“Come,” Nelly told her while setting the glass aside.“Let’s get you cleaned up and prepared for when Mr.Grover arrives.”
Edwina blinked.“Who is Mr.Grover?”
A light chuckle.“Why, the gentleman who’s put you up in these rooms.Fine fellow, he is.Handsome too.”
“No… That’s Havilland.”Wasn’t that what he’d said?
“Well, whatever his name is, you’re lucky you’ve caught his attention.Now, you’d best get ready for when Mr.Grover comes to get you.”
Grover… Havilland… The man was coming to get her?
“Where am I going?”It felt like her brain was trapped in a fog.
“To the debut I mentioned.”
Her debut.That made no sense.She was too old for such things and she’d already been out in public.With Sebastian.Oh God, she’d completely forgotten about Sebastian.
“I have to go,” she said, pushing herself off the bed even though her legs felt like jelly.How long had she been here?What must her brother be thinking?And Claire… Dear, sweet Claire, left behind at Faintree Hall with her ailment.“Shoes, Nelly.I’m in need of shoes.”
“Silk slippers, you mean?”Nelly wound her arm around Edwina’s waist, steadying her.“Just wait until you see the gown you’ll be wearing.I daresay you’ll be the star of the evening.”
“No.”Edwina shoved away from Nelly and staggered sideways.
“My lady, what are you doing?”
Edwina felt Nelly’s fingers upon her arm even as she collided with a side table.The delicate piece of furniture wobbled, knocking over the perfume bottles that sat upon it.Feeling as though she were balancing on a tightrope, Edwina flung out one hand in search of purchase.
Nelly’s fingers closed more firmly around her arm, tightening even as Edwina fell into the wall, pulling Nelly with her.The woman gasped, and Edwina emitted a grunt as she bumped into the hard surface.
“You shouldn’t be moving about unassisted,” Nelly declared.“Mr.Grover warned me of this.The medicine you received for your migraine is terribly potent.Rest is required until it wears off.”
Medicine.Edwina blinked while attempting to put her cluttered thoughts in order.Was that what Mr.Grover had given her?Was he a doctor she’d sought for assistance?
No.She shook her head.If she’d been in pain, she’d have sought Sebastian’s help.He might have called a physician, but she’d be at home.
She surveyed the room she was in.A pale palette dominated the space which appeared…impersonal.Sparse and uncluttered.Lacking in personality.
Not home.Somewhere else.Somewhere foreign where she’d never been before.And the garment she wore, she realized for the first time, was unfamiliar too.A wrap, with only a thin chemise underneath.
Palm pressed against the wall for purchase, she felt her pulse race, her breaths coming faster as panic rushed through her.“Where are the clothes I had on when I left home?”
“I, um… In the wardrobe, perhaps?”
“You do not know?”
“I’m sorry, my lady, but I’ve no idea.I’ve only seen you in what you’re wearing right now.”
Which meant someone else had changed her clothing, but who?She had no recollection of it, which increased her dread.For if she could not remember that, then what else might have happened while she’d been unconscious?
“Help me dress,” she muttered.
“You need to bathe first.”
“No.”Determined to leave, Edwina tried to guide herself forward with the use of the wall.Nelly’s hand on her arm, however, counteracted her efforts.She tried shaking her off, but the woman’s grip was unrelenting.“Release me.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll face Mr.Grover’s fury if I don’t do as he asked.”
“Fine.”Giving up on the wall, Edwina swung around with every intention of forcefully prying Nelly’s fingers away.Except she underestimated her weakened state and stumbled.
