Page 22 of The Earl That Got Away (Sirens in Silk #2)

Chapter Eighteen

P art as friends?” Hawk repeated. They could never be friends. He’d once told her as much. Didn’t she see that? He could either love her or hate her. He could never countenance anything as neutral as being her friend.

A scream sounded from the secret room, echoing through the study. Alarm shot through Hawk. He darted into the secret passage. The screaming got louder, piercing his ears. He heard footsteps and realized that Naila was behind him.

“That’s Nadine screaming,” she said anxiously. “I do hope that nothing has happened to one of the boys.”

They reached the stairwell that Hawk had instructed them to avoid.

“It’s Hind,” Nadine screamed. “She fell down the stairs. She wanted to see what was down there.”

Hawk quickly made his way down the rickety steps, followed closely by Kareem.

He cursed to himself. He should never have allowed the group into the secret passage without leading the way.

Harm had come to one of his guests because he’d allowed himself to be distracted by Naila.

Now her young cousin might be seriously injured while under his care and protection.

“Ghassan, maybe you should take the boys back to the main part of the house,” he heard Naila instruct her brother-in-law. “It is probably best for them to be away.”

Dread trickled through Hawk. There was no telling what they would find at the bottom of the steps, no way of knowing how badly hurt Hind was. The girl was in a crumpled heap at the bottom of the stairs.

“She isn’t conscious,” Kareem said.

“We need to get her some help.” Hawk scooped Hind into his arms and carried her up the stairs. Nadine continued to scream as he carried the senseless girl back into his study.

Crossing over to the leather sofa, he gently set her down. “Ring the bell,” he directed Naila. “Summon the footman.”

Pale-faced, she rushed to do as he asked, tugging urgently on the bell pull.

The footman appeared within a minute or two. “Summon the doctor immediately,” Hawk barked. “Do not return without him.”

“Yes, my lord.” The footman hurried away.

“Why did this happen?” Nadine moaned, sinking into a chair. “I’ll be blamed if Hind is seriously hurt.”

Hawk and Naila knelt beside Hind, examining her colorless visage.

“She must have hit her head,” Naila said.

He nodded. “That would explain why she is senseless.”

Concern lined the planes of her face. “We won’t know how bad it is until she reawakens.”

Guilt tugging at him, he reached for Naila’s hand and squeezed. “She will be all right. She has to be.”

She looked into his eyes. “I pray that you are right.”

“I’ll move her into a guest chamber. She’ll be more comfortable in a bed.”

She set a staying hand on his forearm. “We should wait. If she has broken something, moving her could make the injury worse.”

“You have the right of it, of course.” He admired how she managed to keep her wits about her in such a dire situation.

Naila rose and went to her sister. Kareem stood by Nadine, trying to comfort her.

“Nadine,” Naila coaxed in gentle tones, “there is nothing to be done for Hind now. Why don’t you go to your bedchamber and rest until we have news?”

“I am the eldest sister,” Nadine pouted. “I should be in charge, not you.”

“Quite right,” she said soothingly. “That is all the more reason for you to be ready and rested for when Hind wakes up. She will need you then.”

“That sounds reasonable,” Kareem said. “Don’t you think so Um Abdallah?”

“And I promise to come find you as soon as the doctor examines Hind,” Naila reassured her. “That is when we will know what we are dealing with.”

“Maybe you are right.” Nadine heaved herself up from the chair. “I am very tired. You have no idea how exhausting it is to have children. You are so fortunate that all you have to think about is yourself.”

Intense dislike slammed through Hawk. He didn’t care for the way Nadine talked down to her sister.

Naila was ten times the woman her elder sister could ever hope to be.

He’d noted the way Naila deftly managed the elder sister’s conceits while also looking after her nephews and all of her other family members.

The Darwishes might not realize it, but Naila was central to their family.

It began to dawn on him that she might actually be the heart of the family.

Once Kareem ushered Nadine out, Naila returned to her cousin, dropping to her knees beside the girl. She gently stroked Hind’s hand. “You are going to be fine,” she said soothingly to her cousin’s inert form. “Everything will be well.”

Emotion swelled in Hawk’s chest as he watched Naila tend to the girl.

The lulling sound of her voice had a calming effect on him as well.

Witnessing her quiet capability prompted him to begin to see her in a new light.

He’d been so busy comparing the subdued, more mature version of Naila to the lively young girl he met in Philadelphia that he’d failed to appreciate the woman she was now.

Instead of losing that young girl, Naila had incorporated her into the person she’d become.

The vivacious girl he once knew was still there—he’d certainly gotten a glimpse of her at Strickland’s wedding ball—but this Naila harnessed all the best parts of her into the self-possessed woman before him now.

A formidable woman who exuded calm, quiet power and restraint.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked her, his voice tender.

She looked up. “Me?” she said with some surprise. “No, thank you. I just wish the doctor was already here.”

He grimaced. “As do I.” Where the hell was the doctor?

She contemplated the expression on his face. “You mustn’t blame yourself.”

“How can I not?” Guilt stabbed at him. “I should have led the way in the secret passage.”

“You warned everyone about the stairs.”

“I should have been there. But I allowed myself to be distracted.”

Understanding lit her face. “Then I suppose we are both to blame.”

“You are blameless.”

A hint of a wistful smile touched her full lips. “We both know that is not true.” She turned away to refocus on her cousin. She stroked the girl’s forehead, and the thin gold bracelets on her wrist jingled. And then he saw it. His eyes widened.

“The bracelet.” His voice was hoarse. “That’s the one I gave you.”

“Yes.” She fingered the small pearl on the bracelet.

“You kept it. After all these years.”

She nodded. “I wear it every day.”

“Why?” He couldn’t help asking.

She avoided his gaze. “It is precious to me.”

He stared at her low-cast eyes. Thick, fringed dark lashes fanned the satiny skin of her cheekbones. His throat constricted as he silently willed her to look at him so that he could see the true answer in her eyes.

“You were precious to me when I gave it to you,” he said. And remain so.

She nodded faintly, still not looking at him. “Those were the happiest days of my life.”

“And of mine.” He answered honestly before he could censor himself.

“I’m sorry,” she said faintly.

“For what?”

“For so many things.” The cords of her throat moved. “That I didn’t hold on tighter. That I didn’t come to find you sooner.”

“Find me?” He frowned, completely confused. “When did you look for me?”

“But you were already gone.” Anguish coated her words. “It was too late.”

“When was this?” he pressed. “I don’t understand.”

Hind’s sudden moan cut through the air. Naila whipped her attention to the girl, her conversation with Hawk completely forgotten.

“ Habiti? ” she asked urgently. “Can you hear me?”

“You’re practically yelling in my ear,” Hind grumbled, her eyelids fluttering. “I’m not deaf.”

Naila laughed, exchanging a relieved look with Hawk. “How do you feel?”

“Like someone dropped a heavy rock on my head,” Hind murmured before drifting off.

“She woke up,” Hawk said. “Surely that’s an encouraging sign.”

“But she’s out again.” Naila’s forehead crinkled. “That’s worrisome, don’t you think?”

The sound of approaching footsteps sounded in the corridor. “Maybe that’s the doctor,” he said, rising. Dr. Hughes appeared on the threshold. Hawk went to him and explained how Hind was injured.

“She was awake,” Naila added when Hawk finished. “Just for a moment and then she fell asleep.”

“I see,” Dr. Hughes said. “Let’s have a look.” He examined Hind quickly and then supervised the footmen as they moved the girl to a guest chamber. Hawk and Naila waited anxiously in the corridor for news of the girl’s condition.

“Do you trust this doctor?” Naila asked.

“I do. I’ve had some dealings with him,” he reassured her. “Miss Hind is in good hands.”

She nervously played with her bracelets. “That is good to hear.”

Hawk’s eye caught again on the bracelet he’d given her years ago.

The one she’d worn every day since. What did it mean?

And when had she come looking for him? He wanted nothing more than to continue their discussion.

But now was not the right time. His focus needed to be on the young woman who’d been injured under his roof.

“We should probably send word to Strickland and the duchess,” he said.

Naila nodded. “Raya would want to know if Hind is seriously hurt. But let’s wait to hear what the doctor says before we decide anything.”

“Hopefully, we’ll have word soon.” Sitting on a padded bench, they waited together outside of Hind’s chamber.

It felt good to be on the same team as Naila.

This moment of détente was far better than harboring years of resentment, which sapped a great deal of his energy.

They both stood when the door to Hind’s chamber opened.

“I conducted a full examination,” Dr. Hughes told them.

“And?” Hawk said.

“It appears she has suffered a commotion of the brain.”

“How serious is it?” Naila asked. “Can we expect a complete recovery?”

“I expect so. Fortunately, she is awake and talking,” the doctor said. “She suffered a mild sprain of her wrist, but that should heal quickly. Naturally, she should not be moved for at least a fortnight. She requires complete rest and quiet.”