Anna Campbell by Untouched

Author:Untouched [Untouched]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-09-03T02:53:44.293000+00:00

Chapter 19

Matthew eased Grace onto the sofa. She stiffened when he put her down, even though he was careful not to jar or jolt her.

Her battered face already started to swell and discolor.

Jesus, he should have killed Filey. Now he must await another opportunity.

That opportunity would come soon enough.

First, he must ensure Grace’s security. Until then, he could do nothing to pursue long-overdue justice.

“I’ll get something to make you feel better,” he said when she seemed reluctant to release him. She wasn’t a clingy

woman but this afternoon’s ordeal had tested her limits.

“All right.” Her hands slid down to tug nervously at his coat, drawing the edges together to hide the white lushness of her

breasts. The breasts Filey had mauled. Matthew bit back another surge of anger. Filey had trespassed fatally this

afternoon. There would be a reckoning before this sweet spring turned into full summer.

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“I won’t be long.” He leaned forward and kissed her mercifully unbruised forehead.

He headed into the kitchen to heat some water. Then he gathered what he needed from the shelves in the garden room. He

didn’t want to leave her alone long. He hadn’t missed the flash of panic in her lovely eyes when he’d told her he was

going, even if only into the next room.

Grace was sitting up, still clutching at the ruined gown under his coat, when he returned. No disguising her relief when he

appeared in the doorway.

He laid out his supplies on a small table. He was deliberately methodical. It helped soothe the raging beast within that

yowled to smash and rampage. “Tell me where you hurt.”

“Everywhere.” She tried to smile, but her swollen lip defeated her.

She was so brave, it cut him to the heart. Concern for her swamped even his titanic rage, although rage seethed, ready to

ignite at the first spark.

He knelt beside the couch for better access. Tenderly, he smoothed bedraggled hair from her brow. “Filey didn’t get what

he wanted. And he won’t. You have my word.”

Her eyes were wide with dread. “Your uncle may retaliate.”

“My uncle doesn’t hold all the trumps in this game,” he said with calm certainty. “You’re safe.”

After a long pause, she nodded.

He sucked in a relieved breath and gently pulled his coat from her shoulders. He bent to slide her slippers from her feet

then roll down her tattered stockings. Finally, he unhooked the rigid fingers that curled into her bodice.

“Let me see, Grace,” he murmured when she didn’t immediately relinquish her deathly grip.

“No.” She pressed against the back of the sofa.

Oh, God, she was frightened. Of him.

Filey would rot in hell.

“I’d never hurt you, Grace. You know that,” Matthew said in the crooning voice he used when he treated an injured bird

or animal. “You’re safe with me.”

Some of the tension drained from her face. Or what he could see of her face under the bruises. She relaxed her hold and

the dirty yellow dress fell away. As he brushed the fabric aside, she whimpered and hunched her slender shoulders.

What was she hiding? He shifted to see but she wrapped her arms across her chest in a protective gesture.

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