Chapter 371

He took her to the front room and sat on the sofa, keeping her on his lap. He heard someone come in behind him and looked up to see Cassie’s frightened look. “Is she okay?” Cassie asked. “I don’t know,” he replied. “She just… fainted.” Chloe groaned in his arms and opened her eyes. When she focused on him she smiled softly before her brain engaged and she remembered she was angry at him. He still didn’t know why. She struggled to get off his lap but he held her and her voluminous dress in place, not ready to let go. His own pulse was beating a staccato rhythm and a rush of relief washed over him as her eyes snapped at him. If her anger was anything to go by, she would be fine. “Let me go.” “No,” he said, “not until you tell me what happened.” She looked from him to Cassie and something in Cassie’s gaze must have given her pause. “What happened?” she asked and the tremor in her voice cracked his heart wide open. “You fainted, sweetie,” Cassie said reaching over to take her hand. “Declan