Indigo Sky Read Free Page A

not thinking about it. It was a nightmare, sheer folly.
    She walked to the tall windows and stared across the wilderness. She pressed her hands to her cheeks. But oh, the way he looked at me. Shame sat in her stomach like a rock in a riverbed. Though Hank was a philanderer, she knew she would never be unfaithful to him. She’d made vows, promised to be faithful. Marriage vows were solemn to her, though not to Hank. Yet the stranger was a temptation she longed to give in to. “I’m a hussy!” Leila collapsed onto the settee. Her chest constricted. Sobs rose and stuck in her throat. She yanked at the bodice of her suffocating dress.
    “Leila?”
    She looked up at the sound of her maid’s voice and swallowed the sobs. “I’m here, Biddy.”
    Biddy opened the door. “Are ya all right?” Her round face creased with concern. “Lord, child, ye’re soaked. What happened?”
    Leila sucked in deep breaths, and tears flowed down her cheeks. Her shoulders slumped like her Raggedy Ann doll with the black button eyes and a permanent smile.
    Biddy’s arthritic fingers wiped at the tears. “What happened, child?”
    “Oh, Biddy.” Leila fell into the old woman’s arms, finding comfort against her ample bosom. “It was horrible.” Her words tumbled out between sobs. “Remember the brook I used to play in? I was crossing on the stepping-stones, and I fell in. I nearly drowned.” She took a breath. “I hit my head hard.” She touched the back of her head.
    “Let me see.” Biddy tucked a loose strand of gray hair into her neat bun and examined Leila’s head. “Ye have a bad cut. I’ll wash it with vinegar I have in my bag.” She hurried out and returned with a bottle and gently cleaned the wound. “There’s a nasty bump on yer head, but you’ll heal well enough.” Setting the bottle and cloth down, she put her hands on her broad hips, frowning at her charge. “How did ye escape drowning?”
    “I was washed downstream onto rocks and managed to get to the bank.” Heat flooded her cheeks, and she avoided Biddy’s eagle eyes. Heaven knows what Biddy would say if she knew about my impure thoughts.
    Biddy shook her head. “When will ye grow up, girl? Ye’re a married woman now. Come on.” Biddy motioned for her to stand. “Let’s get ye out of these wet clothes.” Leila stood, hands at her side as she’d done since she was a child.
    Biddy reached to unbutton her dress but stopped. “Why are yer buttons done up wrong?”
    Leila blushed. “I-I think they came undone when I floundered in the water, and I was shaking so from cold I couldn’t do them up properly.” She hated omitting details with Biddy. She’d been Leila’s nanny and stayed on as her maid. Leila adored the Irish woman but wasn’t in the mood for one of her lectures, however deserved.
    Biddy took Leila’s face between her hands. “Child, ye can be so foolhardy.”
    Leila expelled a breath. “I know the lecture. I shouldn’t have been down by the brook. Please, Biddy, I just want to forget the entire day. I need a hot bath and sleep. I’m not going down to dinner later.”
    “Very well, colleen.” Biddy sighed and patted Leila’s cheek.
    Leila stared at the floor. She hoped by morning she’d have forgotten ever meeting the stranger with the silver eyes.
    Biddy peeled off the wet dress and undergarments and took them to the bathing chamber. “I hope yer dress isn’t ruined.”
    Leila followed her. “Please don’t tell mother.”
    The old woman tightened her lips and sighed. “Fine, I’ll not tell yer mother, but ye’ll have to forget about sleepin’ and join everyone for dinner.”
    “A small price to pay.” Leila wrapped her arms around Biddy and planted a kiss on her rosy cheek.
    Biddy shook her head and smiled, wagging her finger. “But ye need to promise that ye’ll not go into the woods alone again.”
    Leila nodded vigorously, anything to prevent her mother from finding out. The very thought of having to listen to