A Stroke of Malice by Anna Lee Huber

Author:Anna Lee Huber [Huber, Anna Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-04-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Though later I couldn’t recall the details, somehow, someway, at the last second, my hand finally found purchase on the railing. Gripping it with all my might, I wrenched my shoulder as my body twisted and slammed into the side of the balustrade, bringing me to an abrupt stop.

Pain exploded in my arm and along the side of my rib cage. My breath sawed in and out of me in sharp gasps. But I hadn’t fallen. I hadn’t fallen.

“Oh, my dear. Mrs. Gage,” I heard someone below exclaim. “Oh, go to her, go to her now, young man.”

It wasn’t until the pounding feet reached me, and a footman dressed in the Bowmonts’ green and black livery offered me his arm in support, that I realized I was shaking. His eyes were round in his face, and I could tell what he was thinking. The ghost.

I lowered my gaze, accepting his assistance to rise to my feet from where I’d sunken down on one of the cold steps. Carefully, he guided me downward, where I could now see Lady Bearsden and the dowager duchess watching me in grave concern.

“Are you well, my dear?” Lady Bearsden demanded to know as she bustled forward to meet us at the base of the stairs. “I must tell you, coming around that corner and finding you clinging to that banister as if you were about to topple over gave me quite a fright. Did you trip?”

“I-I . . .” I tried to swallow, but my throat was so dry. “I don’t know,” I managed to croak.

“Well, come over here and sit down, sit down. We’ve sent for Mr. Gage,” she explained while the footman helped me over to a padded bench pushed against the wall. “He should be here any moment.” She gasped. “My goodness, but you’re as pale as a sheet. You really must take more care in your condition.”

“For goodness’ sake, give the girl some air,” the dowager duchess stepped forward to remonstrate. “I’m sure she knows perfectly well what’s at stake. Reminding her does not help matters.” While not precisely comforting, her stern voice and unflinching gaze did help to steady me. “Robert, fetch Lady Darby a glass of brandy.”

The footman hurried off to do her bidding, nearly colliding with Gage as he hastened through the doorway. “Kiera! What’s happened? What’s wrong?” he asked as he fell to one knee in front of me. His eyes anxiously surveyed me from head to toe, lingering on the rounded swell of my abdomen.

“Nearly fell down the stairs, that’s what happened,” Lady Bearsden interjected before I could gather the words to speak. “And gave us a terrible fright.”

Gage kept my hands gripped in one of his larger ones while he reached up to brush back a tendril of curls that had fallen from the bandeau in my hair, tucking it behind my ear. “Your condition truly has made you clumsy, hasn’t it?” He spoke lightly, but his features were taut with alarm.

A small smile

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