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And again.
That was how Rafe found her.
He had finally gone for a run—in part to avoidher, for such was his cabin fever that he was getting a little too interested in a certain maid.
And that wouldneverdo.
However, he had not been for a run since his accident, and his endurance was not quite what it had been. He would soon get it back, he told himself, and the next run would be longer.
He made his way up the stone stairs to the private beach entrance of the balcony.
And then he saw her shouting into a pillow.
Rafe did not get involved with the dramas of maids.
Ever.
But when she stopped shouting into the pillow and sobbed into it instead, something twisted inside him even though generally tears did not move him.
She was not crying for an audience; he was aware that he was witnessing something private that she would rather no one saw.
Indeed, Antonietta was mortified when she removed the pillow and saw Rafe.
He was breathing heavily from running, and he looked displeased.
‘I apologise,’ Antonietta said immediately, for an esteemed guest did not need anything other than quiet efficiency. She wiped her cheeks with her hands and started to peel off the pillowcase as her words tumbled out. ‘I thought you were out.’
‘It’s fine.’ Rafe shrugged.
‘I ran into my parents...’ She attempted to explain. ‘They crossed the street to avoid me.’
‘I see.’ Rafe tried to remain unmoved. No, he didnotget involved with the dramas of maids.
‘I can send someone else up...’ Antonietta hiccoughed, frantically trying to regain control. Except her tears would not stop.
‘There’s no need for that,’ Rafe said. ‘Carry on.’
‘But, as you can see, I can’t stop crying...’
‘I said,’ Rafe snapped, ‘carry on.’
And though she did carry on with her work, she found that the tears carried on too, and the anger did not abate.
No pillow was left unthumped!
He ignored her.
Well, not quite. At one point, when anger gave way to sorrow, he gave a slight roll of his eyes and handed his weeping maid a handkerchief.
She carried on with her work.
She just dribbled tears, and she was so grateful for his lack of words, that there was no attempt at comfort, for there was nothing he could say.
She would never have her family back. Of that Antonietta was certain. And it was there in the August Suite that she finally mourned them. Oh, there was no howling. Antonietta just quietly let the tears roll.
Rafe did not involve himself.
He would have liked to have a shower, given he had just been for a run, except he did not want to have a shower while the weeping maid was here.
