‘Only with fright.’ He took in a deep breath. ‘Once my pulse rate drops below a hundred again I’ll be fine.’
When they reached the spare room Jack switched on the light and stared at the bed. The quilt and pillows were on the floor, the fitted bottom sheets snarled in a crumpled heap, and he swore under his breath when he picked up the pillows.
‘When you cry you really cry. These are damp.’ He turned to her and undid the dressing gown to touch the T-shirt. ‘Hell, this is, too. I’ll bring you another one with the clean sheets—’ He stopped suddenly and shot her a look. ‘Are you likely to do this again tonight?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said miserably.
‘Have you done any sleepwalking in Park Crescent?’
‘No.’ Not yet.
He looked at her searchingly. ‘Did it start when we broke up? Is that why you won’t let me get close again?’
‘Part of it.’ She shrugged. ‘Stress acts in different ways on different people—migraine, anxiety attacks and so on. In my case it’s sleepwalking. But I hadn’t done it for years until Liz and Robert were killed. Then I had the row with Rupert and it happened again.’
‘And I caused this tonight by pestering you to come back to me,’ Jack said harshly. He picked up the towelling dressing gown and held it out. ‘Go in the bathroom and put this on while I strip the bed. You need sleep.’
Kate splashed cold water on her swollen eyes, then went back into the bedroom.
Jack looked up from the linen he was bundling together, his eyes strained. ‘I hope to God you don’t go walkabout again.’
‘If I could promise not to, I would,’ she said unhappily. ‘I hate doing it, Jack. Waking up somewhere else is pretty scary, believe me.’
‘I do.’ He stood very still, every muscle in his bare chest taut, then pulled on the dressing gown and tied the cord with unnecessary force. ‘There’s a remedy. For tonight, at least.’
‘Knockout drops?’ she said, trying to smile.
‘No.’ Jack eyed her in appeal.‘ Look, Kate, I make this offer with the best of intentions, so don’t panic. Come and sleep in my room. That way we might both get some sleep. At least I’d know if you took off again.’ He smiled a little. ‘I promise faithfully to keep to my side of the bed. It’s big enough to sleep four at a pinch, so no problem with over-crowding.’
Not trusting her voice, she nodded slowly in assent.
The master bedroom was at the other end of the upper corridor and the bed was vast, as Jack had promised. He turned back the covers on the far side, told her to get in, then searched in a chest between the tall windows. He tossed a thick white sweatshirt on the bed for her, then made for the door.
‘Where are you going?’ she demanded.
‘To make you that tea. You’re shivering, Kate. For God’s sake, get into bed and try to get warm.’
Kate took off the dressing gown, pulled on the warm fleecy shirt, and slid under the covers, teeth chattering. This was probably a big mistake, but it was better than waking up in some other part of the house again, scaring Jack and waking Bran into the bargain.
Jack came back with a tray and put it on the chest. He ordered Kate to sit up, propped pillows behi
nd her and then brought her a mug of tea. ‘I added a spoonful of something medicinal,’ he told her. ‘We need it.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, subdued, and sipped gratefully, feeling the warmth spread through her as the brandy and scalding tea did their work. When Jack slid in beside her with his own drink she shot him a rueful glance. ‘One way and another, you won’t forget your first official dinner party.’
‘True.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘If Lucy Beresford could only see us now!’
‘She’d be wild with jealousy.’
‘But certainly wouldn’t picture us drinking tea together! You’d better look out, Kate. I think she’s also jealous of your relationship with Anna Maitland,’ he warned.
She pulled a face. ‘I’ll watch my back on two counts, then.’
‘If she gives you any trouble, let me know,’ said Jack grimly. ‘I’ll get George to sort her out. He may look easygoing but there’s steel underneath that sense of humour.’
‘I saw that for myself. I like him.’
‘You like Ben Maitland, too.’