Page 18 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

Chapter Seven

Harlow’s eyes opened to a bright room. As sleep cleared, she was reminded where she was and why. Belle raised her head from where she lay next to Harlow. The dog was a faithful guardian, never leaving her side for very long.

Though Harlow knew from the scent of wet fur and saltwater, that the dog often spent the early morning by the ocean. Today, however, she didn’t.

As Harlow had done every day for the last week, she started the day by attempting to get out of bed and testing her weight on her injured ankle. Hoping this would be the day she was healed enough to get out of bed.

She was not certain how it had become so badly damaged from jumping into water, but Reese explained that it could have happened as she’d washed ashore. She recalled hurting her foot on the ship when she was hurrying toward the shadows. The flash of fire that was doused by fear and determination.

Harlow didn’t remember much after she’d jumped over the rails of the Zephyr. Just the shocking chill of the water and the darkness. She’d managed to find the oar she’d thrown overboard, and the small chunks of wood on the net had floated as well. She’d kicked her feet pointing herself toward what looked like mountains in the distance. Land.

But it was too far and her head hurt to the point of dizziness. She remembered the panic she’d felt when her body failed her. Her legs were like leaden weights pulling her under, unable to kick anymore, while her mind seemed ready to accept defeat. She’d had no fight left.

Death would not be so bad. She recalled that final thought before she’d simply given up and rested her head on the smooth wood of the bobbing oar.

Realizing what might have happened kept her from complaining over her ankle now. It could have been so much worse.

Perspective, she thought the word yet again. She’d never really had reason for her perspective to shift so greatly before. But here she was in a strange man’s home, unchaperoned and grateful for only having an injured ankle after her ordeal.

She pulled the ill-fitting dressing gown tighter around her when there was a knock at the door.

“Is it any better today?” Reese asked as he entered the room, groomed and dressed for the day.

“It’s better each day, but still not fit for walking about,” she said, doing her best not to sound irritable.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said with a smile.

“A surprise?” She did love surprises, though she couldn’t know what he might have for her.

He opened the door and stepped aside as a number of footmen came in carrying a tub and buckets of hot water.

A bath sounded divine, but it was what Mrs. Garrison carried in her arms that made Harlow’s lips turn up in a smile.

“Is that a gown?”

“Aye,” Reese said. “And a new shift and some other things you needed. I ordered them a few days ago and picked them up this morning. I shall leave you ladies to things and when you’re dressed, I’ll see you down to the dining room for breakfast.”

She might have questioned how exactly she would get downstairs for breakfast, but the man simply gave a nod before he followed the footmen from the room, leaving her alone with the older woman.

“It’s good to see you up, even if you can’t get around so well yet. Here, lean on me and I’ll help you over to the bath.”

“I try not to complain about the inconvenience. Things could have been much worse if the earl hadn’t found me when he did.” She wanted to feel as grateful as she sounded.

“’Twas Belle who found ye.”

Harlow smiled. “I shall give her extra petting for her heroism.”

“She already thinks the world of ye.” The woman nodded toward the dog who had rarely left Harlow’s side since she’d arrived at Slains Castle.

“She is a good guardian. She’s always there when I wake up.”

“Aye. The earl is often watching over you as well.”

“When I’m sleeping, you mean?” she asked the woman who just blinked at her for a moment before answering.

“I would never speak of it.”

Harlow would have liked to point out that the housekeeper had indeed spoken of it already, but it was at that moment that Harlow’s body slipped into the warm, fragrant water with a groan of happiness. Mrs. Garrison helped her wash her hair and then let her sit for a bit before coming back with linens to dry her off.