[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.He took a step closer to her.“Someone was outside last night.”Her gaze darted to the window, and she put her hand to her throat.“Someone was watching us?”“Maybe.I was gone all evening.” His eyes narrowed.“Did you have a visitor?”She stared back at him, refusing to show any sign of guilt.“Of course not.I would have told you.” She started to turn, but he caught at her arm and swung her around.“Let go of me.You’re hurting my arm.” She tore her arm from his grasp and rubbed it.“Your jealousy is ridiculous, Joshua.”“Oh, so now I’m ridiculous?” He raised his hand as if to strike her.She tipped her chin up and stared him down.“You would dare lift your hand to me, your pregnant wife? Do not think I will cower inside and hide any bruises.The day you strike me is the day I leave.My father will welcome me back at a moment’s notice.”He lowered his hand.“You have no money to leave.”She struggled to keep her tone level.“He would send me money as soon as I asked.I’m not your slave, Joshua.”He sank to the edge of the bed.“It maddens me to think of you with another man.”Pity stirred and she banished it.It did no good to sympathize with him.Another rage would strike him again.“Look at me.” When he lifted red eyes her direction, she touched her belly again.“What man would look at me like this? I lumber like a beached whale, and I’m as fat as a toad.Your imagination takes you on ridiculous flights of fancy, Joshua.I am your wife.I would never betray you.Never.”They’d had this conversation before, and it never went anywhere, but she always hoped he would listen.She’d be able to breathe again out of his constant scrutiny.And she would have her baby to occupy her time.“This isn’t the first time you’ve seen tracks around the house.I must say, I’m rather worried.Who could be peering in our windows and checking out our property?”At her question, his contrition vanished and he focused on the problem.“A thief perhaps?”“Your money is safely stowed at the bank.We have nothing of real value here.Food, furniture.Nothing worth going to prison for.”He rose from the side of the bed.“I don’t wish to make it seem an accusation, Georgina, but I found something in the yard.”He walked to his bureau and opened the bottom drawer.Under his socks he pulled out a krama.He held the scarf out to her.“Can you explain this?”She picked it up in her hands, and the scent of curry permeating the fabric wafted to her nose.“It’s Khmer.”“I know.Has Chann been in touch with you?”She held his gaze.“He has not.I haven’t heard from him since he was here four months ago.”Then who had left this outside if not Chann? Her thoughts flew to the leather pouch she’d hidden.Her friend had been panicked that it remain safe.Could someone be after that? Or was Chann back to reclaim his property?“So you have kept track of the time since you saw him last.”She sighed.“Everything relates to my baby.I was about four months along.That is all, Joshua.” She threw down the cloth and moved toward the door.“I’m quite tired of trying to reassure you.Believe what you like.”As she opened the bedroom door, a trickle of water between her legs became a sudden torrent.She stood staring at the puddle on the floor until she realized what it meant.“The baby,” she whispered.“The baby is coming.Fetch the midwife.”NINETEENElin shut the diary and smiled at her mother, who had curled up on the bed with her again.She’d been listening with rapt attention to Georgina’s tale.“I saw that pouch thing,” her mother said.“It was folded and wrapped with leather ties.”Elin’s smile faded.“That’s not possible, Mom.I’m sure it’s long gone.She hid it over a hundred years ago.”“I saw it.It’s about this size.” She measured about four inches by nine out with her hands.“I can’t remember where I found it though.Or what I did with it.I think it’s in the attic.”Hallucinations were common, and maybe listening to the graphic story in the diary had made it seem real to Mom.Elin’s eyes burned, and she wished she could bring her mother back from the fog.Her mother’s blue pajamas flapped when she leaped from the bed.“Let’s go look upstairs.Maybe I’ll remember where I hid it.”No amount of persuasion dissuaded her mother when she wore that expression of obstinacy.“All right.” Elin dug the keys out of her bedside drawer.Marc nearly mowed her down when she exited her room.His injured arm was in a sling, and his right hand shot out to steady her.The warm touch of his hand on her arm sent shivers up her back.She didn’t move away.“Sorry.I wasn’t watching where I was going.”Her mother barely glanced at him and continued on down the hall to the stairway door.“Hurry up, Elin [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]