Page 26 of Rakes & Reticules
“I’ll show you the way, Doctor,” Chandler offered with an easy smile.
As they strode away, Fletcher berated himself mentally for his gullibility.
“I can feel your rage from here.” Miss Kenney’s croaky thread of a voice scarcely carried across the room.
Fletcher spun around.
No more than thirty seconds ago, she appeared fast asleep.
Had she been feigning?
Nothing about her would surprise him.
“It’s radiating off you in scorching waves.” She regarded him warily but with admirable courage too.
Fletcher winced inwardly as her voice cracked and faded with each painfully articulated word. He’d not let her see he felt sorry for her. In truth, he was furious with himself for feeling anything but disdain and ire.
Compassion and empathy had no place here—had no business tempering his anger.
He kicked the door shut with a sharp bang, and she flinched.
Arms crossed and one leg raised with his heel planted on the wood, he leaned against the panel.
“I think I have reason to be angry,MissKenney. Or is it missus? Is Kenney even your real surname?”
CHAPTERFOUR
Several tension-filled seconds later
“Yes. I’m Siobhan Kenney. I’m not married.” She licked her dry lips before giving a weary sigh and plucking at the coverlet, the only outward sign of her nerves. “I regret that I deceived you.”
Swallowing, she gazed longingly at the water pitcher on a table near the window.
Hell’s clanging bells.
Fletcher stomped across the room, poured her a glass, and then tromped to the bed, where he thrust the water toward her. “Here.”
“Thank you,” she managed hoarsely.
She drank the entire glass before sinking back onto the pillows, her translucent eyelids closed. Her pulse beat a frantic rhythm at the juncture of her delicate throat and collarbone.
From fear or illness?
Did it matter?
Fletcher removed the tumbler from her limp hand.
She slowly opened her eyes, despair and defeat darkening them to navy blue.
Despite his anger, pity tried to rear her head.
Fletcher ruthlessly tamped the unwanted emotion down.
Hewas the victim here, not Siobhan. Although, if he were perfectly fair, she might be a victim of her circumstances. Nevertheless, that didn’t give her the right to lie.
“Did I hear correctly? My brother and sister are here?”
So shehadbeen awake.
