Removing him from her mind had proved impossible.She’d tried, but their shared experience had bound her to him in a way she’d never be bound to anyone else.He’d killed a man for her, had tossed her the dagger she’d used on Grover, and had shown no horror over what she’d done next.
On the contrary, he’d applauded her for doing what was required.
And he’d risked his own life to protect her.A woman to whom he owed nothing.
Whatever his choices later on, the fact remained that he’d saved her.More than that, he’d held her hair while she vomited into a bucket.He’d ensured she bathed and received clean clothes.And before parting ways with her, he’d placed her in Mr.Fairborne’s care.
Mr.Fairborne and his wife had nursed her back to health.
She’d felt safe there until her brother arrived together with Croft and Murry.
The only thing she’d been able to grant Murry in that moment was resentment.Even though what he truly deserved was her endless appreciation.
Judging from the bruises staining his rugged face, Sebastian had given him the opposite.And she, to her shame, had been glad of it then.
Now, she wished for a chance to speak with him — to properly thank him for what he had done to help her.Perhaps…
She sipped her tea while Claire did the same.
“Forgive me,” she said when she set down the cup, “but I’m horribly tired all of a sudden.Do you mind if I go and rest for a while?”
“Of course not.”Claire swiped the lingering tears from her lashes.“I should probably practice the new piano piece I’ve been working on.Perhaps I can play it for you when you wake?”
“I’d like that,” Edwina told her.
She pushed back her chair with great effort and stood, waited for Claire to do the same without offering her the assistance she would resent.Instead, Edwina took her time rounding the table while Claire collected her cane.
They left the sun room together, Claire hobbling along at an awkward gait while Edwina kept her pace deliberately slow.
“I’ll see you later then,” Edwina said when they reached the door to the music room.Claire nodded and turned into the room while Edwina continued toward the stairs.
She climbed them with sluggish steps, the only thing propelling her upward an indestructible will.
Once in her room, she glanced at her bed.The comfortable mattress and soft cotton sheets pulled at her desire to simply collapse into oblivion for a while.
She resisted the urge and went to the desk that stood below one of the windows.Once seated behind it, she opened the center drawer and pulled out a clean sheet of paper, then dipped her quill in the inkwell, and proceeded to write.
Dear Mr.Murry…
33
James stared at the piece of folded parchment he’d received.It hadn’t arrived with the regular post, but by messenger.A large blob of red wax sealed it, the emblem embedded upon it, the image of a bird in flight.
Elks had brought it to James earlier, but rather than tear it open at once, he’d put it in his pocket for later.Just in case it had come fromher.
The chance of its doing so, was slim, but the address was penned by a feminine hand, and he could think of no one else who might send him a letter.So if it were indeed she who’d done so, he wanted to be alone when he read it.
Gently, he tore the seal, doing his best to keep it from cracking.He then unfolded the paper and dropped his gaze to the bottom of the page where the sender had written their name.
His pulse leapt.
Sincerely,
Edwina Lillianne Cooper
Hunched over on the edge of his bed, James started to read.
Dear Mr.Murry,
