Her Defiant Heart by Jo Goodman Page A

had the effect of narrowing Christian's stare, Jenny's small chin shot out with a measure of defiance. "What do you imagine I was doing?"
    "I asked you."
    Jenny shrugged. The movement was awkward because he was so heavy on her. "I knew you might not approve of opening the drapes, but really, don't you think you are making too much of it? I only wanted to bring some light into the room. The drapery rings were rusted to the—"
    Christian's hands left her waist and grasped her shoulders. He gave her a little shake. "Do you take me for a fool?"
    Bewildered, Jenny blinked widely. "I assure you, I don't," she said.
    Christian frowned, his mouth shifting to one side as he continued to regard her skeptically. "You weren't trying to kill yourself?"
    "Kill myself?" She looked past his shoulder to the window and saw the holes where the flimsy valance hooks had been. "Hang myself, you mean?"
    He nodded.
    Jenny could not hold back a smile. A bubble of laughter caught in her throat, but it didn't stay there long. It tripped lightly along her tongue and tickled her lips.
    Her husky laughter teased Christian's senses. He was sure he didn't like it. "I don't understand your amusement. Your intent was quite obvious."
    "Obviously it wasn't," she said. "Would you please let me up?"
    Christian considered the request a moment before he eased away. He sat up and rubbed his wounded thigh. His nightshirt had climbed above his knees, and when he glanced at Jenny, he caught her staring at his naked legs. He smiled humorlessly when she blushed deeply and quickly averted her eyes.
    Jenny used the toppled chair for support and got to her feet, smoothing her dress and making the same attempt with her hopelessly creased apron. She righted the chair and moved it back to the desk, putting some distance between herself and Christian. "I was only trying to open the drapes," she explained. "My hair got caught in one of the drapery rings. I was trying to free it."
    "What about the rope around your—" He stopped as she lifted the drapery sashes from around her neck. "I see."
    "I hope so." She wondered if he had hurt his thigh. She knew about the war wound from members of the household staff. There were as many versions of the story as there were people to tell it.
    Unaware of Jenny's interest, Christian stopped massaging his leg and looked up at the window as she had done moments earlier. "I suppose the rod would not have held your weight anyway," he said grudgingly. "If you wanted to hang yourself there would be better locations."
    "There certainly would be." She added quickly, "Not that I've been looking for any."
    Christian grunted softly and cleared away the draperies that were still covering his broad shoulders like an emperor's cloak. "What's wrong with your voice?" he asked. The hint of huskiness was unnerving because there was something very attractive about it.
    "Dr. Turner says it may stay this way forever. Would you rather I didn't speak?"
    "Scott, eh? Don't pay attention to anything that charlatan says. Bastard thinks I'm a drunk."
    Jenny refrained from responding. She watched Christian draw up his legs and settle his elbows on his knees. He cupped his head in his hands, supporting it, then gently moved his head from side to side to clear the fuzziness. Jenny observed that the area around his eyes was drawn and haggard. His skin was sallow and it contrasted horribly with the unkempt growth of his fiery beard. He had lost some weight. His cheeks were sunken so that the bones of his face stood out in hard relief, and his lean fingers seemed almost skeletal.
    "Not a pretty picture, is it?" he asked, glancing at her face and divining her thoughts. "I haven't had a bender like that since... hell, I don't think I've ever been on a bender like that." When she remained quiet, he prompted her for a response. "Say something, dammit. I don't care if you sound like your throat is filled with gravel."
    "Please don't swear at me," she said with considerable