who she was. She watched him tiredly rub his eyes as if to clear away the very sight of her.
If what he claimed was true, if he was ignorant of all the letters and the proxy marriage, if the entire long-distance courtship had been his father’s doing, then all the questions that had plagued her could finally be explained.
He had not told her that he was a Texas Ranger, or about Daniel, or his father, or the fact that he did not even live at Benton House anymore because
he had not
written the letters.
But if she believed him, if she believed this was all part of a hoax concocted by Reed Senior, then last night she had consummated a union unsanctioned by law. She was not his wife.
Nor was she a virgin any longer.
Kate wanted to find a dark corner to crawl into, to curl up and hide just as she had done when her mother abandoned her.
She had expected too much. She had reached too high and now, even the dream had vanished. She had been reduced to something little better than her mother.
A few moments ago she had walked through the door to this room hoping to hear him say
I love you
again. She had been wondering how soon they would make love. Instead, he denied knowing her, denied their marriage. She had no reason to disbelieve his protest until suddenly, a faint glimmer of hope began to shine.
Perhaps the fever had somehow destroyed parts of his memory.
Yes, surely that was it. He was still suffering from the shock of his wounds and the power of the fever. Like the dark bruises beneath his eyes, the remnants of fever still clouded his mind. Certainly, the laudanum fogged his thoughts, too. After a good meal and some sound sleep, he would remember her and all his promises. He
would
remember.
Adrift, still frightened to her very soul, she did the only thing she could do. She forced a smile and uncovered the plate of bacon, eggs, fresh biscuits, and gravy that Sofia had prepared.
“Perhaps,” she continued to speak softly, purposely keeping her voice smooth and even, “perhaps after you eat something and get some rest, you’ll remember. After all, you’ve been very, very ill.” She spoke slowly and clearly, as if he were one of her students, hoping to calm herself as well.
She glanced at the slivers of broken china remaining on the floor. “I really need to get a broom.”
“I really need my clothes. And I need to get to the bottom of this. Where in the
hell
is Sofia?”
Kate snapped erect. “There is no need to shout.” What if he became uncontrollable?
Thankfully, at that very moment, the door swung open and Sofia stepped into the room, cool and composed, her jet hair pulled back severely and fashioned in an intricate twist. Her expensive black gown was crisp, freshly pressed; a cameo brooch hugged her collar at her throat. But her composure was marred by her reddened eyes.
“Can you tell me what in the
hell
is going on here?” Reed turned on the housekeeper without so much as a hello.
Although Kate was unused to such explosive displays of temper, Sofia calmly folded her hands at her waist, seemingly unruffled by his outburst.
“If you will get back in bed and cover yourself properly, I will try to explain.” She looked at Kate and added, “To both of you.”
When Reed balked, the woman calmly insisted again that he get back into bed and cover himself.
Amazed when he actually did as the housekeeper asked, Kate turned her back when he began to unwind the sheet. As soon as he was comfortably seated in bed, Sofia crossed the room and helped him smooth out the bedclothes and then pulled the light woven coverlet to his waist.
Kate covered the plate of food. She wasn’t quite sure how she managed it with her hands shaking so hard, but she even refilled his water glass for want of something to do.
Sofia offered her a seat in the rocking chair. When Kate declined, preferring to stand, Sofia sat down heavily, as if burdened by what she had to say.
Reed crossed his arms over his bare chest and pinned
If what he claimed was true, if he was ignorant of all the letters and the proxy marriage, if the entire long-distance courtship had been his father’s doing, then all the questions that had plagued her could finally be explained.
He had not told her that he was a Texas Ranger, or about Daniel, or his father, or the fact that he did not even live at Benton House anymore because
he had not
written the letters.
But if she believed him, if she believed this was all part of a hoax concocted by Reed Senior, then last night she had consummated a union unsanctioned by law. She was not his wife.
Nor was she a virgin any longer.
Kate wanted to find a dark corner to crawl into, to curl up and hide just as she had done when her mother abandoned her.
She had expected too much. She had reached too high and now, even the dream had vanished. She had been reduced to something little better than her mother.
A few moments ago she had walked through the door to this room hoping to hear him say
I love you
again. She had been wondering how soon they would make love. Instead, he denied knowing her, denied their marriage. She had no reason to disbelieve his protest until suddenly, a faint glimmer of hope began to shine.
Perhaps the fever had somehow destroyed parts of his memory.
Yes, surely that was it. He was still suffering from the shock of his wounds and the power of the fever. Like the dark bruises beneath his eyes, the remnants of fever still clouded his mind. Certainly, the laudanum fogged his thoughts, too. After a good meal and some sound sleep, he would remember her and all his promises. He
would
remember.
Adrift, still frightened to her very soul, she did the only thing she could do. She forced a smile and uncovered the plate of bacon, eggs, fresh biscuits, and gravy that Sofia had prepared.
“Perhaps,” she continued to speak softly, purposely keeping her voice smooth and even, “perhaps after you eat something and get some rest, you’ll remember. After all, you’ve been very, very ill.” She spoke slowly and clearly, as if he were one of her students, hoping to calm herself as well.
She glanced at the slivers of broken china remaining on the floor. “I really need to get a broom.”
“I really need my clothes. And I need to get to the bottom of this. Where in the
hell
is Sofia?”
Kate snapped erect. “There is no need to shout.” What if he became uncontrollable?
Thankfully, at that very moment, the door swung open and Sofia stepped into the room, cool and composed, her jet hair pulled back severely and fashioned in an intricate twist. Her expensive black gown was crisp, freshly pressed; a cameo brooch hugged her collar at her throat. But her composure was marred by her reddened eyes.
“Can you tell me what in the
hell
is going on here?” Reed turned on the housekeeper without so much as a hello.
Although Kate was unused to such explosive displays of temper, Sofia calmly folded her hands at her waist, seemingly unruffled by his outburst.
“If you will get back in bed and cover yourself properly, I will try to explain.” She looked at Kate and added, “To both of you.”
When Reed balked, the woman calmly insisted again that he get back into bed and cover himself.
Amazed when he actually did as the housekeeper asked, Kate turned her back when he began to unwind the sheet. As soon as he was comfortably seated in bed, Sofia crossed the room and helped him smooth out the bedclothes and then pulled the light woven coverlet to his waist.
Kate covered the plate of food. She wasn’t quite sure how she managed it with her hands shaking so hard, but she even refilled his water glass for want of something to do.
Sofia offered her a seat in the rocking chair. When Kate declined, preferring to stand, Sofia sat down heavily, as if burdened by what she had to say.
Reed crossed his arms over his bare chest and pinned
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