Cast in Ruin by Laura Landon

Author:Laura Landon
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery, Historical Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense, Romance, Victorian, Historical
Publisher: Prairie Muse Publishing
Published: 2015-07-25T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Rachael heard Ben’s footsteps when he came up the stairs. It was well after midnight and she didn’t expect him to stop. He hadn’t been to see her since they’d come home. Nor had he sent word as to his plans for the evening. A part of her wondered if he intended to ever see her again.

She wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t. She knew keeping Claire a secret from him was something he’d have a difficult time forgetting. An even more difficult time forgiving.

She gently rocked a sleeping Claire as his loud, angry footsteps came nearer.

He wasn’t trying to be quiet. If anything, there was a resolute determination in each footfall. He reached her door, then stopped. Without knocking, he pushed the door open and entered her room.

He searched the room, found her, then walked toward her. He didn’t stop until he reached her. When he did, he stopped so close their toes almost touched.

“I want to know what happened at Julia Bentley’s party. Everything.”

Rachael’s heart skipped a beat. She’d prayed that she’d be able to take the secret of those two weeks with her to her grave. But he wasn’t going to let her. And if anyone deserved to know what happened those weeks, he did.

“Very well. Let me put the babe down.”

He stepped back to give her room.

She rose and carried Claire to the makeshift nursery the staff had set up in the next room. When she returned, she let her gaze evaluate him. She wanted a hint as to the mood of the man she was facing. The stony darkness in his gaze wasn’t comforting. Nor was his rigid stance.

He no longer wore his jacket and waistcoat, and his shirt was open at the neck. He’d rolled up his sleeves nearly to his elbows and the golden hair on his arms shimmered in the firelight.

His wheat-colored hair was mussed, as if he’d raked his fingers through it numerous times in frustration. Or in anger. Several strands hung down across his forehead, giving him a dangerous look. Dark circles rimmed his bloodshot eyes. She didn’t think he was drunk, but she wouldn’t blame him if he were. The look in his eyes, however, caused her the most concern.

The warmth and devilishly teasing look she was used to seeing was absent. An unreadable coldness had replaced the humor that was there most often. What she regretted seeing was the raw hurt his eyes had never had cause to contain.

She’d put that hurt there, and she mourned that more than she could say.

He nodded toward her chair as an indication he wanted her to sit. Rachael sat.

“What happened at Julia Bentley’s house party? I need to know.”

Rachael closed her eyes. She’d known this day would come, but that didn’t make it any easier to say the words. If only she weren’t to blame for what had happened. But she was. She was the only person who could shoulder any responsibility.

She took a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves before she began.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.