Distinguished Rogues Book 1-3 by Heather Boyd

Author:Heather Boyd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heather Boyd
Published: 2012-11-13T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

A scratch and shuffle of papers woke Lilly from a confusing sleep. Her eyes refused to open easily, and she lay in her bed wondering why her stomach ached so badly. Her mouth tasted of ashes.

Lilly cracked her eyes open a slit and groaned as bright light pierced her brain. Moving gingerly in the bed, she grew aware that her head throbbed in time with her blood. She wished she could remember why she felt so horrible. She’d gotten used to feeling good again.

Yesterday.

Yesterday, Giles had spurned her simple friendship and destroyed her fragile world. Yes, she remembered that too well. Her chest ached, competing with the pounding in her skull, and she was not sure which one was the winner. Giles had pushed her away, and she had come back to her room to hide her heartbreak.

She was always alone—it was nothing new—but she had become used to hearing Giles’ voice and the touch of his hands upon her. Now both would be gone, and the sense of loss was overwhelming. Lilly raised a hand to her face to prevent the tears in her eyes from spilling, but her limb was as heavy as lead. Pressing her fingers against her eyes, she struggled to control her emotions.

At least her sense of smell hadn’t deserted her. Lemon scent bathed the room in a comforting balm, subtle and soothing, a counterpoint to the pain in her head. She breathed deep and dragged her hand away from her face, rubbing over her aching chest. She was foolish to allow Giles’ rejection to hurt her so badly. She curled up on her side to study the bedpost and the distant door.

She’d locked her bedchamber door last night. The first time she’d ever thought to take such a step. Locked out the pain that waited beyond, and had even sent Atticus away. Poor dog. But if his master didn’t want her then she shouldn’t monopolize his company.

Running her fingers over the stitching on the sheet with one finger, Lilly contemplated the mess her life had become. Nothing was ever allowed to be truly wonderful for long. She should be used to the disappointment, but as a child she’d had far different dreams than this. All she had wanted was a home and to marry someone who would be nice to her. It hadn’t seemed too much to ask.

Lilly heard that faint sound again and realized someone else was in the room. It was probably just Mrs. Osprey. She must be reading or doing something equally involved, because she made scarcely a sound. The housekeeper must have used the spare key to slip into the room while she slept. Lilly hoped Mrs. Osprey had relocked it again. Not that Giles would seek her out anymore.

Not in the mood for company, Lilly lay still, as though she were asleep. She would prefer to pretend a while longer that yesterday had not happened, and that she had never become better acquainted with Giles Wexham.

Without Atticus in

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