Obsession Wears Opals by Renee Bernard

Author:Renee Bernard [Bernard, Renee]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: cookie429, Extratorrents, Kat
Publisher: Penguin Group, USA
Published: 2012-10-26T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter

13

“You cannot leave! As your physician, I forbid it.” Rowan stepped in front of him, attempting to block Darius from the door. “You need two weeks in bed before you travel, Darius.”

“I can leave. Don’t be a bully, West. It doesn’t suit you.” Darius held out the folded pages he’d drafted. “Here.”

“What is that?” Rowan didn’t reach for it.

“All I’ve learned to date. I wanted to compile my thoughts and make sure that someone else had the record.”

Just in case you’re right, Rowan, and my lungs fold in on me.

“And,” he forced himself to slow down, unwilling to risk a demonstration of just how weak he was by running out of air, “as you said, the Jackal is off licking his wounds. There’s lots of time.”

“But . . . with everything that’s happened—surely your place is here!”

Darius shook his head. “No. I need to . . . take care of something in Scotland. I’ll return to London as soon as it’s feasible.”

“Your lungs are damaged, Darius. You’re at risk for pneumonia—you’re already on the edge of exhaustion, and two days of rest aren’t enough to allow you to recover for me to let you go.”

“I’ll sleep for a fortnight when I get back but I cannot stay here.”

“Why?”

“I can’t tell you. I need you to trust me, Rowan, and then advocate on my behalf to Ashe. He won’t understand and I don’t want to add to his worries. He has Caroline to fear for. He doesn’t need to add my concerns to the pile. None of you do.” Darius pulled on his coat. “At least, not yet.”

“We’re not going to abandon you, Darius. No matter what kind of trouble you’re in.”

Darius smiled. “I’m counting on the loyalty of my friends, Dr. West. I’ll call on the Jaded for help soon. I have no illusions of my self-reliance when it comes to—I’ll send word as soon as I can.”

Rowan crossed his arms. “I could physically haul you back to bed myself.”

“And then what? Sit on me? Post a guard?” Darius began to button his coat. “Rowan. Please. I wouldn’t insist on going if it weren’t . . . I have a promise to keep and I won’t be able to breathe, if you’ll pardon the metaphor, until I’ve seen to matters at home.”

Rowan gave him a searching look. “Matters at home.”

Darius squared his shoulders. “Matters. At. Home.”

Rowan’s stance slowly relaxed. “Well, when you put it that way . . .”

“I’ll take what precautions I can, Dr. West, and just for you, I will live to be a hundred.” Darius did his best not to smile at the audacious lie and failed.

“I’ll tell my wife you declared yourself immortal and see how that strikes her,” Rowan conceded reluctantly. “I hope you appreciate the sacrifice of domestic bliss I am making here.”

Darius gave him one nod before heading out the door.

He’d feared for his friends, but the minute he’d left Helen behind, he’d been a man torn and divided.

If only I could be in two places at once.

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