A boyish smirk had lifted the edge of Havilland’s lips.“Could we not pretend for a moment that we have been?”When Edwina failed to respond right away, he’d retreated a step.“If luck is on my side, I’ll secure that introduction when next we meet.Hopefully tonight, at Lady Heathbrooke’s musicale.”
Edwina drew a ragged breath.
He’d turned away, she recalled, and had started sauntering off.She’d headed toward the park entrance a few moments later, which was when the street urchin attempted to steal her reticule.
Havilland had suddenly reappeared.He’d sent the scamp scurrying, then offered Edwina comfort.His carriage was waiting nearby, and he’d once again offered to see her home, this time with greater insistence.
Shaken by the incident, she’d agreed.She’d even accepted the drink he’d claimed would help calm her nerves.
And then…
A blur, until she’d woken up here.
The door on the opposite side of the room beckoned, yet it seemed so hopelessly far away.Perhaps if she paused for a second and tried to gather her strength, her legs might hold her.Yet even as the idea formed in some faraway part of her brain, the arm propping her up began giving way.
She groaned in frustration and dug her fingers into the mattress.Get up.Move.Her mind screamed for her to do so, and yet she stayed, sitting on the edge of the bed while staring toward the blasted door.
Time vanished, like sand slipping through an hourglass.
Edwina blinked.The door swung open, and a fuzzy figure appeared.“Havilland?”
“I’m right here,” the familiar voice assured her, and then he was, his firm arm wrapping around her to hold her steady.“You collapsed in the carriage.”
“Yes, I…I drank from your flask and…” She squeezed her eyes shut as another flash of pain speared her skull.
“I’m so sorry,” Havilland murmured.“I never should have offered you such strong liquor, but you were so distressed, and I really wanted to help.”
It felt like her thoughts kept sliding sideways.Why couldn’t she think straight?“Where am—”
A firm knock at the door preceded the masculine voice that spoke next, “May I come in?”
“Yes.”Havilland squeezed Edwina’s shoulder.“You’re going to feel a lot better soon, I promise.”
She shook her head while eyeing the older man who now stood nearby.“I just want to go home.”
“And so you shall,” Havilland promised.“Your brother has been informed of your whereabouts and should be here shortly.In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy some fresh lemonade.”
A glass was pressed to Edwina’s lips.
Parched as she was, she sipped the cool liquid and savored the soothing effect.Bliss.Edwina’s eyelids slid shut.“Who’s….”She couldn’t think of the right word.
A sharp sound followed, then a mild, vinegar-scented smoke filled the air.
“You need to give her this now,” the other man said.
When Edwina opened her eyes next, Havilland was leaning toward her.Something wasn’t quite right.
Get up.Leave.
Her body refused to comply.Instead of rising, she fell back onto the bed with a gasp.Fear rushed through her.
“Here,” the other man said.
Havilland took something from him, then smiled down at Edwina.“Don’t worry.You’re going to love this.”
Despite his soothing tone, Edwina didn’t believe him, but she was too weak to fight him off and attempt to flee.So she watched, dread rising in her veins as he set a long pipe to his lips and inhaled.
The smell of vinegar-scented smoke grew stronger.
