Escapade by Jane Aiken Hodge

Author:Jane Aiken Hodge [Hodge, Jane Aiken]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2015-09-16T04:00:00+00:00

11

When she came to herself, Beth was lying in bed, with Charlotte leaning anxiously over her. ‘What happened?’ For a moment, she could not remember.

Charlotte put a warning hand on hers. ‘You fell, Beth dear. You must have been sleep-walking. I heard you get up; too slow to stop you. You fell down the terrace steps. I am so sorry!’

There was truth in that at least. Beth was remembering it all now. Did Charlotte hope she would not? Certainly, some fast thinking must have gone on, out there on the terrace. ‘I’ve hurt my foot.’ It was stiff and ached. ‘How did you manage, Charlotte?’

‘Mr. Peabody and Herr von Achen heard you fall. They are in the next room, you know. I think I must have screamed. Oh, Beth dear, how do you feel?’

Not very strong.’ Beth had had time to think. ‘My foot hurts and my head feels strange.’ It was true about the foot. Was I unconscious long?’ Here was the chance she had hoped for, the chance to cancel the Segesta trip, and she was going to make the most of it, even if it did mean behaving like a fussy invalid.

‘Just long enough for Mr. Peabody to carry you to bed,’ Charlotte told her. ‘He has gone now to rouse the Falconis and ask if there is a doctor in Monreale.’

And von Achen was presumably quickly taking off the day clothes that would have hinted at his assignation with Charlotte, who was herself wearing an extremely becoming negligee that could almost pass for a dress.

Beth put a hand to her brow. Or had she got it all wrong?

Had the assignation been with Peabody? What was he wearing? She had to know. ‘Charlotte —’ But here was Lisa Falconi, full of anxious questions. The chance for private talk was gone.

There was no doctor in Monreale, but Lisa said there was a good one in Alcamo. ‘He retired there from Palermo, just the other day. I am sure you would find the ride there in the lettiga restful, poor Beth; and then he could look after you, if you did not feel quite like going on to Segesta.’

‘Nonsense.’ Peabody was standing in the doorway, holding a lantern. He was fully dressed, Beth saw. ‘After a fall like that, Miss Prior should not be moved until she feels very much more the thing. And when she is moved, it must be back to Palermo.’

‘But all our plans —’ protested Lisa.

‘Could we not talk about it in the morning?’ Beth made her tone plaintive, and disliked doing so. ‘I am sure I will feel better after a night’s sleep. But whether I shall be fit to go on… I am so very sorry, Countess.’ She reached out to touch Charlotte’s hand, busy with cold compresses. ‘Charlotte?’ It was at once request and command.

‘Yes, of course you must get some sleep, poor Beth. Let us talk about it in the morning, Countess.’ Charlotte was suddenly decisive. ‘But you will be better in the morning, won’t you, Beth?’ she implored, as she settled her for the night.

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