He didn’t want her to nurse him, besides — he’d performed good adequate in the past with out one of these factor. by no means brain that it felt solid having her fuss over him. He wasn’t a lad anymore to wish petting and such; he may well look after himself. That was once the unconvincing litany he recited as he fell off to sleep. at the evening after Venetia’s kidnapping, Maggie dined with Colonel Seton within the universal room of the Edinburgh hotel, wishing she didn’t suppose so conspicuous. without doubt humans have been pondering the place her cost was once. nobody could think for lengthy the story they’d unfold approximately her niece being in poor health, now not after how good Venetia had appeared simply nights in the past. Quentin may by no means forgive her for this. She might by no means forgive herself. simply the concept of what Venetia could be enduring… She moaned aloud. “It might be alright, I swear. ” The colonel gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, then held it a second longer. even though she knew it used to be mistaken of her to inspire such habit, she enable him. She used to be so fearful, and he was once so figuring out, the bad, expensive guy. although it was once scandalous that they need to take a seat so, with their gloves off and their naked palms joined so shockingly. “So your males have despatched you no record? ” she requested, making an attempt to not become aware of that his powerful grip made her tremble like a schoolgirl. “Not but. ” He threaded his palms with hers, his gaze a pointy, glimmering blue sooner than he dropped it to their palms. “You understand how wild the Highlands are. you could shuttle miles with no seeing a village. And it’s simply been an afternoon —” “A day and a half,” she corrected him. He smiled indulgently. “Aye, an afternoon and a part. ” “But the boys left that very evening? ” His smile pale. “I instructed you they did. ” “I might have felt higher if i'll have spoken to them first. ” “And how could that experience saved your niece’s identification a mystery? ” She’d forgotten approximately that stipulation. Nonetheless…“At least inform me whom you employed. Then whilst my brother-in-law arrives right here, I’ll manage to inform him. ” The surprising flummoxed glance on Colonel Seton’s face gave her pause. till he started to cough and wheeze, and his cheeks grew to become a ruddy hue. “Colonel Seton? ” she requested. “Colonel? Are you very well? ” “Water,” he whispered. “Need…water…” She poured water from a glass, then held it to his lips. yet he used to be coughing so not easy, he couldn’t deal with various sips. Alarmed, she known as for a servant. “My good friend seems having an assault of a few style. may perhaps you will have a personal parlor the place he may well leisure for a second? ” “Yes, my girl, this way,” the servant acknowledged. helping the colonel together with her arm approximately his waist, Maggie helped him stumble into the personal room. fear seized her center as she sat beside him on a sofa and stroked his again whereas he coughed. unusual how quick she’d come to take care of the fellow. She wanted she may possibly say it used to be in basic terms simply because he was once supporting her with the abduction, yet she knew down deep that was once a lie. After a number of moments, his coughing subsided. “Better? ” she requested. “Much better,” he wheezed. Grabbing her hand, he cradled it opposed to his chest.