BACHELOR'S PUZZLE by Ginger Chambers

Author:Ginger Chambers [Chambers, Ginger]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460394649
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1992-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

ELISE STARTED the morning with puffy eyes and a headache. Sleep had been elusive in the night and she woke up feeling more exhausted than when she went to bed. As she made her way downstairs, she wrapped her robe loosely about her slender frame and tied it at the waist with a matching belt. On her feet were slippers she had purchased years ago—old friends, nicely worn in. To comb her hair, she had merely run her fingers through it several times. When she got to Bea’s door, she tapped and received permission to enter.

Bea greeted her from the bed. “Well, you certainly look a sight!”

“Don’t start, Bea,” Elise said tiredly.

“Now you’re telling me what to do! That man has had an evil influence on you, Elise.” Bea pulled herself higher in the bed. “For you to walk out on me like that. It was rude, wholly insensitive—”

“Would you like me to brush your hair?” Elise cut in. She hadn’t forgiven her sister for her behavior yesterday, but part of her difficulty in getting to sleep last night had been the strain that existed between them. No matter the provocation, she shouldn’t have left Bea on her own like that. Just because Bea had been cruel didn’t mean that she should be cruel as well. She had an advantage over Bea...and she could never forget the reason why.

“No, I would not!” Bea snapped angrily. “It was supposed to be done last night, not this morning. I brushed it myself. You know I can’t sleep if I’m not relaxed.”

“I know,” Elsie murmured. She moved about the room, straightening articles that were out of place and picking up discarded clothing. She felt Bea’s eyes steadily upon her. “Would you like to get up now?” she asked, meeting her sister’s disapproving gaze.

Bea’s answer dripped with sarcasm. “I wouldn’t want to put you out.”

Elise would not be drawn out. She even managed to smile. “It’s no bother,” she claimed.

Bea turned the cover back from her withered legs and watched with satisfaction as Elise gave a tiny grimace of pain. That was part of their ritual, too. Each night, the hair brushing; each morning, the useless legs.

Elise helped her into the old-fashioned chair and arranged her feet in a comfortable position on the footpads, more for her own happiness than for Bea’s. She knew Bea couldn’t tell the difference, but it made her feel better. Then she pushed her into the en suite bathroom, which had been converted beautifully for an invalid, with rails built into strategic places, a lavatory that was easy to use and a roll-in shower and seat so that Bea could have privacy as she performed her toilet.

“Thanks,” Bea murmured, dismissing her.

About the time Elise straightened from changing the bedding, Bea rolled back into the room. Again Elise helped arrange her feet and they started off for the kitchen, with Bea riding comfortably as Elise pushed. The times were too numerous to count that friends had tried to get Bea to consent to a motorized chair.

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