Dangerous Masquerade (Regency Masquerade)

She licked her dry lips and in response gingerly raised herself on one elbow. Taking the proffered glass, she slowly sipped. The cool water trickling down her throat felt heavenly.

Once she’d had her fill, she looked at Luc.

“I couldn’t leave Mary standing in the middle of the road. She would most certainly have been hit.”

After gazing at her thoughtfully for a moment, he smiled ruefully, then very tenderly said, “No, I don’t suppose you could.”

“Was Mary injured? She rushed off before I could ask her.”

“She’s fine. A few minor bruises.” After setting the glass down by the water jug on the marble-topped washstand, he returned to her bedside. “You, on the other hand, have been asleep for two days. Dr. Caughey said once you regained consciousness you should have light food, such as broth. The headaches should subside in a day or two, and once you can stand movement and light, you can go home. That might not be for a week.”

She once again licked her dry lips and asked, “Could I have some more water, please?”

He ran his fingers through his hair. “The jug is empty. I rang for some more a while ago, but no one has come. I will get you some.”

Ria lay there listening to his footsteps as he left. She felt unbelievably weak. She couldn’t even move her head to watch him walk out the door. Her limbs were heavy, and it was an effort to move them even slightly.

To her horror, the wall opposite seemed to shift and shimmer. She feared her eyes were affected by the same lassitude afflicting her body. Alarmed at the extent of the distortion, she let out a deep sigh when Monty slowly materialized and immediately addressed her. “My dear, we have all been very worried about you.”

Despite her pounding head, Ria smiled at him in reassurance. “I’m fine. Well, I would be if the drummer boy in my head would cease.”

Monty glided further into the room. “You have quite a few people concerned about you, especially my dear lady relatives. And I’ve never seen Flowerday so beside himself.”

At Monty’s words, she felt her eyes well with tears and gave a little unladylike sniff. She considered the people living at the manor her family, especially the ladies, Flowerday, and Mary. Knowing her feelings were reciprocated warmed her from the inside out.

Luc walked along the corridor feeling much lighter and happier than he had for days. Ria was awake. She would be all right.

He was just about to enter her room when he heard her voice and paused in the doorway. Because of the angle of the bed, he could see in, but Ria was unable to see him.

Alarmed, he watched as she conducted a conversation with thin air. It was a perfectly audible and reasonable conversation except it was one-sided as there was no one in there but her.

Frowning in concern, he strode into the room. As he entered he heard Ria gasp. Looking around the chamber, he commented, “I thought I heard you talking?”

She slowly said, “I have a habit of speaking to myself.”

“I believe a lot of people do.” Though they didn’t usually take the form of answers to unheard questions. Perhaps it was an effect of her head injury?

As he put the jug of water down on the dresser, he made a mental note to discuss it with the doctor. Pouring a glass, he took it over to her.

Though still concerned about her conversation with an invisible person and how serious her injury might be, he turned his attention to another worry—Geoffrey’s actions. “Do you remember what happened just before the accident?”

Briefly, Ria closed her eyes. When they reopened he saw reflected in them the horror of that moment.

Choosing his words carefully, he asked, “Do you have any idea why the horse reared?”

“It was startled by a vegetable cart,” she said huskily.

“Perhaps.” Luc sat in the chair bedside her and inspected her closely. Should he tell her what he’d found? Was she strong enough?

Rather than go into details, he contented himself with simply saying, “Ria, you know you can trust me, don’t you? If you need help, all you need do is say so.”

During the long silence that followed, her hands plucked at the pale pink bedcover. He could see she was wrestling with something. He also knew the moment she’d made a decision.

Just as she began to speak, Aunt Charity and Aunt Faith bustled into the room, exclaiming, “My lord, what are you doing here? You cannot be in here. We have told you before. It is most improper, especially now Ria is awake.” And before he knew it, he found himself shoved into the corridor.

A few days later, Luc watched Ria and the ladies prepare to leave. He hadn’t been able to see her alone since he’d asked why Danielson was trying to kill her. Each time he tried to enter her room, one of the ladies was there and had shooed him away, claiming it wasn’t appropriate. Society’s strictures could be a bloody nuisance.

It was clear there would be no chance of getting to see her now. The chattering ladies had Ria surrounded, then Matthews gently assisted her into the carriage, and Mary followed with her arms full of rugs. Even the innkeeper’s wife was helping.