phantom knights 04 - deceit in delaware by vantana amalie

Author:vantana, amalie [vantana, amalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: TVAAW
Published: 2015-06-30T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

GUINEVERE

Arthur had seen us when Monroe’s guards were chasing Luther’s carriage, and he had turned his horse around and come back. As soon as he saw Bess, he slid from his horse and began checking her wounds. When he pronounced that no bones were broken, he helped me to get Bess upon a horse, though she clenched her teeth against moans and sobs the whole time. Arthur decided to ride with Bess to ensure that she did not fall off her horse and injure herself further. We rode to the cottage that Bess had been staying at, and when we stopped outside the door, it opened at once and my aunt appeared.

“What has happened? Constance?”

Arthur shot me a confused glance as he helped Bess from the horse. She took one step toward the house, and then collapsed.

“Bess!”

Arthur caught her before she hit the ground. Scooping her up into his arms, he carried her into the cottage and up the stairs to the second bedchamber. When he laid her upon the bed, my aunt and I hovered over her.

“Fetch the doctor, and her husband, at once,” Aunt Johanna instructed.

Arthur left, and Aunt Johanna had me assist her in removing Bess’s boots, stockings, hat, and gloves. She unbuttoned the waistcoat that Bess wore beneath her simple black coat. There was nothing else we could do, for neither of us wanted to touch her coat and risk waking her. Aunt Johanna said that it was best if she rested, so long as her breathing did not halt.

I told her about what had transpired and how Bess had come to be injured. When I mentioned the blood, Aunt Johanna turned away and left the bedchamber without a word.

Pouring some water from the basin into the wash bowl, I dipped a cloth into it and began cleansing Bess’s brow and face, pleading, as I had done so many times as a child, that if there be a Lord, that He not allow Bess to die.

Sometime later there was a thundering in the yard, and then the front door burst open. I heard several voices at once, and then someone was running up the stairs.

As the door flew open, Sam stood there, his face seeking out his wife. He moved toward her as if in a daze, before dropping to his knees beside her bed and lifting her hand to his lips. There her hand remained even when the doctor appeared in the doorway.

Listing Bess’s injuries for him, I faltered when it came to the blood. Sam’s gaze never wavered from Bess’s face, but he did lower her hand to her side.

The doctor thanked me and told me that I could go. I did, but at the door I paused when Sam told the doctor that he was remaining in the room with his wife. And should the doctor think to try to force him out, he would find himself tossed out the window.

Closing the door, I leaned against it, allowing my eyes to drift closed.

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