30
Fort Temperance, 3 March 1871
When Claire slumped forward, Patrick caught her as best he could with his bound hands.
“Hold her so she doesn’t fall,” he told Nanette. The nurse-traitor rolled her eyes but complied.
“What’s wrong with the girl? Is she ill?” Lee waved a hand in front of his face. “We don’t need anyone bringing more sickness into Fort Temperance. The season’s already rough as it is.”
“No, it was seeing the ring,” Patrick said. “It’s a long story. What were you thinking?” he asked Nanette.
“That she was manipulating Doctor Radcliffe’s sympathies with all her swooning and fainting.” She placed the back of one hand on her forehead and looked up while saying in a falsetto voice. “Oh, help me, Doctor, I cannot control my mind.”
“Well, she canna. And you’ve just eliminated
