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Authors: Thomasine Rappold
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groundless bias against her.
Being engaged wouldn’t hurt his practice—but engagement to Maddie might. He didn’t care. He would play her fiancé, despite any disapproval. This town needed his services, which meant he had little to lose. And there was a wealth of knowledge to gain. In return, Maddie’s engagement to him might help them to see she was a normal woman. A woman worth having.
What harm could it do?
“You’d better get used to seeing more of her, Henry. She’ll be helping me here in the office.”
Henry’s eyes bulged.
“She’s a bright woman, and I can use the assistance.”
“People won’t like that.”
“Then I suggest they brace themselves.” Jace took a deep breath, unable to resist. “Because during the short time I’ve known Madeline, our casual acquaintance has fast become something more.”
* * * *
Maddie walked toward home, consumed by a jumble of thoughts she was struggling to sort. It had been a long day. Strangely, the shock of seeing Daniel and hearing the news of his engagement had dissipated. As had the pinching feeling in her chest borne of their encounter in the dress shop.
She currently had more pressing concerns. Namely, Jace Merrick and his unforgettable kiss. She sighed, thinking of little beyond her own desire as she ambled along. She inhaled deeply, letting the fragrance of wildflowers and pine fill her lungs. Releasing the breath brought her back down to earth, where she landed with a thud in the middle of reality.
She’d entangled herself with a man who could destroy her. A man with a scientific mind and keen perception. What was more, she’d invited him to probe into her life, the darkest days of her existence. If he somehow discovered her gift in the course of his inquiries… Well, Maddie didn’t want to think about the consequences of that. Jace would not treat such information lightly, and if exposed, she might find herself confined to an asylum or worse.
She wandered into the house as if lost in some dream. After removing her new hat, she peeled off her gloves, then tossed the garments atop the table in the hall. She supposed she had to inform Grandfather of what she’d done before he heard it from Rhetta or Gil. The two made frequent trips to town and were bound to hear the news of her engagement sooner or later. She felt a fresh wave of dread as she realized she’d have to enlist their help, as well as Grandfather’s, in supporting the premise that Jace had been treating Grandfather all along.
She walked through the foyer and down the long hall, checking each room that she passed. The echo of her footsteps on the marble floor waned as she padded across the carpet in the solarium. Through the wall of windows facing the lake, she saw Grandfather outside on the patio, enjoying his afternoon port in the sun. A thick afghan covered his legs from the constant chill he suffered despite the warm weather. Staring out at the water, he looked so at peace, so resigned to his fate. So ready to go.
She stopped in the arched doorway. Leaning on the doorjamb, she watched, trying to etch the picture of him in her mind. Staring at Grandfather’s regal profile, she felt—once again—deeply ashamed of what she’d become. A liar. A woman willing to use a man she barely knew for her own selfish purposes. Swallowing back her guilt, she pushed herself from the doorjamb and plastered on a cheery smile.
“Hello, Grandfather.” She sank into the wicker chair at his side.
“How was the shopping trip?”
“Eventful,” she said for lack of anything else.
He turned toward her, brows arched like a pair of furry gray caterpillars as he waited for her to elaborate.
“I ran into Daniel and his fiancée at the dress shop.”
He frowned at the mention of the man he’d once liked but had grown to despise. “Tell me that you gave him hell.”
“I can only tell you that the meeting drove me to do something foolish. When he assumed I would not attend the wedding for
Being engaged wouldn’t hurt his practice—but engagement to Maddie might. He didn’t care. He would play her fiancé, despite any disapproval. This town needed his services, which meant he had little to lose. And there was a wealth of knowledge to gain. In return, Maddie’s engagement to him might help them to see she was a normal woman. A woman worth having.
What harm could it do?
“You’d better get used to seeing more of her, Henry. She’ll be helping me here in the office.”
Henry’s eyes bulged.
“She’s a bright woman, and I can use the assistance.”
“People won’t like that.”
“Then I suggest they brace themselves.” Jace took a deep breath, unable to resist. “Because during the short time I’ve known Madeline, our casual acquaintance has fast become something more.”
* * * *
Maddie walked toward home, consumed by a jumble of thoughts she was struggling to sort. It had been a long day. Strangely, the shock of seeing Daniel and hearing the news of his engagement had dissipated. As had the pinching feeling in her chest borne of their encounter in the dress shop.
She currently had more pressing concerns. Namely, Jace Merrick and his unforgettable kiss. She sighed, thinking of little beyond her own desire as she ambled along. She inhaled deeply, letting the fragrance of wildflowers and pine fill her lungs. Releasing the breath brought her back down to earth, where she landed with a thud in the middle of reality.
She’d entangled herself with a man who could destroy her. A man with a scientific mind and keen perception. What was more, she’d invited him to probe into her life, the darkest days of her existence. If he somehow discovered her gift in the course of his inquiries… Well, Maddie didn’t want to think about the consequences of that. Jace would not treat such information lightly, and if exposed, she might find herself confined to an asylum or worse.
She wandered into the house as if lost in some dream. After removing her new hat, she peeled off her gloves, then tossed the garments atop the table in the hall. She supposed she had to inform Grandfather of what she’d done before he heard it from Rhetta or Gil. The two made frequent trips to town and were bound to hear the news of her engagement sooner or later. She felt a fresh wave of dread as she realized she’d have to enlist their help, as well as Grandfather’s, in supporting the premise that Jace had been treating Grandfather all along.
She walked through the foyer and down the long hall, checking each room that she passed. The echo of her footsteps on the marble floor waned as she padded across the carpet in the solarium. Through the wall of windows facing the lake, she saw Grandfather outside on the patio, enjoying his afternoon port in the sun. A thick afghan covered his legs from the constant chill he suffered despite the warm weather. Staring out at the water, he looked so at peace, so resigned to his fate. So ready to go.
She stopped in the arched doorway. Leaning on the doorjamb, she watched, trying to etch the picture of him in her mind. Staring at Grandfather’s regal profile, she felt—once again—deeply ashamed of what she’d become. A liar. A woman willing to use a man she barely knew for her own selfish purposes. Swallowing back her guilt, she pushed herself from the doorjamb and plastered on a cheery smile.
“Hello, Grandfather.” She sank into the wicker chair at his side.
“How was the shopping trip?”
“Eventful,” she said for lack of anything else.
He turned toward her, brows arched like a pair of furry gray caterpillars as he waited for her to elaborate.
“I ran into Daniel and his fiancée at the dress shop.”
He frowned at the mention of the man he’d once liked but had grown to despise. “Tell me that you gave him hell.”
“I can only tell you that the meeting drove me to do something foolish. When he assumed I would not attend the wedding for