Bonded Heart by Jane Jackson

Author:Jane Jackson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783755738
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Fighting tears of shock, hurt and exhaustion, Roz walked into the bedroom, closed the door and stood where she was, rubbing her bare arms. She couldn’t hear his actual words but Casvellan’s tone was unmistakable. The cold quiet ferocity of his anger dried her throat. She had seen him irritated, even annoyed. But never had she seen him lose his temper. She wished she hadn’t been the cause of it, or of ill-feeling between the brothers.

Crossing to the window she stared blindly out, her folded arms pressed against a stomach knotted with tension. She was tired. That was why Davy telling her to go away and leave him alone had hurt.

No, that wasn’t the real cause. What cut deep was the disgust and loathing on his face as he smashed the glass from her hand. She didn’t deserve that. He thought she did. He was ill. But not delirious. He had known what he was saying.

She started at the brisk knock. Not trusting her voice she didn’t answer. As she swallowed hard and dragged in an unsteady breath, the door opened and she heard boots on the bare floorboards.

‘Miss Trevaskis?’

She kept her back to him. She didn’t want him to see she had been crying. He would think her weak and silly and she was neither. She was just tired.

He came closer. ‘There is no excuse for my brother’s behaviour as I have made perfectly clear to him. It was totally unacceptable, and you may be sure it will not be repeated. I won’t ask your forgiveness. That is for him to do. However, I suspect – in fact I am certain – his outburst was driven by horror at what the disease is doing to his body. I have never known him ill in his life. His present weakness and dependence on us both has shattered his confidence.’ His voice dropped. ‘Roz, he’s terrified.’

Her heart jumped at his use of her name. She nodded but still didn’t move. His gaze was sharp and she feared what he might see. Now he had explained, she did understand. Her mouth was dry and she had to lick her lips. ‘If – if your brother escaped all the usual childhood ailments and grew up taking good health for granted, then to be so severely ill must indeed be unnerving.’

His hand rested lightly on her shoulder and she caught her breath as the pressure increased. ‘Were it not for you – first recognising the disease then bringing him home and staying to nurse him –’ As he turned her to face him she bent her head.

‘You have every right to be angry. No one knows better than me how demanding recent days have been.’ When she still did not look up he tilted her chin with his fingertips. ‘I could not have –’ Air hissed between his teeth. ‘Damn it, he made you cry.’

‘No – it’s – I –’ She shrugged, forced a smile, felt it wobble. ‘I’m just tired, that’s all.’

The warm weight of his hand on her shoulder was comforting.

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