“If you are referring to the rumors of my captivity, then yes, they were true.”
Sympathy softened his face. “I’m sorry. I-I...” His voice trailed off.
“Truly, I have no desire to discuss it,” she said, turning away. “You needn’t pity me. It is over. I survived.”
He stepped closer to her, his hands brushing against her shoulders. “But at what cost?”
She stared up into the night. At what cost indeed. He was far too perceptive. Too understanding. She shrugged, then stepped away from him. His hands fell back to his sides.
As if understanding her desire to change the subject, he straightened and said, “I will send word to Robby that we will depart as soon as the ship is ready. If you have need of anything for the journey, you must go out and purchase it tomorrow.”
She nodded, grateful to switch back to a more neutral topic. She had a lot of planning to do if she was going to carry out her deception.
Chapter Ten
He was dying. He had known so for many months. But the knowledge didn’t lessen the gnawing pain in his stomach. Robert Hadley swallowed the last of the whiskey and laudanum mixture from his glass and prayed for oblivion to claim him.
He stared out the window into the moonless night. The stars winked at him, their false gaiety abrasive to him. The doctors had clucked their sympathy, but offered no hope of his survival.
He had long since learned to live with the pain. He welcomed it. Pain meant he was still alive. He could feel. Only when he ceased to feel would he weep. It would mean death. And he wanted to live.
His hand loosened its grip on the draperies as he felt the welcome leaden feeling invade his limbs. The respite was temporary. He wouldn’t have it any other way. He needed to wake with the pain clawing at his entrails. He needed to wake, period.
He walked to his bed, his gait unsteady, his vision slightly blurred. He could hear his wife thumping around in the adjoining room. Hear her fits of rage echo and bounce off the walls.
She had been to see Ridge. He knew she had. But he also knew his brother would not betray him. Not ashehad betrayed Ridge.
Sorrow filled his chest, regret burning a path through his brain. If only he could change the past. But he couldn’t. There was only the future. What little he had left.
He wanted to spend his last moments with Ridge. Sharing his dreams. Anything to make up for the mistake he had made. He loved his brother. Admired him. And more than anything he wanted Ridge’s forgiveness.
He pulled his clothing from his body and stumbled naked into bed. He was cold and no fire burned in the hearth. He focused on the beating of his heart, lying still, so he could see the rise and fall of his chest.
He would not die this night. There was too much to do before he left this world.
I’m sorry, Ridge.
His eyes fluttered shut. Opened. The fluttered closed again. Blackness engulfed him, and for a moment, he panicked. His eyes flew open, his heart thumping frantically in his chest. He focused on the still-lit candle across the room, and relief filled him. No, he wouldn’t die this night.
Chapter Eleven
India opened her eyes and blinked in confusion. It was daylight. Light streamed in the window, bathing her room in a warm glow. She stretched sleepily, and pulled the covers up tighter under her chin. She closed her eyes for a moment, reveling in the softness of the bed.
She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling in sudden realization. She had slept the entire night.
Not once since her return from India had she been able to sleep through the night.
She shoved aside the blankets and threw her legs over the side of the bed. The floor swam beneath her, and she took a steadying breath. Her head didn’t ache as vilely as it had the night before, but her pulse still thudded painfully at her temple.
Her door swung open, and she looked up to see Udaya sweep in, beaming from ear to ear.
“You slept the entire night,Beti.”
India nodded.
Udaya plopped down on the bed beside her and placed a slender arm around India. “Perhaps this is the start of much brighter days for you.”
India nodded again, not yet able to voice a response. Why had she slept blissfully through the night? The familiar panic had not assaulted her. She barely remembered lying down, hoping for just a few moments rest.
