The Great Estate by Sherri Browning

Author:Sherri Browning
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2015-07-22T04:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

When Sophia woke again, it was still dark but Gabriel was no longer at her side. She sat up. Had he gone back to his own bed? She felt as if she’d been asleep for days, but it couldn’t have been more than a few hours considering the darkness outside. Reaching across the bed, she clicked on the light and squinted to make out the clock on her mantel. Eight in the morning? That couldn’t be right, considering the lack of light. Eight at night? Had she slept a whole day? Her clock must be wrong. She rang for Jenks. Jenks would clear up any confusion.

Her maid came not a minute after Sophia rang for her. She must not have been far off. “Lady Averford. Thank goodness.”

“Thank goodness? Was there some doubt about my health?”

The last time she had slept for days had been after she’d given birth to a healthy son and slipped into a fever straight afterward. When she woke, she had been greeted with the news that her beautiful boy had died. The memory made her apprehensive to hear what Jenks had to say.

“No doubt exactly, but Mrs. Mallows is eager to see you. She wants to apologize for the elixir. She might have gotten a bit carried away with the herbs. How are you feeling?”

“The elixir, of course. Was there something wrong with it?” Sophia made a quick evaluation of all her limbs and parts. “I feel perfectly well. No aches or pains. Clear head. Awareness is slowly returning.”

Jenks nodded. “As expected. Good. Are you hungry?”

“What time is it, Jenks? Where’s Gabriel?”

“It’s just after eight in the evening, my lady. You’ve been asleep for almost a whole day.”

“A whole day?” She managed not to gasp. “And my husband?”

“Lord Averford was hoping to return before you woke, but he missed the last train out of London. He’s staying the night at Averford House.”

“Averford House? What’s he doing in London?”

“He had business, urgent. He wanted to bring you with him, but after the elixir had such an extraordinary effect on you, well… He decided it was best to go, tend his affairs, and get back as soon as possible.”

Had she only imagined him in bed with her? She looked at the empty space beside her.

“He stayed with you until the morning,” Jenks added. “At your request.”

“I’m glad. I wish I’d been awake to see him off.” Urgent business in London? The divorce! He had gone to file papers, and he would come back and ask her to agree to a divorce. But why would he have shared her bed if he were rushing off to divorce her? She had to admit that it made no sense. Perhaps other business had sent him to London.

“Would you mind terribly if I called for Mrs. Mallows? She has been frantic all day, waiting to make sure you woke up. I know it’s unusual, but she would feel much better to see you.”

“I suppose it’s a little late for me to dress and get down to dinner.

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