The Object of His Affection by Marcia Lynn McClure

Author:Marcia Lynn McClure
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Distractions Ink LLC
Published: 2015-05-12T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Athena tried to open her eyes—tried very hard. But no matter how many times she told herself to wake up, to open her eyes and respond to the conversation seeping into her mind, she just could not quite achieve full consciousness. She felt as if full wakefulness were only an arm’s length away but that her arms weren’t long enough to grasp hold of it.

“Well,” a man’s voice that was unfamiliar to her was saying, “at first, I thought perhaps it was a case of ‘bashful bride.’ But it seems to me to be more an issue of extreme exhaustion.”

“What’s bashful bride, Mrs. Dandridge?” Athena heard Marta inquire.

Athena heard Fenton’s all-too-recognizable chuckle as Mrs. Dandridge said, “Annabel, why don’t you and the littler girls see to that lovely Noah’s ark Father Christmas left for you, hmm?”

“Yes, mum,” Annabel said. “Come along, girls. The doctor will tend to Athena, and she’ll be right as rain in no time at all.”

“Perhaps she took one look at me when I appeared and realized she’d married the wrong Dandridge brother,” Fenton said.

“And you may take yourself into the kitchen, Fenton Dandridge,” Mrs. Dandridge ordered. “I swear in all my life I’ve never seen anyone with a worse sense of when to arrive than you.”

“Oh, don’t be cross with me, Mother,” Fenton said coolly. “Athena will rally. She always does.”

“To the kitchen, Fenton…now,” Mrs. Dandridge repeated.

“Your bride is very thin, Mr. Dandridge,” noted the voice of the unfamiliar man, who Athena surmised was a doctor. “Perhaps she has let herself starve in being worried to fit into her wedding gown.”

“Perhaps,” Athena heard Rafe mumble.

“Still, exhaustion is my diagnosis,” the doctor pronounced. “She’ll be fine in a few days. But she needs rest, complete rest, and plenty of warm broth and water.”

“Yes, Doctor,” Mrs. Dandridge said.

“I’d suggest you take her to her room—upstairs would be best. Undress her and put her to bed,” the doctor said further. “Wake her morning, midday, and evenings to make sure she eats something and drinks enough. But I think that is all that is needed.” There was a pause where no one spoke. Then the doctor, in a very lowered voice, said, “I’m afraid consummation of the marriage will have to be put off for a few nights.”

“Of course, of course,” Rafe said quietly.

“She’s a beautiful young woman, Mr. Dandridge,” the doctor said. “Congratulations on your nuptials.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Rafe rather grumbled.

“Well, I’ll be on my way then,” the doctor said. “Send for me if anything changes or if you have any concerns.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Mrs. Dandridge said, as well. “I hope you won’t mind if Charles sees you out.”

“Not at all. Not at all,” the doctor said.

“I’m sorry to have kept you from your family this long, Charles,” Rafe’s voice boomed. “Please hurry home as soon as you’ve seen the doctor out. And here’s something for your trouble today. Happy Christmas, Charles.”

“Happy Christmas to you, Mr. Dandridge!” Charles exclaimed.

Athena discerned the clinking of coins changing hands and knew that Rafe had paid Charles handsomely for his sacrifice on Christmas Day.

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