Read A Sister's Quest for Free Online

groan.
    Michelle opened her eyes and stared at a strange pattern of water stains on the ceiling. Candlelight fluttered fitfully. They were not the familiar stains of her room at school. After so many years of looking at that ceiling, she would have recognized the brown stains left by a long-ago rainstorm.
    If she was not in her room, where was she? Memory refused to stir.
    â€œAwake? I didn’t think you were the type to swoon, Michelle.”
    She flinched at the male voice. She turned her head on a starched pillowcase that rustled beneath her hair. “Count Vatutin!” The sound of her own voice ached through her skull. Vowing never to drink unwatered wine again, she tried to piece together what had happened. Nothing formed in her mind.
    â€œHush,” he murmured.
    A cool cloth was placed on her forehead, and she closed her eyes to savor the comfort. She had not thought Count Vatutin would tend to her so gently, but she was grateful. Not wanting to do anything that might upset her precarious hold on her senses, she waited as the world steadied. She forced her eyes open.
    Count Vatutin sat by the bed. “How are you feeling?”
    â€œI shall be fine.” She hoped it was not a lie.
    â€œUndoubtedly.” He relaxed back on the chair and regarded her with disdain. “I trust you do not make a habit of such feminine faints.”
    â€œFaints? I don’t faint!”
    â€œYou just did.”
    She was ready to retort, but swallowed her harsh words. She could not recall how she had gotten to this lumpy bed where every spring cut into her back. Bed! She was talking to Count Vatutin while lying in bed ? She struggled to sit.
    Gently he put his hand on her shoulder. “Rest a moment longer.” The twinkle in his jade eyes warned that her face had betrayed her thoughts.
    â€œI don’t make a habit of fainting,” she said tightly. She sat and sagged against the headboard as the world whirled. Clutching her head, she waited for the room to halt its mad dance. Hands on her shoulders moved her forward slightly, and she feared her stomach would embarrass her. The hands leaned her back again. She closed her eyes as she sagged into the plump pillows behind her.
    â€œThank you,” she whispered.
    â€œAs I caused this rare swoon, I should be sure you recover from it.”
    Michelle was not surprised to see a smile tipping one corner of his mustache. She sat straighter with a gasp as she looked around the sparsely furnished room.
    â€œWhat is wrong?” he asked.
    â€œI thought … I did not want … I …”
    He smiled. “Rusak is no good in the sickroom. Even if he had been here when you dropped so enticingly into my arms, he would have found something else to do with all speed. You don’t like Rusak, do you?”
    â€œI don’t know him well, Count Vatutin.”
    â€œUnder the circumstances, you need to learn to be comfortable calling me Alexei.”
    â€œUnder …?” As she stared at him, she remembered what had prompted her faint. Shaking her head, she slid to the far side of the bed. She stood and stared at her stockinged feet. He must have removed her shoes. Just the thought of him touching her was disturbing. Not only was Alexei Vatutin a stranger, but he had tricked her into coming with him by weaving his lies so smoothly. No matter what he wanted, she would not include in her duties sleeping with him.
    When she saw her shoes at the foot of the bed, she slipped her feet in them. She bent to button them, but a hand on her arm halted her. Brought upright, she was whirled toward Alexei.
    â€œWhat is wrong now?” he demanded.
    â€œTake your hands off me, or I will scream.”
    He laughed. She stared at him in disbelief as he said, “Scream if you think it will do you any good. You are not leaving until you listen to what I have to say.”
    â€œI have heard what you have to say. If a harlot is what you want, you should