Fever Dreams

Chapter One London April 1816 "What I cannot understand, Eve," Cecil said, spearing a kippered herring on his breakfast plate, "is why you don't wish to marry again. Since we arrived here for the start of the Season, I must have counted at least a dozen gentlemen who are eager to court you." Caught off guard by her brother's unexpected choice of topics, Eve drew a sudden breath and regrettably wound up choking on her morning coffee. Blindly setting down her cup, she groped for her napkin and pressed it to her lips to stem her fit of coughing. But if she hoped to avoid answering, she was doomed to disappointment, for Cecil waited with stubborn patience for her to be able to speak again, even to the point of ignoring his forked kipper. "One marriage was enough, thank you," she finally rasped. "Seriously," Cecil prodded with a frown, "why don't you want to remarry?" "If you were a woman, you might understand why a widow would cherish her independence," Eve replied vaguely. "But I'm not a womanor a widowso it doesn't make any sense to me unless you explain." Holding back a smile at his earnestness, Eve busied herself with taking a bite of soft-boiled egg. Cecil regularly puzzled over the "inexplicable workings of the female mind." But because it would be impossible to make her younger brother understand how she felt when he had no concept of what some married women endured, she wouldn't even begin to attempt to explain. Thankfully, though, Eve reminded herself with joyful relief, after six interminable years of marriage and one of widowhood, she finally had a glimpse of freedom and independence. And she would allow nothing and no one to spoil it. She would never, ever marry again. "It does seem a contradiction," Claire said in her soft, melodic voice, "since you are insisting that I marry." Eve cast her sister a sympathetic glance. "Because marriage is the only viable option for a young lady of quality. But I promise you, dearest, no one will force you to accept any man who is not your ideal match. We will find you a husband who can make you happy. You have my most solemn word on that." Claire gave a rueful sigh. "Doubtless you will, since you are such a splendid matchmaker. But it does seem a trifle ironic that you delight in arranging suitable matches for everyone but yourself." "I am perfectly content to remain a widow," Eve insisted, managing a careless smile. At her declaration, she spied the twins exchanging a long, meaningful glance. "Why this sudden interest in my remarriage?" she asked, her smile fading to a frown. "Oh, no reason," Claire replied, her tone perfectly innocent. Eve's gaze narrowed as she looked from one twin to the other. Her siblings were up to something, although what she couldn't guess. Before she could probe further, however, she heard the sound of carriage wheels outside the breakfast-room windows. Fortunately her brother's attention was similarly diverted, and he turned his head to glance out. "Look, there is Sir Alex at last!" Cecil exclaimed, tossing down his fork. Jumping up from the table with no thought whatever to gentlemanly behavior, Cecil crossed to the window for a better view. "I told you he intended to take residence today." With effort, Eve controlled the urge to leap from her chair and rush to the window herself. Her heart had suddenly quickened, but she refused toJordan, Nicole is the author of 'Fever Dreams', published 2006 under ISBN 9780345467874 and ISBN 0345467876.