Whisper My Name by Raine Cantrell

Author:Raine Cantrell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Romance/Western
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2013-10-14T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Dinner passed in a haze for Domini. The candlelight gleamed on the linen, china, crystal, and silver gracing the table, all constant reminders that reinforced her feeling that she didn’t belong here.

Amanda, gowned in black silk, sat at the head of the table opposite Toma. She, like Domini, ate very little of the food set before her. Matt attempted to keep conversation flowing, and Domini tried to answer his questions, but the tension that seemed to come from Toma and Amanda made him give up.

Domini watched Matt carefully as he sat across from her, for the array of silverware confused her. It was with a great deal of relief she heard Toma order Meta to bring them coffee in the front parlor.

This time Domini waited for Matt to come around the table. She resented behaving as if she was helpless to rise from the chair by herself, but the sharp reprimand Amanda had delivered earlier, that a lady waited for a gentleman, had made a lasting impression. If Domini had had any doubts that she didn’t belong here, Amanda’s stinging rebuke removed them.

Toma offered his wife his arm and led the way from the dining room. Like Matt, he wore a white starched shirt, string tie, and a black suit made from some material that was as soft as kitten fur to her hand. Matt favored a heavily embroidered vest, while Toma’s was as somber as his expression. Domini couldn’t help but wish she had been a fly on the wall in his office when he had spoken to Amanda.

But as they entered the large front parlor, where lamps scattered about on tables lent a soft glow to the massive wood furniture, Domini had a feeling that her waiting was at an end. Toma poured small crystal glasses full of a dark reddish liquor, and Matt brought one to his mother, who sat on a lady’s chair placed near the fire. Domini, choosing to stand, remained opposite Amanda near the curved-back sofa.

“A toast,” Toma said, “to make amends for the past between us.”

Domini barely touched her lips to the edge of the glass. It disturbed her that Matt stood behind her.

“Dominica,” Toma began, “your sudden arrival and the manner in which it was accomplished have left me with a serious problem. I want to make it clear to you that my wife had no right to sneak money all these years for your upkeep while keeping it secret from me.

“However, she did it. I want you to understand that I’ll do right by you.”

“Right by me, Toma? I don’t understand.”

“You will.” He moved to stand behind his wife’s chair, his move possessive and warning as he laid his hand on his wife’s pale bare shoulder. “And you agree with me, don’t you, Amanda? My way will make everything right?”

Even where Domini stood she could see the press of Toma’s fingers against Amanda’s skin. For a moment the woman glazed at Domini, then looked down at the drink she held.

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