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'At least Patrick showed a bit of sympathy,' she said wearily, 'which is more
than I ever get from you. And when I saw you, outside the cottage, I thought
Aunt Bridie was worse...'
'But your anxiety didn't prevent you indulging in a final amorous embrace in
front of me, did it?'
'It wasn't ... I wasn't' she began, but indignation could carry her through no
further and her voice faltered. 'Is she all right? Oh, Fergus, don't, please
don't quarrel with me right now. I... I don't think I can bear any more.'
Unexpectedly, during her speech, his manner had altered.
'She's no worse, you poor little scrap. Why, there's nothing of you really, is
there? I forget that when you're in one of your towering rages. But you're not
always such a firebrand after all, it seems. I suppose it was my fault that you
were driven to Byrne's arms for comfort! Come here!' She nodded
wordlessly and went unprotestingly into his arms as they closed about her,
lifted her up and carried her the rest of the way to the landing and on, into
her room. She was so tired, drained of all emotion, she thought.
He stood by the bed, still holding her, looking down into her eyes which
slowly widened and deepened under his gaze. As she began to tremble,
gently he set her down.
None of their previous encounters had gone beyond a kiss, a tentative
caress, but the look in his eyes, the pulse beating in his temple, were
indicative of an involuntary arousal, and she felt an impotent weakness
engulf her. His name broke from her lips. The single sound embodied all her
desires, her doubts, the confusion between the two.
He bent over her, and her body throbbed to his nearness, a sweet, painful
longing. He put out a tentative, exploratory hand, stroking her hair as if to
gentle her into acquiescence, let the silky strands run lingeringly through his
fingers.
'Noelle?' He said her name on a rising, wondering inflection and for a few
seconds something intangible, indefinable, passed between them.
But then, just as it seemed he would lean closer, the sound of hurrying feet,
their names being called, roused them from their bemusement with one
another.
'Mr Fergus! Miss Noelle!' It was Siobhan, her voice rising hysterically.
The thought occurred to them simultaneously, 'Aunt Bridie!' and Noelle,
released from mesmerism, moved swiftly, so that they reached the door
together.
'What is it?' It was Fergus who found voice to rap out the question that
plagued them both, while Noelle stood, a hand apprehensively at her throat.
"Tis herself, Mr Fergus! Saints be praised! Didn't she just move her hand?'
Again they moved as one, to Bridie O'Rourke's bedside, not daring to
believe until they had seen for themselves. There was dawning hope now in
the faded eyes that met theirs, and Bridie's hand, which had caused
Siobhan's excitement, curled around Noelle's fingers.
'Dear Aunt Bridie!' she exclaimed. 'You'll soon be well now, won't she,
Fergus?'
His arm rested about her shoulders as he gave the affirmative, and it seemed
to Noelle that her great- aunt's mouth curved slightly at the sight of the two
of them so close together. And as Fergus gently urged Noelle away, once
more it seemed right that his arm should remain about her.
He walked her back to her room. On its threshold he looked down at her, and
it seemed to Noelle that there was an enquiry in the brown eyes, a stillness
between them as of a storm of feeling about to break. But perhaps it was just
her own awareness of him?
'Noelle?'
'Fergus!'
They spoke together and he motioned her to proceed.
'Ladies first!'
'I just wanted to ask, to know,' she said wistfully, 'if you still feel the same
way about me as ... as when we first met, I mean?'
He was a long time answering her question, his eyes consideringly upon her
face. Then, his own an inscrutable mask, he said, 'Exactly the same. I
generally find first impressions stand me in good stead. But I like to test
them out, nevertheless.'
'Oh!' It was said in a very small, doubtful voice. The emotional upheavals of
the last hour or two had left Noelle very vulnerable, and she had to swallow,
hard, as she wondered just what Fergus was finding so amusing.
'Goodnight, Noelle.' He said it gently. 'It's been a long day.' Then, as she
made no move, her eyes still questioningly on his face, he muttered
something she couldn't hear and caught her to him, his mouth kissing hers
gently, teasingly, until a wild compulsion made her respond.
As the touch of his lips seemed to fuse every nerve in her body, her hands
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