Embrace the Night

Page 88



"I've made you happy," she said confidently. "Can you deny it?"
"No."

"I have no regrets," she said, her eyelids fluttering down. "None at all…" And for that one brief moment, neither did he.

He sat at the table, amazed at the abundance of food she had prepared—roast beef, potatoes smothered in a thick gravy, carrots swimming in butter, Yorkshire pudding. Surely she didn't expect the two of them to consume it all!

The very thought of swallowing even a forkful of cooked meat made him physically ill, but he kept his face impassive as she sat down across from him and lifted her glass.

"To us," she said.

"To us," he repeated, and touched his glass to hers.

To spare her feelings, he sampled everything she had prepared and lavishly praised her culinary efforts, and then, as soon as he could, he made an excuse to go outside, where he retched violently.

Breathing heavily, he drew in deep gulps of air, willing his tortured stomach to relax. For one doomed to subsist on a warm liquid diet, a meal of meat and vegetables was impossible to digest.

When he was again in control, he returned to the parlor. Sara was waiting for him, a curious look in her eyes, but for once she asked no questions.

They spoke of the theater, of the weather, which had been unusually clear, of her new understudy, and then, hesitantly, Sara blurted the question that had been troubling her.

"What if I become… with child?"

"You needn't worry, cara. I am unable to have children."

He watched the play of emotions flit across her face: relief at first, then sympathy, then regret.
"Do you wish to have a child?" he asked.

"Yes, of course. Someday…"

"And you shall."

"But how… I mean… I don't want anyone but you." "I'm afraid you will soon tire of me, cara."
" Iwon't!"