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CHAPTER SEVEN

He noted that Rebecca’s eyes were closed, and there was a bump on the side of her head. She was completely soaked from being in the elements and her skin was freezing to the touch.

“Wake up, Rebecca,” he cried out to her, but she didn’t move.

Terrified to do so, he placed his hand on her heart and then released a deep sigh of relief when he felt her heartbeat.

“My lord,” the maid called to him, her tone fearful. “You must get her back to the inn. The others are alive, just injured. Send back someone to transport them, and I’ll tend to them as best as I can until they arrive.”

Harrison was unsure but finally nodded and carefully cradled her in his arms, uncertain if moving her was the right thing to do. But her maid was right that he must get her to safety, else she might end up in a far worse state.

“I have you,” he whispered to her as he carried her towards his horse.

It took far longer than he would have liked to get atop his horse and secure her for the ride, but he finally managed it with the help of her maid.

Once he started his horse, he couldn’t move very fast, but with each minute that passed, he was closer to getting her to safety.

After what felt like hours, he reached the inn, riding into the stable and safe from the rain.

“Help me with her,” he called over to the groom.

The man jumped up and helped lift Rebecca down, who still hadn’t come to.

“Give her back to me,” Harrison said when his feet reached the ground. His tone was harsher than he intended, his voice riddled with fear. “Go for the doctor now and bring him to me. Tell him Lord Mulgrave requires his presence immediately. Do not return without him.”

He spotted another groom. “You there,” he started. “There is an overturned carriage a couple of miles down the road there. Take a few men and help transport them back here. The doctor shall be here soon.”

The men all set off to do as they were instructed and Harrison moved as quickly as he could, rushing back into the rain while he cradled Rebecca. When he reached the entrance to the inn, he swept inside.

“Send up a bath to my chamber. And have the doctor brought to me as soon as he arrives,” Harrison called out to the man. He continued up the staircase without stopping, taking her to his chamber.

He kicked the door closed behind him, then laid her down on his bed. Images of the previous evening flashed through his mind, and his heart pounded harder with worry.

“I’m going to get you out of these wet clothes,” he said to her, uncertain that she could hear him.

Before he did so, he rushed to his wardrobe and pulled out one of his shirts for her. It was the best he could do to protect her modesty once he removed her clothing.

Returning to her, he carefully removed all of her wet garments and tossed them to the side. Then slid each of her arms into his shirt and buttoned the front so she was covered. His shirt only fell almost to her knees, but it was better than nothing.

He positioned her so that her head lay on his pillow and then covered her with the blankets. Next, he restarted the fire in the chamber and added a few more logs until heat filled the room.

Harrison drew a deep breath and then returned to her side, sitting beside her on the bed.

Using his hand, he brushed her wet hair back from her face.

He was certain she didn’t even realize how beautiful she was.

Closing his eyes and fighting to calm his breathing, he hoped he’d have the chance to tell her so.

It was all his fault. If he had just gone to her right away, she never would have left. Or at least they would have been together and he could have kept her safe.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. “Enter.”

“My lord,” a tall, slender man said, entering the room carrying a leather case. “I am Doctor Falls. Tell me what has happened.”

Harrison recounted what little he knew and pointed out the bump on Rebecca’s head.

“If you will wait outside,” the doctor said, “I shall examine her.”

“I’m staying,” Harrison commanded. No part of his tone indicated that he’d be moved on the matter.

“Are you her husband?” the doctor asked, assessing him.

Harrison released a deep sigh. “No. At least not yet.” He’d decided during the agonizing moments when he held on to her in the rain, pleading for her to survive, that he was marrying her. As long as she’d have him.

The doctor looked as if he might argue, but Harrison didn’t budge and gripped Rebecca’s hand.

“Very well,” the doctor finally said, moving to the bed. “I need you to step back.”

Harrison climbed from the bed and stood behind the doctor, watching him work. He sent up silent pleas that she would open her big brown eyes and look at him.

After several moments, the doctor turned to face him.

“Her pulse is strong, but she is still quite cold. We must get her warm. I don’t believe the blow to her head to be of great concern.

The lump doesn’t seem to indicate major trauma.

But we will do a few cognitive tests once we can warm and awaken her. ”

As if on cue, there was another knock on the door. Harrison called them in, and it was a couple of servants bringing up the water for the bath.

“We mustn’t warm her too quickly,” the doctor warned. “Make the bath slightly warm and bring up more hot water. We will slowly get her to her proper temperature.”

The staff followed the doctor’s directions and brought the additional water, as requested. Once the bath was set, the servants departed.

“Help me get her into the bath,” the doctor said to Harrison.

Harrison quickly kicked off his boots and shrugged out of his coats, then cradled her in his arms again.

“You’re going to be all right,” he whispered to her.

It was more for his benefit. He trembled as he carried her.

The fear that he might lose her terrified him more than anything ever had before in his life.

“Set her in the water,” the doctor instructed.

Ignoring the man, Harrison stepped over the side of the tub and sat down with her. He laid her longways down his body, so her back leaned against his front. The water was quite close to the top of the tub but didn’t overflow.

The doctor touched her forehead and then gripped her wrist to check her pulse. He seemed satisfied and then scooped a portion of water out of the tub using one of the empty buckets.

After several minutes, the doctor added some of the hot water to the tub. The water was noticeably warmer, while Harrison rubbed her arms.

“Come back to me,” he whispered against the top of her head.

He wanted to say more, but his throat was thick with emotion.

Memories of his mother lying lifeless in her bed came flooding back, and the pain he felt that day overtook him.

He had pushed it aside for so long, refusing to feel any of it.

And the fear that he might lose the woman he loved threatened to overtake him.

He loved her? He questioned if he could allow himself to do so, but he knew it was no use. His heart was lost to her the moment she first stumbled into his chamber. He was hers, whether or not she wanted him.

Harrison wasn’t certain if his mind was playing tricks on him, but he thought she mumbled something. “Angel?”

The doctor added a bit more hot water, and Harrison waited with bated breath, hoping she would say something. Give him some kind of sign that she would return to him.

“Please, Rebecca,” he whispered. “I need you.”

A small whimper escaped her pouty lips. “Harrison.”

“Yes. I’m here.”

The doctor stepped closer. “Let’s get her out of the water so I might examine her again.”

Several moments later, Harrison had dried her and changed her again into a fresh shirt, then settled her back into his bed.

Her eyes blinked open, and she looked right at him. “Harrison.”

“There you are,” he said, smiling at her. The smile was forced as he was still terrified that something might be wrong with her, but he didn’t wish to scare her.

“What happened?” she asked, her voice barely above a coarse whisper.

“I believe you were thrown from your carriage.”

Rebecca’s eyes widened, and she tried to sit up, but Harrison stopped her.

“But,” she started. “Is Maggie all right?”

“They were being brought in when I arrived,” the doctor said. “Everyone appeared to be in good shape. I’ll tend to them next.”

The doctor completed several tests and asked Rebecca a few questions.

“You are one lucky lady that Lord Mulgrave came upon you when he did,” the doctor said. “But I believe you should be well after a few days of rest.”

“And I shall see that she gets it,” Harrison said, giving her a small smile.

“I shall leave you in capable hands and ensure the others fare as well as you,” the doctor said. He smiled at Rebecca and then nodded at Harrison before departing.

Harrison immediately knelt beside the bed. “I know it’s fast, and some may think we are mad, but will you marry me? When I thought I lost you”—his voice trailed off and he drew a deep breath—“I want you at my side.”

“Harrison,” she started, her expression pained. “I don’t want you offering marriage because of last night, or today, for that matter. You don’t wish to marry. I knew that going into this.”

He took her hand and squeezed it. “You are correct. I didn’t wish to marry…until I met you. I came to tell you that this morning, when I learnt you had departed. That is how I found you. I was coming after you to beg you to have me. To tell you that…well…”

“Have I rendered the rake speechless again?” she asked, amusement in her tone.

He couldn’t help but smile, seeing that his beautiful, clever woman had returned to him. “My rake days are over. There is only one woman for me. I love you, Rebecca. And I don’t expect you to feel the same?—”

“Well, I know I love you, Harrison,” she blurted, interrupting him. “I hurried away this morning because I was heartbroken, believing you’d never feel the same.”

He rose and sat beside her on the bed, then wrapped her in his arms. “I love you so much, it frightens me to even contemplate the notion of losing you. So you must always stay with me.”

“Then I suppose I shall marry you,” she said, a playful tone in her voice. “It would be far more convenient if you insist on following me about.”

“As soon as you are well, we shall get a special license and marry right away,” he said, kissing her temple.

“How long until you can teach more of the devilish things you know?” she asked, nestling into him.

He laughed and held her close. “If you rest today, I shall deny you nothing tonight, Angel.”

She looked up at him. “I believe I shall enjoy being married to you.”