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.My behaviour towards herthroughout our relationship is a matter of deep regret to me.Unfortunately Ican't change the past.I hope to make amends to her in the future.''Presuming there is a future,' Maggie put in curtly.'Don't presume too much,Ian.I haven't said yes.'He turned to her, his eyes dark with implacable determination.'I've hurt youvery badly.From any reasonable viewpoint you should reject me, but I'mnot talking reason, Maggie.I'm talking need.Right now you might think I'mthe last person you need, but two weeks ago you demanded that I remembersomething.I did.I know exactly what you feel towards me and you haveample justification for feeling the way you do.But now I'm asking you toremember.'He was not unemotional now.He spoke quietly, but each word wasdelivered with passionate force.'Remember a night when we sharedsomething special.so special it was unique and unforgettable.Despite myblind selfishness and despite your bitter hatred, you can't deny what there isbetween us, any more than I can.We need each other.And well be motherand father to the child we made together, because even if nothing else hasbeen r.gh: between us, that night was.And somehow we'll make it so again.We have to.We're linked together now whether we like it or not.It'sinescapable you know that.'He paused, drawing in a deep breath before driving home his final point.'You might as well say yes, Maggie, and get it over with.Your mother'shere.We can start discussing wedding plans.''Just like that!' Maggie muttered resentfully, then raised her voice in bitteraccusation.'You expect me to accept you, just like that! You wouldn't evenlook at me yesterday, nor speak to me.And today you expect me to marryyou!'Her voice rose higher with pent-up feeling.'You're damned right, I haveevery justification for rejecting your offer.And I have almostinsurmountable reservations about accepting you as a husband.You do wellto invoke the memory of that night, Ian.It was the only time you ever gaveme any happiness.I'm not so desperate to provide my baby with a father thatI'll marry a man who doesn't want me!''Our baby,' he said insistently.'I am its father.And I want you, Maggie.Anything I've said to the contrary was a lie.I tried to fight you, but I can't,and I don't want to any more.Say what you want, and if it's within mypower, I'll give it to you.'His complete volte-face confused her.'Does a child mean so much to you,Ian?' she asked in bewilderment.'Your happiness is my first consideration.'She shook her head in disbelief and scorn edged her voice.'Since when?''Since I realised what a fool I'd been to have squandered your gift of love.'His tone was one of quiet sincerity and his eyes silently begged for anotherchance.She wanted to believe him, needed to believe him.She wasfrightened of the consequences if it was all a ruse to get his own way.Shelooked for help from her mother, but Fay Tarrington was regarding Ianthoughtfully.'Mum?'Her mother looked at her with sympathetic enquiry, but Maggie felt tooconfused to express the doubts which were bombarding her mind with barbsof indecision.She fluttered her hands helplessly.Fay Tarrington stood andwalked over to her.Her hand gave Maggie's shoulder a light squeeze as hereyes softened with a warm reassurance of love.'Only you know if you can find the necessary forgiveness in your heart,Maggie, but I remember what you told me at Christmas time.He is turningto you now.I can't help you make what must be your decision.I think it bestif I take myself off to a movie and leave the two of you alone for a while.Allright?''Yes, all right.But you'll come back?''Of course.' A comforting smile softened her mouth.'I'm going to cook youdinner and tuck you into bed that's what mothers are for!'Maggie covered her mother's hand with her own and attempted a smile inresponse.'Thanks, Mum,' she said gratefully.Fay Tarrington turned to Ian, who had risen to his feet.'I'm trusting you notto hurt my daughter any more, Mr Drake.I'll reserve my own judgment ofyou.You'll appreciate that so far you've done little to commend yourself tome.''I appreciate it all too well, Mrs Tarrington.Thank you for yourforbearance,' he answered gravely.Ian accompanied her mother to the door and saw her out.Maggie did notmove.She felt very unsure of everything and worn out by the conflict ofemotions which was still fraying what little strength she had left.Withintense weariness she propped her elbow on the table and rested her head onher hand, wishing she did not have to think any more.She watched Ian'sapproach with dull resignation.He looked slightly unsure of himself too,which made her feel slightly better.She wished he would lose hold of hisiron control.She wished he felt as weak and as vulnerable as she did.Shewished.'Maggie.' His hand reached out and stroked the silky waves of her hair.She shuddered at the soft caress and looked up at him in helpless appeal,wanting so much from him but unable to ask.Very gently he lifted her to her feet, his eyes seeming to plead for hercompliance.Then slowly, watchful for any sign of resistance, he drew herinto a tender embrace.There was no resistance in Maggie.She stood in thecircle of his arms, wanting him to answer all her needs but with little faith orhope in any of her wishes.The empty places inside her deflated with ashuddering sigh as warm hands coaxed her closer.'Maggie.' His breath wavered through her hair as he laid his cheek on it.His voice was a husky murmur, vibrating softly through her brain.'I knowit'll be difficult for you to believe.It took me too long to face up to it myself.But I do love you, Maggie, so very much.I need you more than I everbelieved it possible to need another human being.I want the child, that'strue.But you are necessary to me.I'm incomplete without you.'The sweet words were a soothing drug, anaesthetising pain, but sharpneedles of reason jabbed in reminders of too many inconsistencies for anavowal of love to be credible.'Please, Ian.I'm not stupid,' she dragged outwearily.'You've done very well without me since Christmas.''No, Maggie.It's been tearing me apart,' he insisted, and the pain of tormentwas in his voice.'I've wanted you all the time.It's been one hellish struggleagainst running back to you ever since I rejected your love.I thought I didn'twant to belong to anyone.All these years I've kept a wall between myselfand the emotional inconsistencies of other people
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