Read Online Marriage Under Suspicion by Sara Craven - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sara Craven
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of spring water, please. There's some in the fridge.'
She watched him go downstairs, then reached across to her night table for a handmirror.
She winced when she saw herself—white-faced, hollow-eyed with her hair hanging in
damp, lank strands.
What a pitiful-looking object, she thought with self-disgust.
If she asked Ryan for the truth now, he might hedge, because he felt sorry for her, and
wanted to spare her. To let her down lightly, if that was possible under the present
circumstances.
And I don't need sympathy, she told herself, putting the mirror back in the drawer. I need
to know. But I also want to be on my feet, and strong, able to fight my corner.
Unless the prospect of losing him was always going to have the same dire physical affect
on her, she thought wryly. She now knew the meaning of the words 'sick with fright'.
When Ryan returned with her water, she thanked him stiltedly, and sipped it, aware of his
scrutiny.
He said abruptly, 'You were ill a few weeks ago, as well. I think you should see a doctor.'
'I'm sure there's no need,' Kate said quickly. 'It was just a tummy bug, last time. Louie got
it as well.'
'And this time?'
'Probably the same kind of thing,' she dismissed. 'Anyway, I feel much better now. Fine,
in fact.'
His smile held a faint grimness. 'You look like a ghost. I suggest you get some sleep.'
She said quietly, 'You're probably right.' She drank some more water. 'Are you—going
back to work?'
'I have to.' He didn't sound particularly regretful. 'But I'll try not to wake you when I
come up. And if you start to feel ill again, call me.'
As he turned away, she thought frantically, Don't leave me. Don't go.
She said, 'Ryan,' her voice breathless, and he paused at the head of the stairs, his brows
lifting enquiringly.
'Is something wrong?'
Kate's courage failed her. She said, 'I just wanted to say—thanks for looking after me.'
She saw a glimpse of his crooked smile. 'It's part of the marriage service, isn't it?' He
quoted softly, ‘For better for worse... In sickness and in health...'
She shook her head, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace. 'I don't think they
included that—at the registry office.'
He said quietly, 'Perhaps they should have done.' And went downstairs.
Kate lay back against her pillows and closed her eyes, staring into a deeper darkness than
she had ever experienced.
And what about 'till death us do part'? she wondered bleakly, her throat tightening. Had
that been a deliberate omission?
She supposed the proud, brave thing to do would be to offer Ryan his freedom, but she
didn't feel proud, or brave.
She felt frightened, and confused, and—yes—incredulous. Was it possible that she'd
simply allowed their brief marriage to wither and die, totally unaware? That Ryan had
ceased, at some point, to be her lover, her friend, her companion, and she hadn't noticed?
What she did know was that she was not prepared to hand him over to some unknown
woman. Not without a fight.
Know your enemy, she thought. That was what she needed to do. To somehow find out
her rival's identity, see what she was up against, and then go to work.
The anonymous letter must have come from the other woman. There was no other
explanation, and if 'X' was prepared to take that kind of risk maybe she wasn't too sure of
her own position. Perhaps this was her way of forcing the issue. And, of course, she'd
been keen to know Kate's reaction, wanting, no doubt, to hear about murder, mayhem,
banged doors and divorce proceedings.
Ryan's reassurances, just now, must have been really bad news for her. She'd be on
tenterhooks, wondering now if Kate had even got the letter.
And she can stay there too, Kate thought vengefully. Let her worry, and walk the floor.
Sending that letter could have been a really stupid move, because it s put me on her trail.
And if she wants mayhem I m quite prepared to give it to her. When I find her.' And, with
that, she turned on her
She watched him go downstairs, then reached across to her night table for a handmirror.
She winced when she saw herself—white-faced, hollow-eyed with her hair hanging in
damp, lank strands.
What a pitiful-looking object, she thought with self-disgust.
If she asked Ryan for the truth now, he might hedge, because he felt sorry for her, and
wanted to spare her. To let her down lightly, if that was possible under the present
circumstances.
And I don't need sympathy, she told herself, putting the mirror back in the drawer. I need
to know. But I also want to be on my feet, and strong, able to fight my corner.
Unless the prospect of losing him was always going to have the same dire physical affect
on her, she thought wryly. She now knew the meaning of the words 'sick with fright'.
When Ryan returned with her water, she thanked him stiltedly, and sipped it, aware of his
scrutiny.
He said abruptly, 'You were ill a few weeks ago, as well. I think you should see a doctor.'
'I'm sure there's no need,' Kate said quickly. 'It was just a tummy bug, last time. Louie got
it as well.'
'And this time?'
'Probably the same kind of thing,' she dismissed. 'Anyway, I feel much better now. Fine,
in fact.'
His smile held a faint grimness. 'You look like a ghost. I suggest you get some sleep.'
She said quietly, 'You're probably right.' She drank some more water. 'Are you—going
back to work?'
'I have to.' He didn't sound particularly regretful. 'But I'll try not to wake you when I
come up. And if you start to feel ill again, call me.'
As he turned away, she thought frantically, Don't leave me. Don't go.
She said, 'Ryan,' her voice breathless, and he paused at the head of the stairs, his brows
lifting enquiringly.
'Is something wrong?'
Kate's courage failed her. She said, 'I just wanted to say—thanks for looking after me.'
She saw a glimpse of his crooked smile. 'It's part of the marriage service, isn't it?' He
quoted softly, ‘For better for worse... In sickness and in health...'
She shook her head, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace. 'I don't think they
included that—at the registry office.'
He said quietly, 'Perhaps they should have done.' And went downstairs.
Kate lay back against her pillows and closed her eyes, staring into a deeper darkness than
she had ever experienced.
And what about 'till death us do part'? she wondered bleakly, her throat tightening. Had
that been a deliberate omission?
She supposed the proud, brave thing to do would be to offer Ryan his freedom, but she
didn't feel proud, or brave.
She felt frightened, and confused, and—yes—incredulous. Was it possible that she'd
simply allowed their brief marriage to wither and die, totally unaware? That Ryan had
ceased, at some point, to be her lover, her friend, her companion, and she hadn't noticed?
What she did know was that she was not prepared to hand him over to some unknown
woman. Not without a fight.
Know your enemy, she thought. That was what she needed to do. To somehow find out
her rival's identity, see what she was up against, and then go to work.
The anonymous letter must have come from the other woman. There was no other
explanation, and if 'X' was prepared to take that kind of risk maybe she wasn't too sure of
her own position. Perhaps this was her way of forcing the issue. And, of course, she'd
been keen to know Kate's reaction, wanting, no doubt, to hear about murder, mayhem,
banged doors and divorce proceedings.
Ryan's reassurances, just now, must have been really bad news for her. She'd be on
tenterhooks, wondering now if Kate had even got the letter.
And she can stay there too, Kate thought vengefully. Let her worry, and walk the floor.
Sending that letter could have been a really stupid move, because it s put me on her trail.
And if she wants mayhem I m quite prepared to give it to her. When I find her.' And, with
that, she turned on her
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