15

RICHARD

SHE WAS SPEECHLESS. HER LIPS moved, yet no words came out. Then she did the strangest thing.

She laughed. Huge, loud peals of laughter. She clapped her hand over her

mouth, but it didn’t do anything to stem the flow of chortles. Tears ran down her cheeks, and still she laughed.

It was a sound I’d never heard from her, and while I had to admit, her laughter was highly infectious—I wasn’t amused at why she was laughing.

I leaned back, crossing my arms. “I don’t find this a laughing matter, Miss Elliott.”

I thought hearing me refer to her formally would snap her out of her hysteria because that was what it had to be. The only effect it seemed to have on her, though, was she laughed harder.

I slammed my hand on the granite. “Katharine!”

She slumped against the counter, wiping her eyes. She glanced over at me, and it started all over. More gales of laughter.

I shoved off the chair and strode toward her, not certain what I would do when I got there. Shake her? Slap her? I grabbed he