Ransomed Jewels by Laura Landon

important, but more than once he gave her the opportunity to tell him where she’d hidden the necklace. Of course she couldn’t, and the frown on his face deepened as the minutes stretched on. In the end, he gave up and went downstairs.
    When he was gone, Claire let Tilly help her into bed, then lay there until the house grew quiet. Eventually she heard him come upstairs. Then she waited another agonizing hour longer until she was sure he was asleep before she got out of bed and put on her robe.
    She’d chosen to search the wine cellar first because she hadn’t been down there yet, and because it was farthest away from the rest of the house, therefore the least likely that anyone would hear her. When all was quiet, she’d crept down the servants’ stairway and opened the door with the housekeeper’s key to begin her search. She’d said a quick prayer that she would find the necklace in time to save Alex’s life and pulled the first of the hundreds of bottles off the rack.
    That had been hours ago. Now, Claire’s shoulder ached and the cold seeped through to her very bones.
    She shivered as she opened one of the crates sitting on the floor and sifted through its contents. Finding nothing, she lifted more bottles off the rack and checked to make sure they contained only wine.
    She thought of the major sleeping upstairs, and her stomach rolled nervously. She’d never been so frightened in all her life. Never felt so alone. If only she could trust him enough to ask for his help to free her brother. But she couldn’t. He’d never think Alex’s life was more important than the necklace.
    And, he thought there was a connection between her and Roseneau.
    She walked around a rack that reached nearly to the ceiling and tried to ignore the daunting task before her. Each slot contained another bottle of the fine wines Hunt had been so proud of. She remembered how much he’d enjoyed serving the rare vintages. Recalled the pleasure he’d taken in stocking his cellar with only the best wines.
    She did miss him. She’d been so very comfortable with him. Even though many aspects of their marriage left a void filled with disappointment and regret, there were parts of their life together she would always cherish.
    Such as the hours they’d spent in each other’s company and the lively conversations they’d enjoyed. Hunt often told her she was his best critic as well as his best verbal sparring partner.
    And for seven years she’d told herself she was satisfied with what they shared. But it had never been enough.
    And a part of her hated him for what he couldn’t give her.
    Claire reached for another bottle and a sharp pain jabbed through her shoulder. She clutched her hand to her arm and waited for the pain to abate. Her knees trembled from weariness and she was so exhausted she could barely stand any longer. It was time to quit. Tomorrow night she would be stronger. Tomorrow night she’d be able to last until sunup. But not tonight.
    She blew out all the candles but one and took the single taper with her. No one heard her as she made her way up the back stairs. When she reached her room, she quietly closed the door behind her and crawled into bed. She was so cold; so tired.
    She pulled the covers up around her throbbing shoulder and fell asleep.

Chapter 9
    Sam leaned back against the blue velvet cushions of the plush chair angled near the settee where Claire sat in the drawing room and watched her pour the tea he’d insisted be served. He couldn’t tamp down the niggling fear building inside him as he watched her. Something was wrong. Instead of improving, her health seemed worse each morning when she awoke.
    It had been three days since he’d caught her out of bed. Three days for her to gain back more of her strength and for her health to improve. Instead, she barely seemed able to keep her eyes open, let alone lift the floral china teapot. It took every ounce of his willpower to hold himself back from reaching out