A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham

Author:Rachel Fordham [Fordham, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance;FIC042030;FIC042040;FIC027050
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2021-04-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

Hazel raced on bare feet through the house, confused by the pounding at the door. Her nightdress caught on a door handle. She stopped only long enough to pry it loose, then rushed on. The instant she swung the heavy wooden door open, two men rushed past her with a body in their arms.

“He was awake when we found him and insisted we bring him to his wife,” one of the men said. “He lost consciousness just after telling us where his home was.”

A deafening scream escaped her lips. It was a sound she’d never heard the likes of before. This couldn’t be Nathaniel’s bloodied face. “Who did this?”

“We heard the commotion and came running. We’re told it started as a brawl and then people started shooting. He was caught in the cross fire and left for dead, but there’s still life in him. It don’t look good. Put pressure on the wound. It might buy him some time.”

She forced her shaking hands to rip off the hem of her nightdress and pressed the torn fabric against the wound in her husband’s side. “Go, then,” she shouted without turning from her husband. “Go for help.”

A trickle of blood ran beneath Nathaniel’s lip. His right eye was swollen shut and painted in purple. Her breath came rapidly as she scoured his body, searching for other injuries, more marks and bruises, but it was the dark red soaking the compress that brought tears to her eyes.

“What happened?” she pleaded with him in a voice of sheer desperation. “Wake up and tell me what has happened. Tell me you’ll be all right.”

She put her free hand on his cheek and stroked his face. “Nathaniel, it’s Hazel. I’m here.”

His eyelids fluttered open, and she felt hope grow. He swallowed like his mouth was dry. With a weak hand, he reached up and touched her face.

“My parents. Their boat.” His words came slowly and required great effort.

“Who did this to you?” She grabbed his hand and held it tightly in her own. “What happened?”

“Sally Belle,” he said. Then a strange choking sound came from his throat. “Sally Belle.”

When his body calmed, she buried her head in his neck. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She sobbed, knowing somehow she was to blame for his pain. Every bad thing had been her fault, and now a good man, her husband, was lying in a pool of his own blood. “I’m sorry you were stuck with me.”

“No.” He shook his head. “No.”

“No?” She lifted her head and looked at him. What was he trying to say?

Once more he lifted his hand to her face, and then it fell to the bed. Anguish followed, tormenting her.

“No!” she shrieked. “No! You can’t die.”

“Hazel.” Ina was beside her. “Wake up, you’re dreaming.”

Dreams and reality blurred together as she struggled to open her eyes. The hotel room came into focus, and Ina was beside her. But her dream, it’d been a replaying of that horrible night. It’d been so real, so vivid.

“I’m sorry.

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