CHAPTER 53
Jess was speechless for a few moments. “I told you I was trying to help Afric.”
Adam looked pointedly around. “Where is she? Actually, never mind. I’m more worried about you.”
He didn’t sound worried – he sounded annoyed. Furious, in fact. The relief she’d felt at getting out of the tunnel was quickly being replaced by emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She brought a hand up to her head and felt around until she located a slight bump.
Holding back her tears, she skirted Adam and walked quickly into the bathroom. “I need to wash.” She turned on the taps, pumping fragrant soap out of the dispenser to scrub her hands before rubbing more soap onto her face.
Adam quickly washed his own hands before handing her a clean, soft towel.
“You’re shaking, I’ll get you some water.”
“I can do it.” She went into the sitting room and managed to open a bottle of water, aware that he’d followed her in.
“Give me that.” Adam guided her onto the sofa before taking the bottle gently from her and pouring some water into a glass.
Oh God, she couldn’t handle Adam’s sudden kindness. She’d prefer if he just shouted. Or better still, let her alone. She drank and tried to take a few deep breaths but her teeth were chattering and she’d started to shake almost uncontrollably.
“Don’t move,” Adam ordered, going back into the bedroom.
A moment later he returned with a large, warm blanket, which he draped around her shoulders.
Then he sat down beside her and put his arm around her, pulling her close.
“I think you’re going into shock.” He took a wrapped chocolate from the bowl of sweets on the coffee table and unwrapped it for her. “Eat this.”
Wordlessly, Jess took it and popped it in her mouth.
She chewed, feeling the sugar flood her bloodstream.
Then he gave her another. And another. After a few minutes she started to feel a bit better.
This was nice, she thought. She might just lean back against the sofa and stay here for a while.
Adam could stay too, so long as he didn’t lecture her.
She bolted upright. What was she thinking? Clearly, the bump to her head had been a lot worse than she’d thought. She had to find Afric!
“Afric!”
“Never mind about her for a minute. You weren’t bitten, were you?”
“I don’t think so. No, definitely not – I just hit my head.” She shivered again.
“I’m going to check you, hold still.” He took her head between his hands and turned it gently one way and then the other. “Does that hurt?”
Jess swallowed hard. “No.”
He slipped one hand around the back of her head and ran his fingers lightly over the bump, his lips tightening when she winced.
“Do you know what day it is?” he asked.
Jess sighed. “Tuesday.”
“What’s my middle name?”
“Really?” Jess rolled her eyes, horribly aware of a pulse beating frantically in her neck. “You were christened Declan but Adam is your middle name. The one you use, okay?” She crossed her arms and rested them on her knees. “How did you know I was in the tunnel?”
“Emily told me. She was supposed to take Afric through, right?”
“That was the plan.” She took a quick intake of air as Adam shifted closer to her, lifting her hair and running his hands carefully over her neck, before checking her hands and wrists.
“I can’t see any bites. Bats do their best to avoid people, you must have startled it.”
She tried to focus. “Why didn’t Emily stay?”
“Doug changed the order of the shoot at the last minute, and Emily had to be on the set.” His mouth tightened again. “She told me she opened the exit a bit early, but she couldn’t wait for Afric. So she asked me to check if the two of you were okay.”
“Afric panicked.” Jess’s gaze slid away. “She went back towards Linford Wood. She’s claustrophobic.”
Adam gave her a brief, hard look. “As I remember, so are you.”
“I’m fine.” She wondered if Adam believed her. She wasn’t sure she believed herself. “I don’t understand, though. Why didn’t Emily leave the entrance open?” She gestured in the direction of the bedroom.
“She did.” Adam looked grim.
Jess looked at him blankly.
“Why do you think I had to break the panelling? When I got here, the tunnel was locked. And somebody had messed up the lock so badly I couldn’t open it with the master key.”
She stared at him, her mind racing. Not Emily – that wouldn’t make sense.
“The most important thing is that nobody got hurt.” Jess ignored the look Adam gave her.
“Afric is still outside the castle, as far as we know. And if she doesn’t turn up today the producers could pull Doug and Mel off the movie.
They could even sue Afric. We don’t want that sort of publicity for Linford.
” And Frank will never trust me again for letting it happen on my watch.
Adam sighed. “I’ll manage the Afric situation. I want you to see a doctor.”
“I don’t need to see a doctor, Adam.”
“For God’s sake, Jess.” Adam shoved a hand through his hair. “For once in your life will you just –”
He was interrupted by the old-fashioned ringtone of the suite’s doorbell. From the other side of the door, Doug’s voice rang out urgently.
“Afric? I have our producers here. If you’re up to it, they’d just like to say a quick hello.”