Page 124 of Flirting with Forever

He tucked a rogue curl behind her ear. “Aye.”

“Do you think you’ll have time to paint one of you? I should like to have something to remember you by.”

The pained look in his eyes sent an ache through her heart.

“I have never been much of a self-portraitist,” he said, “but for you, milady, aye.”

“Thank you.”

He brought her close and kissed her forehead.

“The painting stands, I hope,” he said. “As authentic, I mean.” She stiffened automatically and he stepped back and looked in her eyes. “What?”

“I don’t know yet. They haven’t decided. It’s sitting in my office.”

“Haven’t decided?” His face darkened. “Do they doubt my word? I am portraitist to the king, you know.”

“Credentials that sadly must remain unspoken—much as the carnal status of Ball and his parents should have been.”

“What is the objection?” he demanded. “’Tis an exquisite piece.”

“It is. But the odds of finding an undiscovered Lely after more than three hundred years are practically nil, and there’s not enough yet to tip the balance in the favor of authenticity. Besides, Ball’s so mad he hasn’t let anyone look at it.”

Peter harrumphed. “Philistines.”

“But the good news is, Anastasia is doing everything she can to help. Between you and me, she told me she knows the painting’s not real.” Then, in answer to the look of insult in his eye, she added, “It’s not old and real. But she said because you did it for me, she won’t say anything. Oh, Peter, this is going to sound silly, but in some ways, that’s the best part of all.”

Peter squeezed her waist. “I’m glad.”

Forlorn, Cam gazed down at the ballet flat peeking out from her skirt. Her friend, Seph, told her pink shoes always lighten one’s spirit, but Cam did not feel uplifted. “Peter, what do you know of the O’Janpa Convention?”

His arm fell away. “Where did you hear that?”

“Mertons.”

“Hell.”

“Can they really take you away?”

“Aye—well, no. It would be a battle.” The lines around his eyes deepened. “I’d prefer to go on my own.”

“And you have to go?”

“What I do here impacts you.”

“Of course it impacts me.”

“No, Cam. I-I—” He cast his eyes downward. “I’ve already hurt you. You may have lost your job because of me, and…and there may be even more I’ve cost you that you don’t see.”

“No, Peter, no. When two people love one another, every choice they make affects what comes next. But that doesn’t mean the choices shouldn’t be made. That’s life. If your being here, in the future, means my life has to change, that’s a change I choose freely.”

“Cam—”

“Peter, no—”

“Cam, listen to me. I’ve cost you a marriage…and a child.”

“A child?” She frowned. “What do you mean?”