And then,thump. Then nothing.
***
Pippa’s hearing returned to her first of all. There was a clamour all about her, half a dozen voices talking all at once.
Katherine’s voice emerged from the chaos first of all, speaking authoritatively.
“You must step back, Aunt Bridget. Give her some air. The physician will be here shortly.”
A bubbling sob erupted from somewhere above Pippa’s head. She raised her brow, unable to recall where she was or how she’d gotten there. She was lying on a stone floor, it seemed, the cold leeching through her thin morning dress.
I can’t move. Why can’t I move?
Panic surged through Pippa’s consciousness. She was faintly aware that there’d been a fall. Indeed, that was it, a fall. An accident. She and her mother had been fighting over the violin, she had been pushed, and then… then, nothing.
A male voice sounded. “Kat, a guest has arrived.”
Katherine gave a most unladylike curse. “Aguest? At this hour? Send them away, whoever it is. Oh, and somebody must go to tell Lavinia and William. This is serious. They’ll be concerned.”
A guest. A memory stirred. Wassheexpecting a guest?
In a rush, Pippa remembered.Nathan. Nathan was coming today, to talk about their future, to tell her that he loved her, to begin their courtship officially. She must speak to him!
Pippa managed to open her eyes a crack and tried to force out some words.
All that came out was an incoherent burble.
Her vision was blurred, but Pippa could make out the blur of Katherine, leaning over her, and her mother, kneeling by her head. At once, Katherine leaned closer, taking her hand.
“Pip, darling? Did you say something? I think she’s coming around.”
“She can’t stay here, lying on the cold floor,” came Timothy’s voice. “She’ll catch her death of cold.”
Bridget gave a moan of anguish.
“She can’t be moved yet, not until the physician says so,” Katherine said firmly. “But you’re right. Somebody go and fetch blankets, and for heaven’s sake, send away the guest. Pip, what did you say? What do you need?”
Pippa wanted to lick her lips to moisten them – they felt dry and cracked, as though they would peel off if she tried to smile – but her tongue was heavy in her mouth. A searing pain was shooting through her head, too.
“Violin,” she managed.
Bridget hiccoughed. “I have your violin, Pippa, darling. I’ll keep it quite, quite safe for you, I absolutely promise. Oh, my darling girl, what have I done?”
Katherine threw a sharp glance at her aunt. “Yes, Aunt, whathaveyou done?”
Pippa was faintly aware of darkness nibbling at the edge of her vision, threatening oncoming unconsciousness. She didn’t have much long left, it seemed. However, she swallowed thickly and forced out another word.
“Accident,” she whispered.
The last thing Pippa saw before she melted away into unconsciousness was her mother, a hand pressed over her mouth to muffle sobs. The last thing she heard was Katherine’s voice, tinged with panic.
“Whereisthat physician?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nathan was shown into one of the parlours, with a promise of tea to come. His nerves were jumping inside him, but there was excitement there, too.
Somehow, he knew that Lady Randall would not be able to talk Pippa out of her feelings for him. She was of age, and she was determined enough to know what she wanted.
