A Kiss at Midnight

Chapter Thirty-Six

Sunlight in all its dazzling grandeur levelled a glare at the curtains of daisy white blocking its way to a stage of beige flooring. Inside the room, literature in coats of grape and hazelnut leaned against shelves. Unravelling loops of lavender, rose and marigold yellow ribbons trailed across a vanity desk of mahogany wood. A pouffe beneath, its velvet upholstery of cerulean blue worn by age. A bed pushed against one wall, a tartan blanket tossed to one side. Patrolling the end of the bed was a stuffed toy of a wolf, one eye lost in the battle of time.

The inky waterfall of her hair diverted to flow over one shoulder as Ilona stepped out of the bathroom. Her robe of honey yellow untied, the rubber apron at her hips at odds with the cream lace of her nightgown. If it wasn't bad enough with the lingering sting of her wounds, her courses had decided to make an appearance. One hand to rest upon her stomach as she let out a sigh.

"Curse my luck, Mother."

The mattress decompressing beneath Annalise's weight as she eased herself into a sitting position. Steam taking a bow from the teacup she held in her hand. Her mother let out a soft chuckle.
"Luck isn't always in our favour, my darling but I am sure it will balance out in time."

"I hope so," Ilona mumbled, moving to sit next to her mother. Propping one elbow on a knee, she rested her chin on the palm of her hand. Yet Annalise did not miss the flat note of her daughter's voice.

"Here, drink this. Mina recommends it for this sort of pain."

Ilona may have accepted the cup of peppermint tea but she didn't take more than a sip before putting the cup down. A tremor seized her fingers as she did so. The words tumbling out before she could think to draw another breath. "What would you do if it transpired I was with child?"

Silence to follow her words. Annalise's gaze flickered to her stomach and in that moment, Ilona couldn't help but tense.
"I know it is not a possibility after such a short time together and since my courses made their appearance but...." The rapid cascade of her words cut off by the feel of her mother's warm and comforting hand upon one cheek.

"My first concern is ensuring you are alright then once you being with child is confirmed, we would gather what is needed and see what part Carrick wants to play in all of this. Oh, Ilona," Her voice softened, seeing her daughter's eyes becoming glass-like.

"I'm sorry," Ilona replied, waving her hands in an attempt to stave off the tears. "I just have been wondering what to do. I want Carrick to be a part of this family then for us to maybe have our own but I know Father hates him."

"Ilona." Anna's firm tone made her look at her mother. "Your father dislikes Carrick for his past actions towards you but he would never turn his back to his own grandchild irregardless of the father. Or you."
Anna pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "Your father loves you."

Ilona rested one cheek on her mother's shoulder. "And you?" A shaky note in her voice.

Anna's lips curved into a soft smile. "Yes, his feelings for me are unchanged." She drew a breath. "So much of my past is tied to my marriage to Nathaniel that bringing up previous affections for another felt insignificant. Your father acknowledges his prior entanglements too but both of us feel it holds no bearing on our relationship."

Ilona gave a nod, a line appearing between her brows. "There is something I want to ask you that slipped my mind last night. The Morana Lily showed me a part of your past, an encounter with Nathaniel in which he was pondering if Adrien truly was his son. What on earth possessed him to say such a thing to you?"

A shadow fell over Anna's face. "I foolishly believed that none of the council knew of my visits to the gardens of Catalina but Victor did. And relished the moment when he could use such information to his advantage. What I said last night was true, Barrymore and I shared merely a kiss and then I never saw him again. However, Victor whispered lies to Nathaniel, claiming that I continued the affair and Adrien was not his. He was and Nathaniel deserved every agonising moment of his bloody end for believing otherwise." Anger and pain warring to take control of her voice.