What a Woman Desires by Rachel Brimble

Author:Rachel Brimble [Brimble, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2014-11-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Monica lifted her cup to her lips and watched the doctor over the rim as he leaned closer to Jane on the settee. He whispered something in her ear and her sister blushed a pretty pink. Monica frowned. Hadn’t her sister said it wasn’t the doctor’s affections she desired, but someone else’s entirely? She wanted Jane happy, not unnecessarily bothered. Had she felt the need to lie to her for fear of Monica’s interference?

She cleared her throat and they inched apart. Monica pushed away the guilt that threatened. This wasn’t the time or place for flirtation and bouts of happiness like those that so often occurred in her beloved Bath. She and Jane could soon become landowners, employers, and landlords.

Which would make them as vulnerable to wolves as though they were little more than trapped prey.

The only person Monica would ever fully trust in this godforsaken place was Thomas. His insolence might be the death of her, but deep in her soul, Monica knew he cared for her and Jane. She’d even be arrogant enough to say he might, in a strange way, love her—futile as that might be . . . for both of them.

She swallowed. She couldn’t deny her attraction and feelings for the man any more than she could deny the way he sometimes looked at her. There was something dangerous, potent, and heated that lingered just beneath the surface of their control. If it escaped . . .

Monica’s hand trembled as she put her teacup and saucer down on the low table in front of her, but she lifted her chin and forced a mask of confidence regardless. “So, Dr. O’Connor, you feel Mama would be better off in an institution.”

The doctor stiffened and satisfaction she’d caught the man off guard swept through Monica’s blood. Never again would a man—any man—get the better of her.

He coughed and put his teacup next to hers. Their eyes locked before he blinked and rose to his feet. “It was only a consideration I put to your father before he died, Miss Danes.” He smiled. “I would do nothing without a patient or their signatory fully agreeing.” He strolled to the fireplace and stared at the foliage decorating the grate before meeting her gaze once more. “I would never enforce such a decision . . . unless, of course, I felt your mother was a danger to herself or others.”

Monica lifted an eyebrow, unease rippling through her. “And you don’t feel that to be the case at the moment?”

He flitted his gaze to Jane, color darkening his usually olive cheeks. “Who told you of my possible referral to an institution, Miss Danes?”

“Does it matter?” The man looked positively uncomfortable. As much as she loved her sister’s naïvety and trusting nature, it was entirely possible Jane’s virtues highlighted Monica’s flaws of derision and mistrust in others. Two facets she deemed entirely necessary considering the shaky ground she and Jane stood upon until they knew the contents of their father’s will.

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