Chapter 3
William was frantic, pacing the parlor of his home as he awaited the doctor he’d called to tell him the condition of the strange girl he’d found on the side of the road. As soon as she’d fallen unconscious, he dug his heels into his horse and made his way home as fast as he could. She had lost a lot of blood and he was worried sick that she might not make it. Once the doctor arrived, he sent his valet and footman to retrieve her trunk and bring it back to his estate. His mother, Anne, would have been reeling with the indecency of it all, if she were there, that was. He thanked God that she’d gone on holiday with her sister in Essex or else he’d never hear the end of it. But something kept nagging him that this poor girl needed him. He had no idea what use he could be to her but he was willing to do anything he could to help.
And she was absolutely beautiful, he didn’t mind mentioning. Whoever she was, she must have been high class due to the way she was dressed. However, the fact that she couldn’t speak was most peculiar. Perhaps she was foreign, but even a foreign girl in high society surely would have learned English at some point…unless she was mute? She certainly had no problem comprehending what he said and then he remembered how shocked she’d looked when she tried to speak to him and failed.
Most peculiar indeed.
William fetched his reading glasses from his writing desk and polished them, pondering the events of the past few hours as his anxious pacing dug a trench in the floorboards of the room.
Perhaps she was traveling through London and her carriage had been sacked! He gasped at the thought of it, grew angry thinking of the evil miscreants that must have manhandled her petite frame and scared her half to death! And what of her traveling companions? Surely she wasn’t alone, unless…unless they’d been killed! Oh, the poor woman! What a traumatic experience she must have endured! His fingernails dug into the mantle as he felt a strong need to seek justice. Had she been stabbed? Had they beaten her and stolen her horses, her carriage? What had they done to her?
Oh, God, the doctor was taking forever!
And she was so sweet, such a charming woman despite her unfortunate situation. Her tears had broken his heart, her gorgeous green eyes shone with so much pain, pain he knew all too well. Oh, she was breathtaking! Her trembling pink lips were so….
William felt incredibly guilty that he’d found pleasure in her innocent touches. Surely she had no idea what she was doing when she nuzzled his neck like a kitten and laid her hand on his stomach. She had lost a lot of blood, after all. William couldn’t help his reaction to it, though. He’d never been so close to a woman before, let alone one so becoming, so soft and genteel, one that smelled so lovely, and while there was a split second of tension that wracked his body when she lay against him, within seconds he’d softened into the wonderful sensations she’d given him. And it was wrong! He was a good, decent man and should have known better than to take advantage of the poor girl like that. He hoped she could find it in her heart to forgive him, or better still, that she would never remember how improperly he’d acted.
It was providence that brought her to him, he decided. There was no other explanation for it. He’d been at the right place at the right time and God had blessed her with the gallantry of William Pratt, her savior, the man who’d come to the rescue! He smiled proudly at that thought and quickly covered it with a cough when one of his maids cocked an eyebrow at him as she stacked wood near the fireplace.
But what a lovely thought that was! He’d been the brunt of so many jokes among his peers, been made to feel like less of a man, and this woman, one he dared admit was the handsomest he’d ever seen, entrusted him with her life! Allowed him to protect her and help her. Who could call him an oaf now? Who could say he was worthless when he’d done something as selfless as this? Unless she was a whore…
Oh dear, was it possible? What if she was merely escaping the malevolent clutches of prostitution, what if she was some wicked man’s mistress who’d beaten and broken her into submission? That would certainly explain why she didn’t speak, why she was alone and how she was dressed. Mistresses were often showered with gifts, dressed up like dolls to show off, painted and primped like queens, all the while undergoing the lecherous and devious sins of debauchery. Oh, he hoped she wasn’t a whore. That wouldn’t help his already dwindling reputation, not at all. He’d certainly be deemed a fool if that were the case.
And those were precisely the sort of things his mother would be screaming at him at that moment if she were there. He would refuse to believe such nonsense. She was a proper young lady and that was that. He inhaled sharply and stood confidently by the fireplace, awaiting the doctor to finish his business in the guest room.
Honestly, how long did it take to inspect her injury? His servants had already left and returned with her trunk by this point and yet the doctor remained locked in that damned room. This was ridiculous, working a young man’s nerves this way! It was almost time to eat dinner, for goodness sake!
“Mr. Pratt?”
William jumped at the sound of the doctor’s voice and hurriedly walked across the room to meet him. “How is she? Is she all right?”
“No need to panic,” the portly doctor said with a smile. “She’s a strong girl. Fit as a fiddle, that one. Do you know she was already healing by the time I finally had a good look at her?”
William frowned in amazement. “But she’s lost so much blood…”
“Yes, I know,” he bent over to open his bag and place the utensils he’d been using back in their proper place. “But she’s all right now. I gave her something for the pain so she’s a bit out of sorts, but after a long rest and some food in her belly, I’m sure she’ll be just fine.”
William exhaled in relief and smiled at the doctor. “I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you came at such short notice.”
“It’s always short notice, Mr. Pratt,” he chuckled, standing up and clutching his bag at his side. “You just make sure she takes it easy for the next few days. Don’t want those stitches bursting open.”
William grimaced at that grotesque image and shook his head. “No, of course not. Can you tell me what might have caused her injury?” Knife, dagger, gun shot, whip, all sorts of instruments flooded his mind, hoping none of them were the answer.
“It’s hard to say, exactly, but she had several splinters around the wound. Perhaps she landed on a tree branch or something of that nature. It was a nasty, deep cut, though. Whatever it was, it got her good. I’m surprised she was able to walk, let alone carry that trunk to the road.”
“Yes, I wondered that as well,” William said thoughtfully. “I had quite a difficult time lifting it myself but she seemed to be able to make good work of it.” He laughed, amused and in awe of this woman he’d grown fond of in mere hours. Not a whore, he thought again.
“Some people are able to do strange things when under stress. I wouldn’t think too much on the subject,” he patted William on the shoulder. “If there isn’t anything else, I’ll just be on my way, then.”
“Yes, of course. Th-thank you for coming,” he smiled and followed the doctor to the door. “Oh, there is one more thing…did you happen to notice any other injuries?”
“She had a nasty bump on the top of her head but she seems to be responding to stimulus and her reflexes are sharp, so I doubt there’s any cause for concern other than a bad headache.”
Well, that ruled out brain damage.
“Very good, very good. Thank you again for your help and please don’t mention this to anyone. Not until I figure out who this woman is.”
“I won’t say a word,” he waggled his eyebrows and stepped over the threshold, leaving a shocked and appalled William behind. Just what did he mean by that? He was only trying to protect this young woman from the vultures that would surely pounce upon first hearing of her whereabouts! That eyebrow wiggling was completely uncalled for! William was so angry that he was going to march straight up those stairs and check on his guest to make sure she was all right. That would teach that awful man a stern lesson about lascivious facial expressions and the indecency of them!
“Master William!” Mary, one of the housemaids shouted to him in the hallway, startling him just as his hand reached out to grab the door handle of the girl’s room.
“What is it? I’m very busy!”
“Sorry, sir,” she continued without batting an eye, used to the Master’s shouting when he was especially worried, “it’s just that you can’t go in there,” she motioned to the room the mystery woman was in.
“And why ever not? This is my house!”
“I know sir, but I sent Evelyn in there to dress her properly. Nasty gashes in the clothes she was wearin’. Then there was all that blood,” she shrugged her shoulders with a grimace. Mary was glad she wasn’t in charge of the wash that day.
“Oh,” William blushed, grateful he’d been stopped. What an embarrassing situation that would have been had he entered her bedchambers! And just what was he doing even entertaining the thought of entering her bedchambers in the first place? He’d gone mad. That’s all there was to it. “Well, see that she’s decent and ready for dinner.”
“Sir, forgive me for sayin’ so,” she said cautiously. She shouldn’t have spoken out against his orders, but he was a kind Master and the strange girl really wasn’t in any condition to be moving around. “But don’ you think she’s too weak? Wouldn’ it be better if I sent Judith with a tray?”
William sighed and cast a hand through his wild curly brown hair. Oh, what a selfish brute he was! He was so concerned with seeing her that he hadn’t even considered her condition or that she might be too weak to move about the house. “Oh, fine,” he shook his head with a huff and turned around, missing the knowing smile his housemaid gave him as he stomped down the stairs. As soon as Mary turned around, William climbed back up the stairs two at a time and said, “I’ll be delivering the tray! Fetch me when she’s decent.” He bowed awkwardly and unnecessarily and frowned at his own nerves before he pursed his lips and calmly, now that he’d gotten a handle on himself, made his way back downstairs. Mary brought her hand to her mouth to stifle her mirth.
* * *
William stood outside her bedchambers, holding a tray of soup, bread and a glass of water. He’d been standing there for almost five minutes, trying to get the nerve to enter. After he’d eaten and had a moment to calm down, he realized how foolish he’d been acting and now he was painfully aware of the fact that she would be in her bed, possibly in her nightgown, and he really should learn to think before he acted so irrationally and insisted that he deliver her dinner himself. He balanced the tray on one hand, took a brave intake of breath and knocked on the door. When no answer came, he rolled his eyes at his own stupidity. She couldn’t speak! How was she to answer to him?
He wiped his suddenly clammy hand on his trousers and turned the door knob, cracking the door slightly and popping his head into the room. William smiled when he saw her sitting upright in her bed, hands folded neatly in her lap. “I brought you something to eat,” he said kindly and entered the room, sure to leave the door open so no one would think he was doing anything improper, even though he already was just by being alone with her in her room.
She smiled warmly and pulled the patchwork quilt on the bed up, tucking it beneath her arms, following his movement towards her with her sparkling green eyes. William stopped a few feet away and blushed at her state of dress after savoring the mental image of her golden blonde hair which cascaded around one shoulder and down her arm. He was startled for a moment, however, when he heard an annoying rattling noise, only to realize it was the tray in his trembling hands. With a bashful smile he steadied himself and took a heroic step forward and placed the tray over her lap, quickly backing up to a sensible distance.
“It’s a tasty soup,” he offered, chewing on his lip as he tried to think of something to say. She ducked her head and picked up her bread roll and tore it in half. As she brought it to her mouth, she paused, mouth open, realizing he was watching her every move. She extended her arm, offering him a bite of her bread. “Oh, no,” he laughed nervously, “I’ve already eaten.” He clasped his hands in front of him and rocked on his heels, still watching her intensely. She had such delicate fingers.
She blinked rapidly and started eating, unable to meet the scrutiny of his gaze. Fortunately, William realized what he’d been doing and said apologetically, “I-I’m sorry, you must want to be alone. Forgive me,” he bowed and started to turn away only to stop in his tracks when he heard her gasp. She shook her head frantically with a smile. “You would like me to stay?” She nodded and took another bite of her bread, chewing with a smile. “All right then,” he smiled tentatively and smoothed one hand down the front of his vest as he looked around the room. “I’ll um…oh, I’ll just sit here,” he said once he’d finally located a chair in the far corner of the room.
His boots clomped on the wood planks of the floor as he dashed to the chair and pulled it with a loud screeching noise towards her bed. He winced and gave her an apologetic smile for his clumsiness. She just smiled at him and he finally sat down, crossing one leg over the other. Then he uncrossed it and placed his hands on his knees. But that wouldn’t do either and finally he reclined a bit, looking as casual as you please, and pulled one foot up over his knee and rested an elbow on the back of the chair. Once he was situated, he noticed that the girl’s shoulders were bouncing and one of her hands was covering her mouth.
“Are you laughing at me?” She shook her head mockingly, even though it was painfully obvious that she was, in fact, laughing at him. William smiled coyly, feeling a bit of confidence rise up to the surface with the ease he felt in her company. “I’m glad you find me so amusing.” Mirth still sparkling in her green depths, she cleared her throat and started on her soup. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, William perfectly content being near her and forcing himself not to stare, thank you very much, when something suddenly occurred to him. “Can you write?”
She thought for a moment and then nodded. William seemed pleased with this and stood abruptly. “I’ll return momentarily!” He darted out of the room only to return a few seconds later with a glass pen and some stationery. He picked up her empty soup bowl and bread plate and set them aside, then placed the paper on her tray and handed her the pen. She looked at the pen and then to William, unsure what to write. “Oh, um…can you tell me your name?”
To that she frowned and wrote, ‘I don’t remember.’
He seemed shocked by this and knelt by her bed, looking up at her woefully. “How can you not remember your own name?”
She shrugged her shoulders and then wrote, ‘I don’t remember anything before today.’
Good Lord! “Good Lord! Well, you must be scared to death! You don’t remember anything?” When she shook her head sadly he sighed with sympathy in his eyes. He realized then that he was holding her hand and stroking her wrist with his thumb and he pulled it back abruptly with a gasp. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
She quickly scribbled, ‘Why are you sorry?’ She rather liked his comforting gesture.
William stood up and took a few steps back, tugging on his shirt collar. “Because…I-I shouldn’t touch you so. Please forgive me,” he stumbled nervously away from her towards the door. This was madness! He was mad! He should be punished for being so bold. He had to leave her at once before he did something foolish. “I’ll send Judith to fetch your tray. Good night, Miss.” He bowed and quickly exited the room before she could write any more. She sighed and sank into her pillows, wondering what she’d done to upset him.