A Breathless Whisper: The Whisper Series, #4

By Tiffany St.Claire

A single plea whispered into the darkness between strangers creates a waking dream of a forever kind of love.
Thomas had grabbed the wrong girl, but a breathless whisper soon convinces him she's the only thing he's done right in a long, long time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tiffany St.Claire
• Release date: Apr 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223934349

Book preview

Prologue

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. The words rattled about Juliet’s brain as she struggled to take a full breath without vomiting. She never got sick. Not like this.

A soft knock came at the door, followed by a worried, Juliet? Is everything all right?

Letting her breath out in a careful exhale, Juliet lifted her head up so she was looking at the door, and said, For the moment, Pippa. I can breathe without anything coming back up, anyway.

A moment of silence, then, Come out when you can. Edith brought tea and toast, and Catelyn was kind enough to bring a cool cloth.

Her stomach twinged at the thought of putting any type of food into it, but the tea might help. At least, Juliet hoped it would. Grimacing, she draped the cloth back over the chamber pot that currently held the contents of her breakfast and carefully got to her feet. As her world did not immediately tilt upon its axis she took that as a good sign and exited the storage closet.

Pippa awaited her on the other side, a look of concern on her wizened face. All right?

Juliet offered an apologetic smile. I don’t know what came over me. I couldn’t make it to the water closet, I’m afraid.

Pippa returned her smile with one of her own and took her by the arm, leading her back to the private salon on the upper floor of the brothel reserved for only the highest earners, Pippa being one.

Don’t you worry about that. We’ll get it cleaned up. But are you sure you’re all right? In all the years I’ve known you, you are not one to take ill so suddenly.

She hardly takes ill a’tall, Catelyn added as they came into the room, taking over ushering Juliet and seeing to it she was sat in one of the more comfortable chairs before plastering an almost chilled cloth to Juliet’s forehead. Who’s the bloke ‘at did this to you, love?

No one’s done anything to me, Cat, Juliet said, frowning beneath the cloth which she adjusted to sit better upon her brow.

A look Juliet wasn’t sure how to interpret passed between Catelyn and Pippa. Finally, Catelyn looked back at Juliet and sank into the chair opposite her, blowing a stray blonde curl out of her eyes. I know you’ve lived a sheltered life, love, but surely you’re not as naive as to not know what you’re suffering from. Especially not after what you told us happened between you and that gentleman you had your eyes on all those weeks ago.

Juliet’s brow scrunched up some more as frustration started to build up inside her. Dropping the cloth to better direct her ire at her friend, she started to argue in her defense, though what exactly she was defending she wasn’t so clear on at the moment. She only knew there was something about Catelyn’s words that was almost insulting.

Whatever it is you are accusing me of, Catelyn, I’ll thank you to— Her mouth snapped shut as cold realization washed over her. She tried to swallow but her throat was dry. Taking in a slow breath, she looked first at Catelyn, then at Pippa. You mean, I’m….

She couldn’t finish the sentence.

She felt Pippa place her hand atop hers in a comforting gesture. Sometimes it happens on the first try, love.

Juliet barely heard the words, her thoughts loud in her head, the loudest being oh God which repeated itself over and over again against the backdrop of denial. In the end, though, she knew it had to be true. There was no other explanation for her suddenly taking ill.

Her stomach began to roil and she clamped her teeth tightly together in an effort to control the sudden wave of nausea. Leaning her head back against the chair, she had the awful thought that she was going to have to tell James.

Her brother was not going to like this at all.

One

Not for the first time since their journey began, Juliet wished her brother had allowed her to ride in the carriage with Natalie, her maid. At least then she wouldn’t feel as though she were riding with a literal block of ice.

James’ expression had not softened from the moment Juliet had confessed to her fall from grace that had resulted in her becoming pregnant. She had the horrid thought his face would never recover and that his eyes would forever hold the cold prick of judgment whenever he looked at her.

Juliet was used to seeing disappointment in his deep green