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Despite the dark eh

"Won’t you gentleh-backed chairs opposite the his hand over his slicked back hair, Mac said, "It is not often that I am included in such lovely company, madam This is a rare pleasure"

Nick, now seated in the other chair, frowned at his friend, hoping to convey that he should tone down the draeons," he inserted

"Oh my, how impressive," Miss Eleanor murmured

Nick did not fail to miss the uneasy look she darted to her silent niece Meredith’s hands worried the book she clutched, blinking wide eyes on Mac

"How are you feeling, Lady Brookshire?" Nick inquired

Her eyes jerked back to hi conviction As if on cue, Mac propped his little black bag on his lap Meredith’s gaze flew to the bag like a reider

"Happy to hear," Nick rab her by the shoulders and shake her until the truth tumbled out Unsure how to proceed, he asked, "And the Finney faaze fro--and looked at Nick with a good deal of suspicion "Doing as well as expected It shall take ti I doubt they will ever fully recover"

"One never does," he agreed, holding her gaze

The sight of those brilliant green eyes--so deceptively innocent--fueled his anger "Such a tragedy I’ht, and I cannot tell you how it has worried me over you" He pressed a hand to his heart in mock concern

"Me?" Her hand fluttered to her throat and her blinking worsened, as if she were trying to rid some particle fro stare frohtly"

"Indeed," Miss Eleanor agreed, then cla stare her niece cast her way

Meredith swung her gaze back to him "Fret not on my account, my lord I hope you did not come all this way to express your concern for my health I could have written a letter to assure you of h she softened her set-doith a smile, it was clear she did not want his interference He had known as much from the start Only now he knehy

Nick fixed a courteous s that would set rowing satisfaction, he watched her eyes drift again to Mac Her dread crackled in the air, a perceptible, tangible thing Nick could reach out and touch Clearly, she understood his nified

Exhilaration and triuame, snared her in her oeb of lies Deceitful chit Did she really think she could carry off such a sche her nails

He grinned, enjoying her discomfiture "I have acquired the service of a physician for you" He gestured to Mac "He has agreed to examine you"

"What?" Her voice rose several octaves She ceased studying her nails and gripped the ar innocence "Swell here will --"

"That is not necessary"

"You have seen a physician, then?"

She hesitated, and he could see the wheels turning in that devious brain of hers

"No," she said slowly, "but Maree is quite skilled in these matters Her care is eable" Miss Eleanor finally recovered from the shock of his announceood doctor see you He cohly qualified" Nick’s eyes narrowed, and he added a hint more forcefully, "I know that your foreood mothers You would not want to diseons under your nose"

Silence hung thick in the air as their eyes clashed in an unspoken battle of wills Was she ready to admit her deceit and be done with it? He had effectively backed her into a corner How could she possibly continue to refuse his offer and not appear insensible in her stubbornness? One thing was for certain: he wasn’t going anywhere If she did not confess, he would stay until he had the truth

"Have no fear, , and her eyes widened in disentle hand" Then Mac had the audacity to wink

Meredith gasped Miss Eleanor rasp Meredith’s hand for support, her head lolling against the back of her chair as if her neck could no longer support the weight of her considerable turban

Nick didn’t knohether to laugh or strangle Mac Did his friend think he was coaxing a tavern wench into bed with hied to her feet and pointed a shaking finger at Mac "I a her finger next at Nick

"And you, sir, have overstepped yourself To have the gall to show up here with a physician to exah you question whether I am--" Her voice died abruptly, the only evidence of her inflaed silence fell over the room

Nick rose to his feet and took the two steps that separated theaze, he finished for her, "As if I question whether you’re pregnant?"