Page 69 of A Daring Pursuit

“Quite right, Miss Wimbley.” His own voice was hoarse with emotion.

“I’m terribly thirsty, sir.” Her attempts to rise failed.

He shot to his feet, toppling the chair behind, quickly moving to assist her. “Careful now.”

“My head feels as if trampled beneath a runaway carriage, dragging my entire body along.” She pressed the back of her hand to her head. “What happened?”

“Don’t talk just yet.” He poured out a small glass of water and went to hand it to her, but her hand was shaking too violently. He set it to her lips. “Slowly, love.”

She drank furiously. “More.”

He did as she… demanded… with joy touching his heart. Her hands appeared steadier and he allowed her to manage the glass on her own. “Are you hungry?”

“A little.” She handed the glass back.

“I’ve some bread here, if that will suffice. I’ll ring for broth. I don’t think you should have more than that just yet.”

“Why? What do you mean?”

“Do you remember what happened?”

She started to shake her head then, wincing, stopped. “No.”

“You’ve been unconscious for almost twelve hours.”

Her luminescent eyes widened, bathed by the low glow of flickering candlelight. “I-I don’t understand.”

Pasha rushed in. “I heard something fall.”

“It was my chair,” Noah told her. “I’m thrilled to report Miss Wimbley is back among the living.” His jest fell flat in his ears.

“Oh, thank the heavens.” Pasha hurried over and righted the chair.

“Do you think you could chase down some broth? Nothing heavier,” he cautioned.

“Of course.” She rushed back out.

“I demand to know what happened, sir.” Geneva’s bold impatience relieved him to no end. Also reminded him of her somewhat reckless nature.

“First of all, my name is Noah. You will henceforth address me as such.”

“All right,” she said meekly and completely uncharacteristically. “Will you enlighten me now?”

“You fell off the cliff.”

“Do not toy with me, Mr.—er, Noah. As I appear to be alive, I couldn’t have possibly fallen off the cliff. That jest is most inappropriate, sir.”

“I wish Iwerejoking. Thankfully, you landed on the path below.” Shuddering, he fell back in his chair, unable to bring himself to tell her how close she’d been to actually tumbling to the beach below.

“Oh, dear. You’ve gone quite pale. Perhaps we should call for your vinaigrette?”

“You don’t remember?”

She started to shake her head again but stopped—again. “Nothing comes to mind. Other than the cold.” Her eyes snapped to his. “I remember being cold.”

As if punctuating her words, a clap of thunder rattled the windows. Rain pounded hard against the pains until Noah thought the glass would break.

Irritation flooded him. “You hadn’t even worn a cloak.” He grabbed her hand. It had warmed. Fit so perfectly within his. “God, you could have been killed. And it would have been all my fault.”