Chapter Six
After he washed and changed, he made his way to the stables. He needed to work. To keep busy. Or he would go mad. He couldn’t understand how Selena could take such a turn for the worse. Last evening, she’d seemed better, stronger. And now, she was burning with fever. And top of it all, he’d taken advantage of her. He hadn’t meant to, but he’d been so surprised by her unexpected kiss…her unexpected adulation, her sweet sensuality, that he couldn’t help himself.
Selena was longer the young girl who’d reminded him of a frightened bird. Rather, she had grown into a swan—undoubtedly the most beautiful young woman he had seen in many years. And those eyes. Those incredible eyes captivated him—drew him to her like a moth to a flame.
And her voice… then sensual, husky voice… the kind of voice that would drive any man wild, the kind of voice he would love to hear whisper “good morning”
in his ear. He ran his hands through his hair in agitation. Good God! I’m an animal. The poor girl had been through a harrowing experience and cannot even recall her own name and here I am thinking about her whispering in my ear in bed!
And yet she had revealed her feelings for him. He wasn’t used to a woman causing him to blush. She said she must be … fond of him? Was she … fond of him? If so, how could that have happened? He had spent very little time with her—and their time together at her come out, all those years ago, had been a disaster.
Shame shot through him as he recalled that night. That stupid, silly bet. The memory of being caught with the cloying Lady Adamson brought a shudder. His behavior certainly couldn’t have elevated Selena’s trust in him. When she arrived last night, she had called him Lord Lawrence. Certainly, she would remember that night, too, if she regained her memory.
Gerald had worked hard for over five years to change himself and transform this estate. Suddenly, the thought of Selena possibly losing her regard for him made his chest twist with hurt. He was so lost in his thoughts, Gerald narrowly avoided knocking down a footman carrying a tray of food.
“My lord, I was just bringing a tray of bacon and egg sandwiches to you…,”
the footman said. “Mrs. McDonald said you hadn’t broken your fast, yet, and thought you and Mr. Connery might enjoy these.”
“Thank you,”
Gerald said, grabbing a sandwich and taking a bite. Mrs. McDonald was not only an excellent cook, she was also a jewel. He took another bite, of the delicious sandwich, not realizing how hungry he was.
“And Wells said to tell you the doctor has arrived and is with Miss Bowles.”
“Very good, I’m relieved to hear that,”
Gerald said. “Ask Wells to have the doctor meet me in my study before he leaves.”
“Yes, my lord,”
the footman said, bobbing his head. “I’ll see it done.”
“I’ll take those for Mr. Connery,”
Gerald said, grabbing the rest of the wrapped sandwiches from the tray.
Walking into the stable a few minutes later, he noticed Connery was brushing the coat of Selena’s horse, Azure, in the stall. “Connery, I’m glad to find you here.”
Gerald handed Connery the wrapped sandwiches. Gerald had already devoured two on his way to the stables.
“How is the girl?”
Connery asked.
“Not well. She awoke this morning burning with fever. Baker is with her now.”
Gerald rubbed his brow and then, reached out to pat Azure. “She doesn’t remember who she is. Even though she acknowledged me last night by name, when she arrived,” Gerald said.
“Let her spend time with her stallion when she gets past the fever,”
Connery suggested. “It can’t hurt. And it might spark her memory.”
“You make a good point,”
Gerald said.
“This stallion is clearly descended from a strong lineage. Does she remember that her father gifted her the horse?”
“Unfortunately, no,”
Gerald said with a shake of his head. “It’s odd. She murmured things this morning in her fevered state—things that were either a nightmare or a horrible experience that she was running away from.”
“Whatever made her come here, she is safe, and we’ll do everything we can to help her,”
Connery said.
“Yes, we will…”
Connery regarded Gerald thoughtfully as he finished eating. “But I sense there’s something else that troubles you, lad.”
Gerald shook his head. “It’s nothing. I am concerned about Miss Bowles is all.”
How could he possibly tell Connery that he kissed Selena—had taken advantage of her delirious state.”
“Pardon, milord, shall I saddle Aphrodite,”
Joshua, the stable boy said as he set down the basket of apples he’d been hefting.
“Nay, not at the moment. I’ll return later to take her out.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The boy nodded.
Connery tossed a sandwich to Joshua giving him a wink.
“Thank you, sir,”
the boy said, grinning as he turned to complete his other chores.
Azure gave a soft snort and shook his mane. Gerald reached out and patted the horse, who seemed clearly agitated.
“Azure has the most unique eyes I’ve ever seen on a horse. He is well-named,”
Connery said.
“They look like Selena’s eyes,”
Gerald blurted. “Where could her father have found such a horse?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to check around. I have a feeling Azure is descended from a strong line. Might be worth having.”
Connery chuckled. “Well, that is…might be worth having another one around. I keep forgetting she’s your betrothed.”
“She’s nothing like I remember. She’s…”
“Beautiful,”
Connery finished.
“Yes, she is,”
Gerald said as he fed Azure an apple.
“Aye, and no matter what she’s been through, she’s a resilient lass.”
“Yes, she is that too.”
The sound of a throat clearing drew their attention. Gerald turned and saw the doctor approaching, a grave expression on his face. “Doctor Baker, I was going to head to my study to await you.”
“Your footman told me you were out here, and I wanted to tell you as soon as I could.”
The older man took a deep breath. “I must apologize, Lord Lawrence. It seems that when I initially cleaned Miss Bowles’ head wound, I thought I had removed all the dirt and debris. But her fever indicates an infection has set in. I reopened the wound and found a small bit of gravel that I had missed.” He shook his head. “I think it may have caused the problem.” He paused. “That may be why I had not spotted that gravel that had gotten lodged in the wound. But I am so sorry that I missed it.”
Gerald listened and then, nodded. “Her hair was so matted with rain and mud that night. And there was so much blood, I can imagine that made it more difficult to treat the wound.”
“But I do have hopeful news. Her fever has already begun to come down. She is a strong young lady, and although it will take time, I have every reason to believe she will recover. She will require a great deal of care and attention in the meantime.”
“She won’t lack for that,”
Gerald promised.
“Prior to her fever, did you notice any change in her memory?”
“Nothing concrete, but possibly disturbing. This morning, she was crying in her sleep…”
Gerald explained what Selena had said in her feverish state.
The doctor regarded him. “I agree. Her statements are alarming.”
“Yes. And it was by chance that I heard it. We both fell asleep talking…mostly about what I knew about her family and telling her about mine. Somewhere in that, I nodded off in the chair. I woke with her crying about her father’s heir hurting her, and her mother being lost. I can only imagine what horror she’s gone through.”
Gerald felt a fresh wave of anger wash over him. And he vowed to get to the bottom of who Percival was. His father would know more. At the moment, he could do nothing but wait for his parents to arrive.
“We thought seeing her horse might spark her memory,”
Connery added. “Her father named the horse and had its reins embossed with a message from him and the horse’s name. I thought it could provide some sentimental leverage that could help with her memory.”
“That is an excellent idea. Once the fever has abated, in a few days, it would be good for Miss Bowles to see her horse again. In the meantime, I’ll be back later this afternoon to check on her. I know an apothecary who might have something that could prove useful to battle the infection. I’ll bring it with me when I return.”
“Thank you, Doctor Baker,”
Gerald said, shaking the older man’s hand.
“Send for me immediately should anything happen. And I cannot overemphasize that she should not be left alone, given her condition,”
the doctor added before taking his leave.
“Miss Selena, there just a few more sips of broth. Doctor Baker said it’s most important that you drink it,”
Anna said.
“I can’t…I think I’ve had enough,”
rasped Selena, leaning back against the pillow. “I feel like I’ve been punched in the head.”
“It’s the effects of the fever, Miss. The doctor missed a small fragment that had burrowed into the skin,”
the maid replied.
“Did he reopen the wound?”
Selena asked.
“Yes, Miss Selena,”
Anna said. “Doctor Baker will return later to see you again.”” That was why her head hurt so much. What she wanted was company—specifically, she craved the viscount’s company. She leaned back against the pillow. “Well, let us hope, I’ll be awake next time the good doctor is here, so I can turn the tables and pick his brain,” she chuckled. “Oh, it hurts to laugh.”
Anna smiled. “The fact that ye just made a jest means yer a strong lass, and if you don’t mind me saying, Miss, that was a good quip.”
“Thank you, Anna.”
“Is there anything I can do for you, Miss Selena…anything?”
the maid asked as she placed the empty bowl on the tray.
“Nay, thank you, Anna. You have been a dear heart.”
There was a tap on the door and Anna opened it to reveal the viscount standing in the hall. “Anna, I would like to have a few minutes with Selena. I promise not to stay long.”
“Yes, milord. I’ll just return the tray back to the kitchens.”
The young maid bobbed a curtsy and left.
When the door clicked shut, Gerald turned to her. “How are you feeling?”
“If I had a new head, I’d feel wonderful,”
she chuckled.
Gerald’s lips curved in a crooked smile as he sat in the chair next to the bed.
Lord even with her head throbbing and fighting a fever, she could not help her heart from thudding at his handsomeness.
“There is something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you sooner…”
“Yes?”
When he hesitated, she said, “Please. You can tell me.”
He reached for her hand/ “Our connection is not just because our fathers were lifelong friends. We are betrothed. We’ve been betrothed since childhood.”
A gasp escaped her. “Why did you not tell me?”
“I’m a cad. That is why. But I could no longer keep our betrothal from you.”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I do not think you are a cad. My heart tells me you are not. I forgive you. But please, no more secrets?”
“I promise, no more secrets,”
he replied.
He lifted her hand and kissed her palm, and she felt a spark of heat travel up her arm that had nothing to do with her fever.
“When you arrived in that rainstorm and were thrown from your horse, I was shocked, alarmed, confused,”
he said. “But my priority was getting you inside. As I carried you up the stairs, you opened your eyes, and you recognized me and called me by name. But the next morning, you remembered nothing. Not my name, not even your own name. I was worried about your condition. When I began to tell you about who you were and our families, I neglected to tell you about our betrothal because I was ashamed of how I behaved six years ago at your first London Season.” Gerald told her how they first met. How she and her parents and his parents discovered him in a compromising kiss with Lady Adamson at their ball no less.
“But what I want to make clear is that everything and nothing has changed.”
“Now, I’m confused. Although that could be understandable given the bump on my head.”
He grinned and kissed her hand again, making her sigh.
“Nothing has changed because you are still my betrothed. But everything has changed because you are now in my care, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that you are safe. And even if you cannot remember what brought you here on that stormy night, I will find out and I will make sure that whoever hurt you pays for what they did.”
Selena blinked back tears. Gerald was a truly kind and caring man. And she was lucky to be betrothed to him. “You have been nothing but thoughtful and kindhearted. I… sensed there was something more between us than family friendship.”
She gave a short laugh. “When you lose your memory, the things you learn become easier to see and understand.”
“I have never thought about it like that. Kind of like having a cupboard with only one food to think about. What you will have for dinner becomes clearer, I suppose.”
She laughed. “Yes, it does.”
“You kissed me,”
he said suddenly. “Do you remember?”
She nodded slowly. “Yes. I did. It was impulsive, but I have no regrets,”
Selena said, quickly losing the battle to the tears filling her eyes. “I came here for a reason, and I think I came here because of you. I may not have a memory of my life, but knowing I am betrothed to a man such as you gives me hope for the future.”
Gerald took out a handkerchief and gently dabbed at her cheeks, which only made more tears run down her face.
“We have not had a chance to get to know each other,”
he said, clearing his throat. “When you feel better, I would like to have a chance to repair that.”
“I would like that too.”