“But what about her future?” Christopher demanded.
She gave her head a little shake. “It doesn't concern him.”
“What kind of father is he anyway?”
Julia gulped. “A terrible one.”
It's unlike Mother to say unkind words about anyone, Christopher thought, startled by her vehemence. “How?”
She looked away. “I'm not sure it's wise to tell you. Not yet. I wanted you to
meet her first, to be entranced by her.”
Christopher sighed at her stalling. “I did, and I think most likely I am, but
how on earth can I move forward with this if it must be kept a secret from her father? He has authority over her.”
“Yes. Damned shame.”
Christopher gawked. He had never in his whole life heard his mother use
strong language. “You have to tell me,” he insisted.
“Her father…” Julia took a deep breath and swallowed again. Her anger
seemed solid enough to choke her. “He beats her.”
Silence. Long silence as Christopher attempted, without success, to force her
words and his image of his lady friend to integrate. She's sweet, gentle and quiet.
Why would anyone beat her? Mother must be mistaken.
No. Be honest, man. Mother is no fool. There's some reason she believes it.
Finally, he managed to blurt, “Badly?”
Julia bit her lip and nodded, her eyes growing shiny in the dim firelight.
“Terribly. You can't imagine. The bruises I've seen… they would break your heart, and it's escalating.”
He… no. That can't be. But it would explain everything. Her terror. Herstrange secretiveness. An image of Katerina floated in his mind. Wide brown eyes. Bold nose. Full, kissable mouth marred with… “She had a cut on her lip.”
Julia closed her eyes. When she opened them, tears shimmered, and she
rubbed her face. “You see? I've never known him to hit her face.”
“She said she bit it,” he argued, trying not to accept the evidence he'd seen
with his own eyes. Thought had long since deserted him, and he only disagreed
to try to prevent his feelings from overwhelming him.
“If she did, it was because she was in pain.”
“Oh, God.” Christopher could hardly stand to consider the sweet girl he was
coming to care for being brutalized, and yet, with each moment, the evidence of
his senses merged with his mother's words to paint a picture he'd never
considered. Here then is the real reason Mother pressed for this invitation.
Pushing up from the floor, he laid a hand on Julia's shoulder, arresting her restless movement. “What do you want me to do, Mother? Why was I supposed
to be entranced by her?”
“I want you to rescue her,” Julia said, her tone telling him that should be
obvious.
“How?”
His mother's eyes bored into his. “Think, Christopher. Only one man's rights
over a woman supersede the father's.”
Again, his mind attempted to reject her words. “Mother, I've barely met her.
