Betrayal (Infidelity Book 1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,54
a quick kiss he asked, “How are you this morning?”
I tilted my head against his chest. “Good.”
Lifting my chin, he asked, “Good? Is that all?”
“No, I’m better than good.”
WHEN THE LIGHT of day finally leaked around the edge of the heavy draperies and the sound of staff passed my locked door, I let myself drift off to sleep. I couldn’t do it while the darkness gave cover. I couldn’t do it as I stared at the glass doorknob and willed it not to turn. I wouldn’t do it knowing that the old silver key that was supposed to keep my door closed could be pushed out with the right tool.
It was almost noon by the time I woke to the knock.
“Who is it?” I asked through the wood after I groggily made my way across the room.
“Me, child. Are you going to sleep the day away?”
I opened the door to Jane’s smiling face. “Maybe,” I replied with as much cockiness as I could muster.
She walked past me and looked around my room. Shaking her head, she opened my drapes.
The bed was disheveled from my sleepless night, but other than that, everything seemed ordinary. “Why are you shaking your head?”
“I was just wondering if you was alone.”
I forced my squinted eyes to open in the now too-bright room. “What? Of course, I’m alone.”
“Well,” Jane said, in a tone that meant she was letting me in on some big secret. “Word around the kitchen is that Mr. Spencer be here until late. Nobody sure when he left.”
My hands went to my hips. “Mr. Spencer and I walked to the lake after the party. Then he left. End of story.”
“Uh-huh.”
“No, uh-huh, Jane. Last night was the first time I’ve spoken to him in four years.”
She tilted her head. “Then why I hear you two stayed close.”
“Where? Who told you that?”
“You know how it is? Bethany, in the kitchen, she’s friends with one of the Ashmores’ girls. She said she heard Miss Millie talking to Mr. Peterson ‘bout you. Said she wasn’t surprised. She knew you two were just keeping it on the down low.”
Oh my God!
“Down low? Are you serious?”
It made sense. That was how stories and rumors got going in Savannah. It was the system long before Facebook or Twitter and now with the help of cell phones, it was probably faster. The house staff didn’t repeat what they didn’t see or hear, but give them a rumor and it not only made its way around Montague Manor, but to every other house in town with help.
I reached for my phone on the nightstand. I needed to talk to Bryce again. If this weren’t corralled, the people of Savannah would have us engaged before I left town tomorrow. The icons flashed. I’d missed two calls from Chelsea. We’d been texting halfway through the night. It wasn’t so bad for her—she was three hours behind. For me it was after three when we stopped chatting. I’d played a few mean games of whatever the latest game app was for a little while before I’d gotten lost in the book I’d recently downloaded.
Once law school started I anticipated my time for fun reading would be severely diminished.
I scrolled down my contacts, and while I let the screen linger on one name, I forced myself to scroll back up to the B’s. “I don’t even have his number.” Exasperated, I looked at Jane. “You can see how close we are.”
Her face scrunched together. “So you two’s not…”
“No. We’re not.”
“That’s my girl. Don’t let no man stop you from your dreams. You’re going to be a famous judge!”
I love her so much.
“I don’t know about judge or famous,” I responded, “but lawyer is the plan.”
“You get cleaned up and dressed, and I’ll bring your lunch.” She shook her head with attitude. “You done missed breakfast.”
“Thanks, Jane. You don’t need to do that. What time is lunch? I can eat with Mother.”
A shadow passed over Jane’s gaze, the same one that spent the night lurking the hallways and doorways, and then just as quickly it was gone. “Your momma’s not feeling well today. She’s resting. You know how those headaches of hers can be. And I don’t mind bringing you some food. I’m so happy you’re here.”
My appetite disappeared again. If I stayed here too long, I’d waste away. “All right. But after I eat, I’ll go see her.”
“Let me see if she’s awake.”
Awake? That wasn’t what Jane needed to check and we both knew it. We