behavior, however, and perhaps that was why she couldn't quite bring herself to look at either one of them during supper.
She knew they knew, and heavens, why did she feel the least bit guilty? She decided she was going to need time to figure it all out.
She didn't think Harrison was having any difficulty adjusting to their new arrangement. She knew full well he didn't believe they'd done anything to regret. In his mind, he'd made his commitment to her, and she to him, and now he was probably thinking they should start behaving like an old married couple.
They weren't married though, at least not legally, and until the union was blessed by a preacher, she was going to worry about protecting her brothers' feelings.
There wasn't much conversation going on around her. Everyone seemed preoccupied tonight, and the subdued atmosphere made Mary Rose all the more nervous.
Even Eleanor was acting peculiar. She sipped water from her glass but didn't touch her food. She didn't even move it around on her plate the way Mary Rose did to fool her brothers into thinking she was actually eating.
Douglas was the first to notice Eleanor was sick. 'You aren't feeling well, are you, Eleanor?' he asked.
'I'm just a little tired tonight. I can't imagine why. I haven't done anything to wear myself out. It's cold in here, isn't it?'
Douglas looked at Adam. 'She's got a fever. You can see how flushed her cheeks are.'
Mary Rose dropped her fork and turned to her friend. 'You're ill?' she whispered.
Douglas got up from his chair and went around the table. He put the back of his hand against her forehead to feel for himself.
'Yes, she's got fever all right. It's high too. Come along with me, Eleanor. I'm putting you to bed.' As he helped Eleanor stand up, she sagged against his side.
Mary Rose was horrified by her friend's pitiful condition and her own selfish behavior. She should have realized Eleanor was ill, and if she hadn't been so busy thinking about herself, she surely would have.
She had been completely thoughtless. 'Oh, Eleanor, I'm so sorry you aren't feeling well. Why didn't you say something to me sooner?'
'I didn't want to complain.'
Cole shook his head. 'You don't have to sound like a martyr, Ellie. How long have you been feeling sick?'
'Since this morning,' she answered. 'Mary Rose made me go to the river to bathe this afternoon. The water was terribly cold, but I didn't complain then either. Adam? It was nice of me to suffer in silence, wasn't it?'
Adam saw the tears in her eyes and was immediately filled with guilt. The poor woman was obviously still concerned about being thrown out.
He reached over and patted her hand. 'You should have complained,' he told her. 'You're part of our family now, Eleanor. We all want to know when you're ill, so we can take care of you.'
'You do?' She seemed thrilled by his announcement.
Adam smiled. 'Yes, we do,' he insisted. ' Douglas will fix you up in no time at all. Go on upstairs with him. I'll be up with some tea for you in a little while. Mary Rose, why don't you help her get settled in her bed?'
Cole waited until Douglas and Mary Rose had taken Eleanor out of the dining room before he spoke again.
'We're in for it now.'
'What do you mean?' Adam asked.
'Didn't you see the look in her eyes when you told her it was all right to complain? I got the feeling she liked hearing that a little too much.'
'Don't be ridiculous,' Adam replied. 'She's sick. You can see she is.'
'Forget about the complaining stuff,' Travis said. 'I'm mighty interested in something else I heard Adam say to Eleanor. What did you mean when you said she was part of our family now?'
Cole nodded. 'Yes, Adam, what did you mean?'
'I just wanted her to feel at home. No harm in making her comfortable, is there?'
'Exactly when is she planning to leave?' Travis asked.
Adam pretended interest in extracting a bone from his trout. 'Well, now, I guess that depends on her, doesn't it?'
Travis and Cole shared a look. Then Travis muttered, 'Hell, she isn't ever leaving, is she?'
Cole scowled. 'I wish to thunder you had told me before I went and kissed the woman. I never would have dallied with her if I'd known she was going to stick around. Hell,' he ended in a mutter. 'Now I'm going to have to have a talk with her about my intentions.'
Douglas walked back into the dining room in time to overhear the last of Cole's remarks. 'Don't you mean your lack of intentions?'
His brother nodded. Douglas shook his head. 'You ought to be ashamed of yourself, fooling around with Eleanor. Adam, don't take any tea up to her until I go and get some of my special powder. I want to put a teaspoonful in the cup first. I really wish you hadn't told the woman it was all right to complain. She's upstairs carrying on something fierce now. Mary Rose is getting all upset too. She's blaming herself for Eleanor's fever and keeps begging her to forgive her for being selfish. Our sister has become too damned emotional lately,' he added with a meaningful glare in Harrison 's direction. 'I think maybe she's coming down with the same ailment. She didn't eat a bite at supper, and she didn't look at Harrison once. I noticed.'
'I noticed too,' Cole interjected.
'Maybe we ought to put off our talk until Mary Rose is feeling better,' Travis suggested.
'No.' Harrison snapped out the denial in a firm voice.
Adam nodded agreement. 'We put off what we dread,' he told his brother. 'We cannot put this off. We must tell her as soon as possible. I spent the day questioning Harrison about the Elliott family. He has given me his assurance he'll look out for her. I'm not convinced she should leave with Harrison, however. It might be better to let her stay here with us a little longer, until she's had time to adjust to the notion of having a family back in England.'
Harrison wanted to argue with Adam but decided to keep silent now. He excused himself from the table and went outside to sit on the porch.
Adam followed him. He sat down in the chair next to Harrison and stretched his long legs out in front of him.
'You didn't like hearing my suggestion, did you?'
'No, I didn't like hearing it,' Harrison countered. 'You're putting off the inevitable. She can adjust on her way to England, Adam.'
'It goes against my grain to spring something on her and then rush her off. No, she needs… Mary Rose, how long have you been standing there?'
'Not long,' she answered. She pushed the screen door open and walked outside.
'May I join you?'
'No,' Adam answered. He didn't soften his refusal with a reason.
'Let her stay,' Harrison suggested. 'I need to talk to her.'
Adam nodded. Mary Rose leaned back against the railing, folded her hands together as though in prayer, and stared at her brother.
'Will one of you please tell me what's going on? Why are you both in bad moods?'
'We aren't in bad moods,' Adam argued.
'You're frowning.' She didn't think she needed to say more.
'We were discussing serious matters, Mary Rose. They don't concern you just yet.'
'The hell they don't concern her. Be reasonable, Adam,' Harrison demanded.
'I'll be reasonable when the time's right. I believe I'll go and fix Eleanor's tea. Don't stay outside too late, Mary Rose.'
She followed her brother to the door. 'What is it you have to spring on me but don't want to rush me into?'
'You were listening to us, weren't you?' She nodded. 'Will you please explain?'
'Tomorrow,' Adam promised. 'I'll explain everything tomorrow.'
