“I love you,” Josh whispered. He rolled to her side and pawed lazily at her, pulling her up to rest against his shoulder. He was clearly worn out and ready for sleep.
“Does this mean you’re changing the subject again?” Honor teased.
He chuckled without opening his eyes. “Nobody likes a smart ass.”
Honor propped herself up on an elbow. “Well, as long as we’re changing the subject, what would you think about me buying out my sisters’ shares of my mom’s house so that we can renovate it together?”
Josh rallied, pleasantly surprised by the suggestion. “I’d like that a lot.”
They began discussing remodeling possibilities, but soon their conversation slowed and they drifted off to sleep.
The temperature dropped. Realizing she was heading for the spirit realm, Honor wondered who she was going to encounter. More relaxed with the process now, she allowed herself to float through the fog. Drifting into memories still made her feel nauseous, but not as much as when she tried to resist the swirling mist.
When the fog cleared, she was sitting beside Darcy on the bed of an unfamiliar room in the Belleview Hotel. Margaret sat opposite them on a chair, engrossed in conversation with Darcy. Neither of the ladies acknowledged Honor’s arrival.
“Darcy, you have to face some very unpleasant truths. Reginald is my mother’s cousin and I know he fancies himself as an aristocrat. If he learns you’re pregnant with another man’s baby, he’ll likely banish you without a second thought.”
Darcy flinched, pain and guilt etched upon her face.
Margaret softened. “I know these harsh words compound the incomprehensible tragedy that has befallen you. But we must make a plan and do it quickly. If Reginald discovers your secret, you will lose all means of support and your family name will be ruined. You would have no one to care for you in your delicate condition, let alone harbor a bastard infant.”
Margaret paused, allowing the gravity of her situation to sink in. “You must know that you cannot keep the baby.”
Honor’s jaw dropped. Darcy’s eyes flew open wide as though she had been kicked in the stomach, but she did not protest. She knew Margaret spoke the truth.
Darcy’s voice was choked with desperation. “I cannot abide letting the child come to any harm, even if it ruins me. The babe is the only proof that Rory Collins lived and that he loved me.”
Margaret nodded her consent. “Agreed. Your child will live a good life. We will see to it. But it can never know that you are its mother.”
Darcy gave Margaret a stiff nod.
With the grim understanding in place, Margaret began laying out a plan for Darcy and her unborn child.
“The first thing we must attend to is concealing your belly for the rest of the winter season. We’ll start by making some petticoats that are full on the sides and in the back, but flat in front, to give the illusion of proportion. Also, you’ll take to wearing a muff tied around your waist. I’ll make a point of telling you how much I like the fashion when we are amongst the other ladies. I’ll even wear a muff myself on occasion.”
Margaret laughed ruefully. “I have no doubt the rest of the ladies will start wearing muffs shortly after we begin. In fact, I won’t be the least bit surprised if muffs become the fashion rage by the end of the season.”
Darcy managed a weak smile.
“The next part of our plan requires us to convince everyone we have become fast friends. The Plant name is respected in the highest levels of society, so Reginald will be thrilled by our association. I’ll meet with him and offer to take you under my wing as my protégé. I’m already scheduled to voyage to Europe at the conclusion of the winter season, so I’ll invite you to be my traveling companion. Then I’ll spend the spring and summer collecting artwork for the Belleview Hotel, while you rest. By mid-summer, you’ll give birth in Europe and return to your husband shortly thereafter with your reputation intact.”
Darcy listened in awe as Margaret laid out the plan; then addressed the obvious omission.
“And what of the infant?”
“We have a few choices available to us. The simplest plan is to bundle the child in a basket along with a donation and leave it on the steps of a church, thereby tasking the clergy to find a home for it.”
Honor was certain Margaret had used this plan successfully several times in her former life, but Darcy’s response was instantaneous and non-negotiable. “This child is a precious gift. It is Rory’s legacy. Abandoning it is not an option.”
“As you wish. I suppose I can find a family in Europe that would be willing to raise the child as their own - for a fee. They would never see you, so your identity would be protected. Once it’s grown, you might even make its acquaintance—albeit, anonymously.”
Numb, Darcy nodded her agreement. “Yes, it would be a comfort to know what becomes of the child.”
Honor felt tremendous pity for Darcy, but before she had much time to dwell on her sad state of affairs, the fog folded around her.
When the clouds parted, she saw Reginald and Darcy sitting at a garden table together. Honor drifted into a chair next to Darcy.
Reginald read a newspaper while Darcy stitched needlepoint in her lap. From time to time, Reginald would read a brief passage out loud from paper, adding his dole commentary about the item. Darcy feigned interest, but was clearly suffering through the visit.
Honor was just beginning to wonder why she had been brought to this mundane memory, when Margaret approached and greeted the couple affectionately.
Reginald’s famous cousin and her wealthy husband had all but ignored him since his arrival in Florida, so Reginald glanced around to see who might be observing this intimate encounter. It was immediately obvious to the ladies that he was too flustered to extend the proper courtesies.
Darcy stepped in. “It’s a beautiful day, Madam. Would you like to sit with us for a while?”