Historical Romance June 2017 Books 1 - 4. Annie Burrows

Чтение книги онлайн.

       Chapter Sixteen

      Georgie couldn’t believe that yet another person had come into her room. She’d heard the knocker going she didn’t know how many times this morning, which meant the drawing room must be crowded with visitors. Surely, nobody had the leisure to come all the way up here to torment her? Couldn’t they leave her in peace, for one hour? They knew she couldn’t defend herself when she was laid this low. Besides, what more could she say? It wasn’t her fault Edmund had chased after Mr Eastman and knocked him down. It wasn’t her fault that half the people from the charity ball had taken it into their heads that Edmund must be on the verge of proposing to her.

      Though, admittedly, it was her fault that he had done no such thing. There was nothing on earth that would make Edmund propose to her, not when the only reason he might ever contemplate marriage at all would be to produce heirs.

      And Stepmama knew she felt guilty about something. Which was why she wouldn’t listen to her protestations that Edmund merely felt protective of her, because they’d been friends as children. Why, for the first time since her thirteenth birthday, Georgie had actually welcomed the monthly event that so frequently rendered her incapable of leaving her bed.

      Although, whoever had just come in apparently had no sympathy for the wretchedness of her condition. For they were marching across to the windows and...

      Drawing the curtains?

      ‘What,’ she protested feebly, ‘do you think you’re doing?’

      ‘I should have thought that was obvious,’ said the intruder.

      In a voice she recognised. But couldn’t possibly. Because Edmund could not possibly be here.

      Gingerly, she rolled over, and opened one eye. To see Edmund thrusting up the sash window.

      ‘I don’t know what ails you,’ he said, turning to her and making as if to approach her bed, ‘but you aren’t going to get better in a room shut up like this. You need fresh air, Georgie.’

      She held up a hand, screwing her eyes shut against the dazzling light thrusting its way into her skull.

      ‘Shut the curtains,’ she begged. ‘Can’t stand the light.’ Even saying as little as that made her feel nauseous. With a whimper, she dragged a pillow over her head and gave a series of rapid, desperate swallows.

      From the sound of curtain rings rattling along the rail, and the subsequent dimming of the light, she knew he’d done as she’d asked.

      ‘Sorry,’ he said. And then approached the bed. ‘Can’t abide the smell of a sickroom, you know.’

      By the creak of the webbing she could tell he was sitting down on the chair beside it.

      ‘Comes of having been shut up so often as a lad,’ he said. ‘And I know how you love the outdoors. I thought...’

      She felt a tug at the edge of the pillow. Presumably, he was trying to see her face. If she’d had the energy she would have snatched the pillow out of his inquisitive fingers and thwacked him with it.

      ‘Actually, no, I didn’t think,’ he said, his voice full of concern. ‘What is the matter with you, Georgie? Do you have a fever?’ He reached under the pillow and touched her forehead. His strong, yet gentle fingers felt wonderfully soothing. They’d probably feel even better if he would only stroke her there, where the pain in her head was so intense. ‘Sore throat? Is that why you aren’t yelling at me to get out?’

      She shook her head. And winced.

      ‘Hurts my head to speak,’ she said.

      ‘And you cannot stand the light.’ He paused. ‘If you were a man I’d say you were suffering from a hangover.’

      If she were a man, she reflected bitterly, she wouldn’t be going through this.

      He shifted in his chair and leaned forward until his face was almost next to hers.

      ‘You СКАЧАТЬ