Brides of Convenience Bundle by Amanda Browning

Author:Amanda Browning
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2007-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SHE refused lunch. In the semi-darkened room she stared up at the ceiling, her mind a merciful blank because her headache was so bad she couldn’t think about her situation any more.

Blake crept in and she closed her eyes, hoping he’d go away, but he sat by the bed. She couldn’t stand being watched any longer. What was he doing? she thought irritably. Guarding his meal-ticket?

Her eyes opened. He looked so anxious and loving that her heart turned over. His lips lightly touched hers.

‘Anything I can get you?’ he whispered.

The truth! she wanted to scream. Instead, she weakly muttered that she’d be better on her own. And then decided to test him. It sickened her that she was playing a game and not confronting him, but she wanted to give him a chance to confess.

‘I was in the wood earlier,’ she mumbled.

He flinched visibly and it was a while before he answered. ‘Nice walk?’

‘I thought,’ she whispered faintly, ‘I saw you. With someone.’

The silence was so thick it seemed to close around her like a blanket.

‘A man who used to know my mother,’ Blake replied.

She waited. But he said no more.

‘A visitor to see her?’ she asked, the misery filling every cell in her body. ‘She only lets you and little Josef into her sick room. She hasn’t even met me.’

‘This man was a special friend.’

Nicole tried to sound amused. ‘An old lover?’ she asked with a raised eyebrow. Please tell me, she begged with her eyes. Tell me.

Blake shrugged. ‘I must go. You’ll be all right?’

And he had kissed her, his lips cold and his eyes distant, and had reached the door before she could say anything more.

She closed her eyes tightly. He needed time. He’d had a shock when his father had turned up and would need to think things through.

‘Fine. I’ll sleep.’ She even managed a weak smile. ‘See you later.’

With a look of relief, he hurried out as if he had been released from jail.

Nicole lay there trembling. When he’d had time to consider his options he’d realise what he must do, she told herself. It was wonderful that he had met his father. It had been an emotional moment for both of them.

And a devastating one for her.

The afternoon dragged. Eventually she slept. Refused supper. Allowed herself to be coaxed with a small bowl of soup and nodded when Blake told her that Josef was anxious to see her.

On the tip of her tongue was the question, Which Josef? But she didn’t ask it and raised herself against the pillows when the little boy tiptoed in, heartbreakingly the image of his father and grandfather.

‘Are you any better?’ Josef asked in a loud stage whisper.

‘I am a little. And will be fine in the morning,’ she said, thinking how much she loved this child. Her eyes filled with tears and Blake, seeing this, took her hand in his.

‘I brought you something I made in school today,’ Josef hissed, taking huge, exaggeratedly soft steps on his way to her bedside.

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