Page 19 of The Temptation of Roan Island

Anna presses her ear to Pippa’s chest, listens, then points at me. “Elevate her legs. Use the pillows.”

I follow her directions, pushing pillows under Pippa’s legs just as Kay returns with a glass of water.

Anna unbuttons the dress at Pippa’s throat, down to her white chemise. “I don’t think she’s wearing a corset.” She runs her hands over Pippa’s ribs, then brings her fingers to her wrist to take her pulse.

“Her heart is beating,” I say.

“How quickly?”

“Too quickly.” I count each beat for a minute and give Anna the number.

“Let’s give her another minute.” She frowns and steps away, allowing me to return to Pippa’s side.

I can feel Anna’s eyes on my back, probing, wondering, but I ignore her.

When Pippa’s eyelashes flutter open, I breathe a sigh of relief. Her gaze focuses on me, and it feels as if the rest of the room and everyone in it falls away.

“Thank the goddess.” I take her hand.

“W-what h-happened?” Kay’s voice trembles as she asks Pippa the question.

Pippa tries to sit, but her arms shake, so I help reposition her, grabbing more pillows to prop her up.

“It’s nothing,” she answers in a weak voice. “My legs have been hurting today, and I ignored the signs. I wanted….” Her eyes catch mine.

In a blur of movement, Noah and Ruby return. Noah with a stethoscope, and Ruby with his medical bag. My brother immediately asks Pippa questions, but she hesitates to answer, looking at all of us huddled around the room.

“Out,” I say, picking up on her discomfort and ushering Anna and Kay to the door. I try to get Ruby to leave as well, but she refuses, stating that Noah might need help. Since Pippa doesn’t argue with her, I don’t push the issue.

As soon as we’re in the hall, Kay falls apart. She turns into my chest, crying and clinging to my suit vest. I’m not particularly good at comforting people, but I awkwardly pat her back in an attempt.

Anna leans against the wall on the other side of the hall, pale as a ghost. She’s never looked more striking. Stripped of her facade, I see her differently. Our eyes catch, and there’s steel there, the same steel I sometimes see in Pippa.

“How did you know what to do?” The question is a quiet harmony to Kay’s soft sobs.

“I was a nurse,” Anna responds.

“Before you became ill?”

She nods but doesn’t look at me.

Kay steps away, sniffling. “Do you think she’s going to—” Kay’s hand flies to her mouth, choking off the rest of her sentence.

“She’ll be fine,” I say, as much to convince myself as them.

“What if she’s not?” Anna’s hands fist her skirt like she’s trying to hide that they’re shaking.

“She’ll be fine,” I repeat more firmly. “You all will be.”

The lie twists in my gut like a swarm of locusts.

The door slowly cracks open, and Noah steps out, greeting our held breaths with a tired nod. “She’s clear-headed and talking. She just needs to rest.”

“She shouldn’t attend the new moon party,” Anna says, firm and certain.

“I agree,” Noah replies with a nod. “If the detective wishes to speak to her, he can come up here.”

“I’ll stay with her.” I don’t like the idea of Pippa being alone.