Perfect in My Sight by Tanya Anne Crosby Page A

chest wrench.
    Startled by the sounds that came from the room, he listened for a moment, confused,
     his hand poised to knock.
    This was not his wife, he reminded himself. She was a stranger to him still. A beautiful
     stranger, but a stranger nonetheless.
    She would not appreciate his interruption, he told himself... and what he had to speak
     to her about could certainly wait until the morning.
    He shrugged free of the stupor that held him. Straightening, he pushed away from the
     door, then turned and walked away.
    His chance to knock upon this door... to go to his wife and heal her sorrow, was long
     past.
    The time to reassure was gone.
    She wasn’t here anymore, and he had long since ceased to mourn her.
    God only knew... it wasn’t so simple a task to forgive himself. He may have dealt
     with his grief, but he hadn’t the slightest notion how to let go of his guilt.
    It stayed with him, snarling at his soul like a rabid beast.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 8
     
     
    “These servants are all a bunch of gossips,” Mel swore, bursting into Sarah’s room,
     brimming with energy and excitement. “Thank God!”
    Startled by the unexpected intrusion, Sarah sat up in the bed. “Good Lord, Mellie!
     You nearly scared the life out of me!”
    “Poppycock!” Mel said. “Guess what I discovered,” she persisted, sitting on the bed
     at Sarah’s feet.
    Somehow Mel’s enthusiasm both buoyed and frightened her at once. She didn’t wish her
     dear friend to forget the risks they were taking. This was hardly a game, and the
     stakes were too high to be taken lightly.
    “That you don’t wish to do this and you want to go home?” Sarah said warily.
    Mel waved a hand at her, dismissing her sarcasm.
    Sarah frowned. “You are beginning to enjoy this far too much, I think.”
    Mel laughed softly. “Perhaps I am. It is rather exciting to play at being a Pinkerton.”
    “Just remember that this is not play,” Sarah advised her. “It struck me again last night how dangerous a venture
     this is. It is not easy at all to play a blind woman, Mel. I find myself reacting
     instinctively and have to catch myself at every turn.”
    “But you are doing so well,” Mel assured her. “Sarah, I have spent time among the
     blind all my life, and you are convincing enough even for me. You are doing very well,
     and if you were not, I would put an end to this at once.”
    “You truly feel so?” Sarah lifted her thumb to her lips, and gnawed it absently.
    Mel gave her an admonishing glance. “When have you ever known me to mince words? Of
     course I mean it, or I’d not say it. I’d be nagging you instead—no, I would be dragging
     you out by your hair like some Neanderthal man.”
    Sarah had to chuckle at the images that came to mind. “You would, at that, I think.”
    “Of course I would.” Mel cocked her head. “Now... do you wish to know what I discovered,
     or not?”
    “Yes!” Sarah exclaimed. “Tell me already!”
    “Very well, then,” Mel said, “but I’ll not tell you while you are lying in that bed.
     I cannot believe you are sleeping so late,” she scolded, and then demanded, “Get up!”
    Sarah flushed guiltily. “I spent quite a bad night in this room,” she confessed.
    Mel gave her a quizzical glance. “Wish to talk about it?”
    “No,” Sarah answered at once, and then explained, “it is just this room.”
    “This room?”
    “Yes,” Sarah answered. “This is where it happened.” She gave Mel a meaningful nod
     at the floor. “There.”
    “Oh, dear...” Mel’s expression softened at once. “I’m so sorry, Sarah. I know you
     loved her dearly. But together,” she assured, “we are going to make everything right.
     You believe that, don’t you?”
    Sarah shrugged. “I received a visit from Ruth last night. She had little enough to
     say to me, but none of it was benevolent, I assure you.”
    Mel nodded. “She’s a regular battle-ax, they say.”
    Sarah lifted her brows.