For a moment she was silent, stung by his accusation and aware of the truth behind it. Then she said quietly, “I have no intention of trying to take them away from their father, nor do I wish to leave them again. Oh, you may look at me skeptically and I don’t blame you, but it’s the truth. I’m tired of it all, tired of the uncertainty, of not knowing if he loves me or if I will ever see him again. I want a home, Pierre, can you understand that? A home of my own, where I can watch my children grow up and know that my husband will be there at my side. I think that it’s all I have ever wanted, but I never knew it until recently.”

“Then you should tell that to your husband, not to me.”

“Yes. You are right, of course. I fully intend to do just that.”

Pierre’s expression softened and he managed a smile that looked faintly rueful. “Virginie, petite cousine, of course you will do what you must. Forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive. Pierre—”

Lorna Prendergast, a spoiled, willful girl much too certain of her youthful beauty, and far too enamored of Steve, chose that moment to appear at Pierre’s elbow, her lovely face set into a mask of polite inquiry. Auburn hair gleamed under the glow of crystalline light, and her tawny eyes were frankly curious and malicious as she greeted Ginny with a smile.

“How generous of Mr. Morgan to allow you to stay with the children for a time,” she said sweetly as she tucked her hand into the crook of Pierre’s arm with a proprietary air, “for I am certain you must have missed them a great deal.”

“Yes, I did. But then, Steve doesn’t want any of us to be parted again.” Ginny lifted a brow, her smile coolly polite as she added, “I would have preferred staying at home with them tonight, but he insisted I accompany him. I’m sure you realize how forceful Steve can be when he’s determined to have his own way.”

Her implication had the desired effect; crimson stains marred the ivory purity of Lorna’s face and her lips twisted as if she had just bitten into a sour lemon. Poor Pierre wore the look of a man struck with a pole. He wavered, his eyes beseeching as he looked from Ginny to Miss Prendergast, but she took no pity on her cousin.

“I am certain Pierre can tell you how difficult a time it has been for our family lately, Miss Prendergast, and how relieved we all are to be together again after so much time apart.”

Lorna’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, but her smile recovered. She had the air of a woman accustomed to having her every whim granted, for whom a refusal would not be tolerated, and being ignored would be unbearable.