“Yes. I thought at first they were tears of self-pity, but very quickly, they became tears of regret, not for himself but for you. He went on to explain how much he was captivated by your beauty and charm. He confessed to acting like a cad but assured me it was not his intention to put you in this state. He claimed he was himself overwhelmed with too much of his lemon drink, which he says is very subtle but very powerful. Normally, he has only a small amount after dinner.

“That was his defense and his story about your night with him. He then went on to swear on his life that no woman he has met has had the effect on him that you have had. He realizes, of course, how young you are, but he says he’s been with women years older who have not as much poise and charm. I think he sees himself as the lord of a castle, and to be sure, Foxworth Hall is one of the most impressive properties I’ve ever visited. We both know he is quite wealthy, too.

“He claims that he is ready to have a more significant life, a family, and wants to settle down and build on what he has achieved and inherited. Practically going to his knees, he begged me not to do anything to destroy his child or give the baby away after you went on some mysterious journey. He wants the opportunity to convince you and your mother, especially, of his serious intentions and asked for the audience we’ll give him this evening.

“However,” my father continued, “we both agreed that no mention would be made of your pregnancy. Your mother will not be told of this, nor will anyone else.”

“But—”

“If you decide to swim faster in the current because you do have strong feelings for Garland Foxworth, you will, after a honeymoon of sorts, remain basically sequestered at Foxworth Hall, and your birthing will be advertised as premature. He seems quite clever when it comes to such a deception. Perhaps he’s had more experience than we imagine or care to know.

“Finally, I want you to understand, Corrine, that I left him with only the promise of having him to dinner. This decision will be yours and yours alone to make. I will not, like most fathers in a similar situation, force my daughter to do something.”

Our house came into view.

We were both going to put on an act for my mother, I thought. Whenever we had done it in the past, it was for small, even silly, things. Nothing compared to this.

Lies and half-truths, more than anything else, were what everyone wove between them. We weren’t much different after all. Now I wondered, truly wondered. Did I love Garland Foxworth enough to swim faster in the current?

And if I told myself I did, would that be another lie?