The man must think him an idiot. It was not unusual for couples to get separate bedrooms, but having to bribe the staff to find out his supposed wife’s plans, and forgetting which room she occupied on top of that, must be the height of stupidity. But the server took it all in stride. No doubt they had seen all sorts of unusual behavior in their line of work.
“Not a problem, sir. I’ll ask at the reception. Her name?”
“Mrs. Kincaid,” he said automatically. At least, he hoped she had used his last name. They had been posing as a married couple.
The server bowed and left. Only to return a few minutes later with the news that Mrs. Kincaid had not emerged from her room yet and had requested a tray to be brought up. Dariux gritted his teeth. So that was her game? She was going to seclude herself in the room and avoid him for the rest of the week?
“Thank you,” he told the server, standing from the table. No point in loitering here like a fool if she didn’t plan to come down for breakfast.
“Oh, Mr. Kincaid, one more thing,” the server called before he exited the room.
“Yes?”
“Mrs. Kincaid is in room 346. Thought you might want to know, in case you planned to visit.”
He nodded and left without another word.
By lunchtime, when she still had not emerged, he had had enough. She was avoiding him. It was childish and petty, this game of hers, and he would not stand for it.
He marched straight to her room and knocked. He thought he heard some sniffling from inside. Was she crying? God, he hoped not. He knocked again.
“Kalli, it’s me. Just checking on you. Open the door, please.” He was prepared to knock down the door if she didn’t open soon but hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
After some more rustling and sniffling, the lock rattled. At last, the door opened. But the sight that met his eyes when she opened the door was not what he had expected.
“What the hell happened to you?”
CHAPTER 26
Oh, thank God he hadcome. Even with all his overbearing, abrasive personality, she needed him now. Not bothering to reply to his rude remark, she opened the door wider and turned to allow him entrance. The room twirled around her, and the floor seemed to tilt. She grabbed for something to hold on to, swaying on her feet. There was only empty space. She was going to fall...
Strong arms grabbed her, holding her securely against his chest. The door closed with a bang as he walked the few steps to the bed and deposited her in it. She closed her eyes as the ceiling continued spinning. She had never felt so wretched in her entire life.
“I’m going to be sick,” she croaked through her swollen and painful throat.
“You are already sick. What happened to you? You were fine yesterday.” His voice was gruff with concern as he positioned the chamber pot next to the bed and held her face down over the edge, supporting her head. “Go.”
