She remembered and her hand immediately went to her stomach. "The baby?" she whispered.
He took her hand and held it. "They're not sure. They're doing tests."
She nodded, closing her eyes again. She wanted to go back to sleep, to block out her fear. But Ross's insistent voice wouldn't let her.
"Charity," he was saying, "you scared the hell out of me. I'm not going to stand for any more of this foolish ness. We're getting married as soon as I can get you out of here."
Her eyes flew open. "No..."
"I'm not listening to any more." He spoke gently but with complete conviction. "Obviously I've done things wrong from the beginning. But I'm going to make up for that now. Charity, I'm not going to risk losing you. Not for anything."
"But if I lose the baby..."
A note of desperation came into his voice. "Don't you get it yet? What do I have to do to convince you?" His hand tightened on hers. "I didn't tell you right, did I? I guess I never really told you at all. But I thought you knew. I thought you'd have to know."
She was struggling to understand. "Know what?"
His eyes were crystal blue, clear and honest. "That I love you."
She lay very still, wondering if she'd heard him right.
"Just tell me one thing, Charity," he went on when she didn't respond. "Do you love me?"
His eyes were open, vulnerable. She could make him or destroy him with just one word. She stared in wonder. "Ross," she whispered at last. "I love you more than life itself."
He made a sound, a strangling sound, and then tears welled up in his eyes. "Charity," he muttered huskily. "Oh, Charity."
He held her and she closed her eyes. "From the first day you walked into my life," she whispered, almost more to herself than to him.
Ross sighed. "Then you'll marry me?"
She shook her head. "No."
He reared back, glaring at her in astonishment. "Why not?"
She tried to smile through her tears. "Because I love you."
"That doesn't make any sense," he growled, his anger barely leashed.
"I know. But it has to be." She shrugged. "Can't you see? You were born into a great family, a family full of important people doing important things. My whole fam ily is ridiculous. I can't conform to all the rules of how people are supposed to behave. I don't fit in with great families. I would only make you miserable."
Ross stared at her as though she were a being from an other planet. "What a load of nonsense," he said at last. "Where did you get these crazy ideas?"