Compromising Kessen (The Vandenbrook #1)(56)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken

“Until one cold December evening. The masquerade had just ended, and Miranda was sitting alone on the bench. He knew he shouldn’t. He was needed elsewhere. But he couldn’t pull himself away. Not with Miranda looking so sad and vulnerable. He had to do something, but what?“

Kessen opened her eyes. “You’re reading to me.”

Christian was against the only tree in the garden, with a lazy smile plastered across his face “That I am.”

“Why?”

“Because I promised.”

Kessen moved to lean against him. “You promised you would read one line if I behaved. You just read two paragraphs at least.”

Christian put his arm around her. “What can I say? I’m a man full of surprises, and I have it on good authority this one’s your favorite.”

She chuckled. “Nick being the good authority?”

“Naturally.”

She made the mistake of looking into Christian’s eyes. “Thank you.”

He kissed her chastely on the forehead. “It’s always my pleasure to serve my lady. Shall we continue?”

She nodded and closed her eyes, allowing the sweet melody of his voice to drown out any nerves and fears she had been feeling that night.

For once it was just him and her.

They were together, beneath the moonlight. The night was absolutely perfect; what could go wrong?

It’s not that she was superstitious, but something had to give. The second she closed her eyes and thought those dangerous thoughts, a shrill laugh rang through the garden.

“So,” the high-pitched voice said. “Let me guess. He took you to the garden, seduced you with his words. Next he’s going to take you in the cottage and tell you there’s no one he’d rather have but you … or wait. Has he already said that?”

The voice was coming closer. Christian had gone still as a statue behind Kessen. She looked from left to right to try to locate the source of the voice but found nothing.

Then a flashlight waved in front of her face and she turned around. The person, or lady, was dressed in all black and leaning against the tree as well.

“I don’t think we’ve met, Kessen. I’m Jenifer Hanford.”

“Go away,” Christian barked.

“Oh, not when we’re having such a fun little chat.” Her voice went all pouty as she leaned closer to Kessen. Her face was perfect. In fact, it was more than perfect. It didn’t seem real. Plastic surgery must have been kind to this woman. Kessen had no idea if she was in her twenties or forties.

“You do know how Christian works, don’t you? He wines and dines his women, teases them with witty banter and then leaves them … just like he left me.”

Christian muttered a curse word, then pushed up from the ground. “How dare you come into my house and say that! We weren’t a good match, Jenifer. I liked you well enough, but I could never love you. You knew that! I told you it was over. Why can’t you just leave well enough alone?”

“I’m pregnant.” Jenifer’s voice was like a knife through Kessen’s heart. It was too much. She felt paralyzed in shock, as if making any sudden movement would make that statement more real than it already was.

“That’s impossible,” Christian snarled.

“Oh, is it?”

“Yes, yes it is, because we never slept together!”

Kessen wasn’t sure if he was lying, or if Jenifer was lying. She looked at the two of them and waited.

Jenifer spoke first. “Who do you think the media’s going to believe, Christian? Me or you? After all, your reputation and that of your family precedes you. All I need to do is go tell Daddy you took advantage of me, and we’re as good as married.”

“Why?” His voice cracked. “Why, Jenifer? Why would you do that to me?”

Her eyes turned red with fury. “Because you’re mine! You’ve always been mine! I almost had you until she came along!” Jenifer pointed in Kessen’s direction. “You would never have broken up with me if it hadn’t been for her!”

“Jenifer, it was over before she even came here.”

“It wasn’t!” she screamed. “It isn’t over until I say it’s over … I’m going to Daddy.”

“Jenifer!” Christian yelled then grabbed at her hands. “You can’t do this. Don’t do this, please. I beg you.”

She stopped in her tracks. “What will you give me in return?”

Christian suddenly sounded old. “What do you want?”

“Marry me,” she said quickly. “I truly am pregnant. My family can’t handle any more scandal. We have no money. You were to be the saving grace. Marry me instead of her.”

“I don’t love you,” he said icily.

Everything went still in the garden. “But you love her?”

It was the moment Kessen and Christian had been avoiding for days. The moment where everything would change for both of them.

Kessen closed her eyes in anticipation.

But Christian didn’t say anything. He said nothing.

All Kessen heard was the sound of her own breathing as Jenifer said bitterly, “That’s what I thought. Make arrangements, Christian. I’m breaking my silence if you go through with the ceremony. Your family and her father’s company would never survive it.”

Kessen sat dumbstruck on the blanket for several minutes before she felt Christian’s arms around her. She twisted in them as hard as she could and even landed a couple fists on his face before silently sobbing into his chest. “I hate you!” She shook with fury. “Leave me alone; just leave me alone.”

“What do you need? Tell me what you need.” His voice cracked with emotion. “What do you want? I can’t … I don’t know—”

“Nick, get Nick,” Kessen said, still crying.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Christian ran into the ballroom to grab Nick.

Nick wasn’t happy, considering he had been getting friendly with some of the duchess’s cousins, but that didn’t matter to Christian. All that mattered was Kessen.

How could he have done that to her?

He was given the perfect opportunity to tell her how he felt; instead, he froze like a statue. The words were on the tip of his tongue—why couldn’t he bring himself to say them? And why did Jenifer have to show up and ruin everything?

He would rather die than marry her, but would Kessen even have him now? And what would it do to Kessen’s reputation and her father’s company? He couldn’t do that to her. She didn’t deserve it.