Page 45 of Miss Beresford and the Beast

“To be sure, he was not,” Lucy interjected tartly. “He must be as tall as that wall of his. And twice as wide.”

“Lucy, don’t be absurd,” Charlotte said.

“And his face!” Lucy went on, unchastened. She gave an eloquent shudder, making her upswept brown curls tremble in their pins. “All burned up like a demon from the pit.”

“A fitting end,” Mrs. Goodenough pronounced.

Charlotte had had just about enough of such talk. “What nonsense. He can’t be a demon, can he? Not if he’s just saved my life.”

“Never know what tricks a demon is up to, do you, miss?” the housekeeper retorted. “Might be he had other designs when he took you in. Lucky the constable found you when he did.”

“Constable Reeves seemed satisfied enough with Lord Eversleigh’s story when he left,” Charlotte reminded her. “It’s the same story I told the constable, with no discrepancies.”

“But you weren’t awake the whole of the time, were you?” Lucy interjected. “You were lying in a bed somewhere in that house, completely at that monster’s mercy.” She turned to the doctor. “Is she likely to suffer a recurrence of her symptoms? To fall into another coma like that boy in Upper Beadwell?”

Charlotte groaned. “I wasn’t in a⁠—”

“I shouldn’t think it likely,” Dr. Calthrop said. Collecting his bag, he moved to take his leave. “Keep her in bed for a few days. See that she’s well nourished. Plenty of peace and quiet to start. Fresh air after that. Walking, within reason.” He opened the chamber door. “I’ll call again tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Dr. Calthrop,” Lucy said. “Mrs. Goodenough will show you out.”

Mrs. Goodenough crossed to accompany the doctor. They exited the room together, closing the door after them.

Lucy sat down on the mattress next to Charlotte. It was the first time they’d been alone all day. “So much trouble you’ve caused us. I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“It could have happened to anyone,” Charlotte said.

“Nothing like this ever happens to anyone else. Adventures pass the rest of us by, but they never fail to come to you. And you never fail to heed their call. Though you should, Charlotte. You really should.”

“It was an adventure,” Charlotte acknowledged. “But not a dangerous one. Aside from my head wound, I mean. And you heard the doctor⁠—”

“Oh, but I wish I’d known you’d been injured!” Lucy burst out before Charlotte could finish. “If I had, I would never have acted so rashly!”

Charlotte lifted her brows. “In what way rashly?”

A spasm of guilt crossed Lucy’s face.

Charlotte felt an answering flicker of apprehension. “In what way, Lucy?” she asked again.

“I thought you’d gone.”

“Gone? Gone where?”

“Home, I presumed. Where else?”

“Back to Somerset? Without telling you?” Charlotte laughed at the ridiculous suggestion. “Why on earth would I have done that?”

“Any number of reasons. The first being the obvious.”

“It’s not obvious to me.”

“Boredom,” Lucy pronounced direly.

Charlotte’s amusement faded. It was replaced by a prickle of regret. “You think I’m bored with you?”

“Oh, not with me. With this place.” Lucy gestured vaguely about her. “It isn’t like what I promised you for the holiday, is it? And with Mama gone⁠—”

“Nonsense.” Charlotte took Lucy’s hand. “I think it’s wonderful.”