She nodded.

“Oh, Lord. Terrible, aren't they? I should have put them away. They're the last thing you need to read.”

“They're real,” she replied, and now that her fright had passed, the

determination in her voice made him reconsider. “They had to be terrible or they

wouldn't be convincing. Isn't it interesting how both men blamed the women for

their attacks on them?"

Might it be good for her to read them? They do show the evil of situationsjust like hers, and they show her she's not alone. “Yes, that is interesting. But neither woman was at fault,” Christopher pointed out, pulling back and looking

down into her face. With his thumb, he wiped a tear from her cheek. “They didn't even know there was a problem. It wasn't your fault either.”

“I know,” she replied automatically.

“But do you believe it?” he asked.

She met his eyes with a haunting vulnerability, letting him see the pain that

welled up from the depths of her soul. “God willing, someday.”

She looked so sweet and pretty in his arms, he lavished on her a kiss that left

her breathless and panting. “Is that any better?”

She snuggled against him. “Oh yes, lovely.”

His body reacted instantly, but he pressed on with the conversation. There will be time for that later. “Now then, my darling bride, I have a question for you. My father recommended we take a wedding trip, and I think it's an excellent

idea. What do you think?”

She blinked. “I have no idea. I've never traveled before.”

“Would you like to try?”

A whirlwind of expressions twisted her face this way and that, but at last, she

said, “I think so.”

“Are you sure?” he asked. “Does the idea make you anxious?”

“A bit,” she admitted, “but I still want to try.”

“Good,” he said. “I'd love to spend some time with you, just with you, far away from our everyday lives. I think it would be good for our marriage.”

She nodded.

“Then we should think of a place to go. Nice is lovely this time of year.

Warm,” he suggested. “But there's also Italy. Do you have any family you might

want to visit? Where are your parents from?”

“Florence,” she replied. “I've always wanted to see it. I can still remember the wonderful tales Mama would tell me about her hometown and her family; her papa and mama and brother and all the many friends and relatives. It sounded like a dream of a place. I used to imagine running away there.”

“Shall we?” he asked, glad she'd expressed an opinion.

“Would you like to?”

No, love, this is for you. “I would like to take you somewhere you want to go and see you excited and happy.”

“That's easy, darling,” she replied, stroking her hand down his cheek. “You

only have to take me to bed.”

He grinned. “And Florence?”

“If you would like it, I would.”

Good girl. That's what I wanted to hear. “Shall we find out if your family is interested in a visit?”

“How? Wouldn't a message take almost as long as a voyage?” she asked.

“Yes, a letter would, but what about a telegram?” he reminded her.

“Ah, I forgot about that. Yes, let's.”

“I'll go to the telegraph office tomorrow,” he replied. “And now, you

mentioned another little trip that would make you happy. Is there time before dinner?”

She glanced at the clock she had placed on the mantle. “It's five-thirty. I made a stew, but I don't think it will be ready until around seven.”

“Just barely enough. Let's go, love.”

And he took her hand and led her to the bedroom for a brief voyage to Heaven.

CHAPTER 12

“I must say, Christopher,” Colonel Turner began, shutting the office

door and tugging his mask off his face, “well spotted last week. I

had Mrs. Turner talk to Miss Jones. She said it was like pulling teeth but eventually she got the story out of her. The young lady's been courted by a man