Fairbourne 的作品

Her head snapped to one side before turning back to him, her glare as sharp as ever.Reid sat on the bed with the bowl of hot soup cradled carefully in both hands. He took another obedient sip, then another, his eyes flickering up to the furious woman standing over him every few seconds.Her arms remained crossed tightly over her chest.She didn't say a word.The silence was somehow more terrifying than the yelling.When he finally emptied the bowl, he lowered it carefully onto his lap.Jacintha stretched out her hand.“I hope you finished every drop.”“Yes, ma'am.”She took the empty bowl from him without another word.“Good.”“Now get some rest. And leave my house first thing tomorrow morning.”Reid let out a quiet breath.“Yes, ma'am.”He eased himself farther onto the bed, pulling the blankets over his shoulders before lying on his side, facing her.The moment his head touched the pillow, another violent shiver ran through him.His teeth clicked together.His breathing came out sl

She rushed forward and caught him.Her arms went around his back. His skin was ice. So cold it shocked her, even though she had known, she had known—he would be cold. But she had stupidly hoped he would be fine. The way he shivered, it almost ran that ran through her body. Heck, he was so cold.Some of the maids stepped forward. Hands reached out, ready to help, ready“No.”The word came out sharper than she intended. The maids froze.“Someone prepare hot soup,” Jacintha said, still holding Reid protectively. “Bring it upstairs. To his room.”She shifted his weight against her. He was heavy—heavier than she remembered. But she didn't let go. She wouldn't.“Which room, Ma'am?” someone asked.“The blue room. The one at the end of the hall.” She paused. “And turn on the heater before we get there.”Then she began to walk.The stairs were the hardest part.Reid couldn't lift his feet properly. He stumbled on the first step, then the third, then the fifth. Each time, Jacintha caught him.

Jacintha didn't remember going out of her room.One moment she was standing in the middle of her room, trembling, one hand pressed over her mouth. The next, she was through the door and flying down the hallway, her robe flowing behind her.The stairs appeared beneath her feet before she registered taking them. She moved fast, too fast for to check how many steps she took at a time. Her hand slid along the banister, cold wood against her palm. Even the banister knew how cold it was outside. She took the last four steps in a single breathless rush.The maids were still gathered at the living room windows. They were speaking in hushed, worried whispers. Their backs were turned, their foreheads nearly pressed to the glass. They were so engrossed, by watching the man outside kneeling in the storm that not a single head turned when their mistress flew down the stairs behind them.Jacintha didn't notice them either. Her eyes were fixed on the kitchen door. She turned left, feet almost float

Reid's body had stopped feeling the cold around the ninety-minute mark. That was when the shivering stopped and something worse took its place—a numbness that spread from his fingers up his arms, from his knees up his thighs. His skin was pale and wrinkled, pruned by the endless water. His hair clung to his forehead. His eyes burned. But his mind was clear. Clearer than it had been in years. He thought about the first time he saw Jacintha. Not the wedding—he barely remembered the wedding. The first time. A garden party. She had been laughing at something someone said, head thrown back, sunlight catching the edges of her hair. He had thought, She'll do. Not She's beautiful. Not I want to know her. She'll do. He thought about the look on her face when she realized he didn't love her. Not all at once—it hadn't been a single moment. It had been a thousand small moments. A thousand small deaths. The way her smiles became smaller. The way she stopped reaching for his hand. The wa

The rain had stopped being rain two hours ago. Now it was a solid wall of water, falling with the kind of violence that threatened to break down every house. Jacintha lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She had counted every crack in the plaster. Every shadow cast by the single lamp she left on. She repeated every lie she told herself in the past two hours. I don't care where he goes.Her own words echoed back at her, mocking.She turned onto her side. Then her stomach. Then her back again. The sheets twisted around her legs, making her further uncomfortable.Sleep in the gutters for all I care.She pressed her palm against her forehead. Her skin was warm. Too warm. Despite the heavy rain, despite the cold, she was sweating. Not sweating from the adjusted room temperature but from worry. Thunder rolled across the sky, low and growling. The window rattled in its frame.She turned again.The thousandth time. Maybe the thousandth and first.Her window faced the compound.She knew

“You want to know what I would do?” He stepped closer, eyes narrowing. Then he sighed, tilting his head ever so slightly. “Gosh, Jacintha. You will be the death of me.”Jacintha squinted her nose and eyed him from head to toe, “Get out.” She seethed. The wind whistled outside, cold wind blew across the room. He glanced at the window.“Are Vida's windows closed? She might be feeling cold.”“Don't change the topic.” She scoffed as she stepped forward. Her fingers closed around his wrist before he could step back.Firm. Not gentle.Reid looked down at her hand, then up at her face.“Are you cold? Do you want a hug?” He asked jokily. She didn’t answer. Her eyes locked with his as she pulled him closer. “You.” Her eyebrows went up.“Just follow me, okay?” An obvious fake smile spread across her face.He stumbled a half-step forward, more out of surprise than resistance, catching himself with an exhale that almost became a laugh. “Jacintha—”She turned, dragging him with her out of the