Chapter Nine
The next morning
The sun peeking through the sheer, lace curtains of the room, awakened Selena. Stretching, she leaned back and looked at the prisms of color beaming through the clear, leaded cathedral glass transoms above the windows on the wall opposite her bed. The blue of the sky signaled a clear day, one without rain. Although the sun shower yesterday had been perfect.
Smiling, she leaned back and reflected on her picnic luncheon with Gerald—his heartfelt apology, the unexpected shower, the swans, and …that kiss. She had dreamed about that kiss. The touch of his lips sent small quivers of pleasure up her back. Her instincts told her she’d never experienced those feelings before.
Her heart was aflutter at the thought of seeing Gerald again. He said he would see her today, and weather permitting, they might take a walk…he also mentioned something about a surprise. She could not help the excitement from bubbling inside her. Even though she still hadn’t reclaimed her memories, she was feeling hopeful about the future. She’d been so ill and only just starting to feel stronger, but she also needed to talk to Gerald about her mother. He’d sent a missive to his parents and his friend Asher informing them of the situation and was certain they had answers for them when they arrived. She prayed her mother was safe, but she couldn’t help but wonder and worry about what happened. She still didn’t know the reason she’d ridden to Gerald’s estate.
The door opened and Anna entered carrying a breakfast tray and a beautiful dark pink muslin dress over her arm. “Good morning, Miss Selena. I brought you some chocolate and biscuits.”
She set the tray down on the table next to Selena’s bed.
“Good morning, Anna. Thank you for the chocolate and biscuits. Isn’t it just the most glorious day?”
“If you’re referring to the sunshine and blue skies, then I agree.”
Anna grinned. “What are your plans for the day?”
“I’m not sure. Gerald mentioned that he might have a surprise for me. Perhaps a walk…”
Selena took a sip of the chocolate and closed her eyes in bliss. “What a lovely gown, you have there,” she said indicating the dress Anna laid on the bed.
“It’s for you, Miss. I made it from an older dress of pink muslin that I found in a trunk in the attic. Mrs. Evans said it would be fine for me to alter. I think it must have belonged to the former mistress of the house…before Lord Lawrence arrived. It’s a day dress, and I’m anxious to see it on you.”
“It’s beautiful. Thank you for your generosity. That shade of pink is so rich and pretty. Almost a rose pink.”
She reached out and touched it. “It’s exquisite. And the delicate floral embroidery is so lovely…Do you know what kind of flowers those are? The name seems to have escaped me.”
“They are pansies, Miss. They are very popular around here in the colder weather—as long as the rabbits and deer don’t get to them,”
Anna chuckled. “That used to happen at home quite regularly.”
“I suppose they like to eat, too.”
Selena winked. “I can understand how that might frustrate a gardener, though.”
I thank you again for this beautiful dress. You are as generous as you are talented, Anna.”
Anna gave a shy smile and placed the dress on the back of a nearby chair. “I am happy to help. We were so worried when you developed a fever. Thank goodness Doctor Baker was able to find the reason for the infection. Are you feeling better today?”
“Yes, each day I feel a bit stronger. I imagine I’ll be prone to headaches for a while.”
“Aye, I can imagine that, but I’m pleased you are feeling stronger. Do you feel up to a bath today?
“I would love a bath,”
Selena said. “Would you be able to style my hair?”
“Of course.”
The young maid nodded. “I’ll wash and bandage the wound first and then style your hair. I promise to hide the bandage.”
“You’re so good to me, Anna. Thank you,”
Selena said. “Gerald mentioned that we might go for a walk later. However, I’d very much like to spend time with my horse this morning. Would you be able to accompany me?”
“I’d be happy to escort you to the stables. Mrs. Evans has a few things she needs me to do today, so I will escort you and then return to get you later. Will that be all right?”
“Yes, I think so. I feel much better on my feet. There’s no dizziness. I promise I will take it slow and not overtax myself,”
Selena said.
An hour later, Selena was dressed in her new, day gown. Despite not having regained her memory, she felt better physically, and her heart was still full of joy from yesterday. And she was also looking forward to visiting with Azure.
Selena and Ann left the manor house and headed towards the stable. When they walked inside, the stable seemed quiet.
“Are you sure you feel comfortable being here, Miss?”
Anna asked. “I don’t feel good about leaving you on your own.”
“She won’t be here on her own, Anna,”
a young boy said, coming out from a stall, carrying a bucket of feed.
“Joshua. I’m glad you are here. Have you met Miss Selena?”
Anna said.
“No, but I have met her beautiful stallion, Azure. I just brushed him down and gave him some oats. He’ll be very happy to see her,”
Joshua said.
“Would you take me? That’s why I’m here,”
Selena said.
“I’m getting ready to brush Aphrodite and Athena. He’s on my way, Miss. I’d be glad to take you,”
Joshua said.
“Thank you, Joshua,”
Anna said. “I best be getting back to the house to help Mrs. Evans.”
“I’ll be all right,”
Selena said, playfully shooing her maid out of the stable.
“Miss Selena, your horse is just a few stalls down on the right. I’ll take you there,”
Joshua said.
“You’ve got your arms full. I don’t want to hold you up. You go and I’ll follow.”
“If you wish,”
the young boy said before going on his way.
Selena stood there for a few moments, admiring the renovated stable. Large lanterns hung on the walls, lighting a corridor full of oaken-stained wooden stalls. She noticed one next to her looked larger than the rest and wondered if that was for a foaling mare or a sick horse. The floors were cobbled and had shallow drainage channels that ran alongside the stalls. Above her, thick beams supported a high-pitched roof. She thought it was a large, beautiful stable, even if she could remember nothing to compare it to. Selena hoped to ask Gerald to introduce her to his racehorses. As she started to make her way down the aisle, she heard a large kick, followed by neighing and whinnying. It sounded like an agitated horse was nearby. Her curiosity got the better of her and she followed the noise to a stall housing a large black stallion who threw another kick at the side of the stall and began pawing the straw in front of him.
As she approached, he snorted and shook his head. Hanging onto a metal bar, she climbed up on the gate and leaned over. The horse moved toward her, his nostrils flaring,
“Hello, my beauty,”
she said softly. The horse blew through his nostrils and lay his head on Selena’s shoulder. She held onto the metal bar with one hand and reached out to gently touch the side of his neck, her hand making gentle circles. “You look so sad. What’s wrong sweet baby?” she whispered.
“Climb down and move away, Selena. You could be hurt,”
Gerald’s voice said behind her.
Selena glanced over her shoulder and before she could blink, Gerald lifted her down and drew her into his arms. “The horse might have lashed out at you,”
he whispered.
Selena, moved by Gerald’s action, blinked back sudden tears. “Thank you for being so protective of me, but I was in no danger from this lovely creature. She couldn’t help but love the feel of his strong arms around her. His masculine scent of sandalwood and citrus made her feel like swooning but for good reasons not bad.
Gerald released her and stepped back. “I’m sorry I was worried when I saw you petting Apollo. He’s been volatile lately.
“I understand,”
she said. “But as you can see, he is very gentle.” She reached up and rubbed the horse above his nose. “You’ll be right as rain, won’t you, my beauty,” she whispered gently. The stallion nickered softly in reply.
“My God, I haven’t seen that in years,”
Connery said, walking up to them.
“What do you mean?”
Gerald asked.
“Apollo has been acting out for the past two weeks. And this lass here whispered a few words, petting his nose and he’s as docile as a lamb.”
Connery turned to Selena with a grin. “Ye have a special gift, Miss Bowles. The last time I saw anything similar was when I was a young man in Scotland. The villagers called the woman a witch,” Connery said.
Selena felt the heat of a blush suffuse her cheeks. “I don’t think I have a gift. I do love animals though. I don’t know how I know that, but I just do.”
“Can you sense what’s wrong with the stallion?”
Connery asked.
Selena turned back to the thoroughbred and gently rubbed his face. In response, he blew softly from his nostrils. “Has this horse been taken recently from its maman ?”
Selena asked, over her shoulder.
Gerald and Connery exchanged a quick glance.
“Yes, as a matter of fact,”
Gerald said. “We purchased him a couple of weeks ago. His mother is still at the breeder’s estate. Why do you ask?”
“Because I think he’s missing his mother. If you bring her here, for a visit, I think he will calm down. Horses, like people, have a close bond with their mothers.”
“That’s remarkable,”
Gerald said. “You’re remarkable…”
“Th-thank you, my lord.”
Her eyes met Gerald’s and she felt faint, but not from fever, from the intensity of his gaze.
“As I said, tis a rare gift ye have there Miss Bowles,”
Connery said with a chuckle.
A dog gave a loud bark and trotted up to them. “Hello, friend.”
She smiled and crouching down, she petted the dog’s shaggy white head. “You look familiar. Have we met before?” She giggled as the dog licked her nose.
“That’s Dutch. He’s a shameless flirt,”
Gerald said dryly. “When you arrived during the storm, he was spooked by the lightning and thought you and Azure were a threat, he ran up to you barking and startled Azure who reared up and that led to your fall.”
“Ah. So, you are feeling guilty, you handsome boy,”
Selena said, giving him another rub on his head and back. Dutch sat, then lifted his paw and rested it on her knee.
“I’ve never seen him react to anyone like that,”
commented Gerald. “It appears he seems to be asking for forgiveness. He’s typically more reserved and waits until he gets to know people before he shows affection.”
“You didn’t mean to cause me pain Dutch,”
Selena said soothingly. “So, there’s nothing to forgive.”
Dutch thumped his tail and gave a soft woof.
“I see your gift is not limited to horses,”
Connery chuckled.
“I don’t think it’s a gift. I think he responds to a friendly voice.”
She smiled and accepted Gerald’s hand as he helped her stand. “May I see Azure? My original purpose for coming here was to spend some time with him.”
“Of course.”
Gerald escorted her to the stall at the end of the aisle, nearest the other entrance. “He’s a fine steed.”
“How beautiful, he is.”
Selena approached the large gray stallion who stood with a calm nobility. “Hello, Azure,” she said softly, reaching up to pat his nose.” Azure blew air and moved his head as though he were nodding to her, welcoming her back. “May I go into the stall? I don’t think he will hurt me.” Something drove her to get closer to the horse and standing over the gate seemed too far.
The gray horse whinnied and nodded again.
Gerald smiled. “It looks like I’m outnumbered. I’ll stay outside the stall, in case you need me.
“Thank you,”
she said, closing the stall’s gate behind her.
A pain in her chest told her she had missed this horse something fierce. “You look wonderful.”
She petted his nose and then, reaching up, wrapped her arms around his neck, placing her head against his. “Thank you for getting me here safely. I’m feeling much better.”
The horse nuzzled her neck with his nose.
“I believe Azure just kissed you. Should I be jealous?”
Gerald teased.
Beaming, she turned and faced her fiancé. “It feels familiar, so I think he always does that with me. Thank you for taking such good care of my sweet Azure. I have missed spending time with him.”
“How do you know…that you have missed him?”
Gerald asked. “Are you remembering?”
She thought for a moment. “I can’t remember details, but feelings yes…I think I can remember feeling close to Azure. Safe. Protected…”
Dutch crouched down and slid beneath the gate of the stall. Selena smiled and noticed Azure seemed to accept him. Sufficiently clearing the gate, the dog rose and stood next to Selena and nudged her skirts. She leaned down and kissed the large, white dog on the head.
Connery joined them. “I think I’ve seen it all, now. The dog appears to have sought forgiveness from the horse, as well,”
he laughed.
“It appears so,”
Gerald said chuckling.
“That might explain why he’s been sleeping close to your horse’s stall these last few nights,”
Connery said. “Joshua told me the dog had moved his nightly post to the front of this stall.”
“Is there any animal you cannot tame?”
Gerald teased.
“They have become friends,”
Selena said. As she stood there, her horse began to nuzzle her neck and paw at the ground. She leaned in and wrapped her arm around his mane. As Azure calmed, she looked into his eyes and whispered. “What is it, boy?” The horse whimpered and shook his head and looked in the direction of the stall they had come from.
“He seems to want to know about the other horse,”
she said, staying focused on her horse. “Azure seems concerned about him.”
“Most unusual,”
Connery commented.
Selena kissed Azure’s nose. “The horse missed his mother,”
she whispered. As she answered him, her head began to throb—a merciless pain that rose from behind her skull to her forehead.
“Are you all right, Selena?”
Gerald asked, moving into the stall, and stepping beside her. “Selena, please answer me…”
She could hear voices in her head. “Darlings.”
She recognized her father’s voice. “ He is a good and honorable young man. His father, Arthur, and I were cousins and friends when we were young. Percival will take good care of you.”
The voices grew loud and angry… strangers in her home…saying horrible things to her…. “Your mother is dead… she succumbed to her fever,”
one stranger said. He was ugly with greasy black hair and foul whisky-tinged breath. His voice was cold and harsh.
“No! It’s not true. Please, take me to her now.”
“I am your guardian, and you will obey me… be ready to depart right after your mother’s funeral tomorrow. We will be traveling to Gretna Green. For our wedding.”
He gave her a leering grin as he dragged her against him, bruising her mouth in a slobbering kiss…
Tears streamed down her face, and she began to scream.
She could hear Gerald calling to her, but he was so far away.
“I have to get to Gerald… Gerald help me…”
“He…he killed my mother…”
As everything began to spin, she felt herself falling into some kind of dark abyss. She could hear his evil laugh. She heard Gerald’s voice call to her, but it was fading. Darkness was descending. But she had to find her mother and reach Gerald before he was too far. The roaring increased in her ears, becoming louder until she cried out in desperation. Gripping her head, she heard herself scream before everything went black.