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“He is,” Aurora confirmed. “I’ve told him all about you—just this morning, as a matter o
f fact. He’s looking forward to meeting—and to helping—you.”
“Then let’s go.” Courtney shoved back the blankets and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Gingerly, she stood, clutching the bedpost until her lightheadedness subsided. “If you’ll help me dress, we can avoid alerting Matilda to our plans.” A tentative step, then another. “She’ll hear about our excursion later, of course. But we needn’t worry her in advance.”
So saying, Courtney crossed the room and tugged open the wardrobe, her motions tentative, unsteady.
Aurora watched, indecision warring on her face. After a moment, she rose, walking over and offhandedly extracting clothing from the wardrobe. “Courtney, I’d like nothing better than to take you to the lighthouse,” she stated, fingering one of the soft muslin gowns she’d loaned Courtney. “But are you sure you’re ready for this? Mr. Scollard isn’t going away. And you’re still so weak. We could spend the day preparing for our chat with the investigator, then traipse to the lighthouse in two or three days, when you’re stronger.”
Courtney’s hands balled into fists. “Please don’t mollify me like a child. You and I both know we can ‘prepare,’ as you put it, in less than an hour. As for waiting two or three days to visit Mr. Scollard…” Her voice choked. “I can’t bear lying abed, hour after hour, accosted by fear and uncertainty. So, able or not, I must try. Today.”
Her desperation must have conveyed itself, because Aurora turned to her, brows raised, and nodded. “All right. Then try we shall. We’ll leave the manor through the rear entrance. That way, neither Matilda nor any of the other servants will see us—except those appointed by my brother specifically to scrutinize my actions, of course. But most of those men are posted about the grounds, not in the manor. And they’ll give us no trouble; they’re quite used to my trips to the Windmouth Lighthouse.”
Courtney flashed a grateful smile. “Then it appears our goal is as good as attained.”
An hour later, she felt otherwise.
“I never imagined your estate was so vast,” she managed, leaning weakly against an oak tree, one that was but a third of the way to their destination, and peering across the endless acres of greenery stretching before her. “We’ve been walking for an eternity.” She brushed damp tendrils of hair off her forehead, her breathing rough and shallow.
“Courtney, I think we should go back.” Aurora abandoned all attempts at tact. “You’re on the verge of collapse. Come, let me help you.” She grasped Courtney’s arm, adding lightly, “If you don’t care for yourself, care for me. Slayde will have my head if I’m responsible for worsening your injuries.”
“You’re not responsible—I am.” Courtney took another half-hearted step. “As I said earlier, I’m not a child. I’m a grown—” Her knees gave out and, with a broken sound, she sank to the grass.
“Courtney!” Thoroughly alarmed, Aurora squatted down beside her.
“I’m conscious,” Courtney murmured, pressing her face against the cool ground and wishing she could just go to sleep until the weakness and dizziness faded. “But I suspect…you’re right. We…should return to…the manor.”
That did it.
Aurora bolted to her feet. “Cutterton!” she called, waving earnestly toward a cluster of trees nestled in the eastern corner of the estate. “I need you.”
An instant of silence. Then, the rustle of trees as a stocky man of middle years emerged. With an incredulous stare, he made his way toward Aurora.
“Hurry,” she urged.
“Lady Aurora,” he began upon reaching her, his tone rife with disbelief, “how did you know to call me?”
Aurora looked equally amazed. “Who else would I call?”
“How in the name of heaven did you know I was behind those trees?” he demanded.
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous, Cutterton. This entire section of the estate is your domain. Just as the western corner is Plinkert’s. You have men stationed at healthy intervals between you, precisely as Slayde commanded.”
The poor man couldn’t seem to recover. “All this time, you knew we were there?”
“Of course. Now, please, I need your help. Miss Johnston is unable to walk on her own. We must carry her back to the manor.”
“Yes, certainly, my lady.”
Still muttering, Cutterton bent down and scooped Courtney effortlessly off the ground. “Forgive me, Miss Johnston, but I don’t think your legs will hold you.”
A weak smile. “Thank you, Cutterton.”
She was only minimally aware of their return trip to the manor, until Siebert, the butler, summoned Matilda from her duties.
“What were you thinking of?” the distressed maid asked as she tucked Courtney back into bed. “And you as well, Lady Aurora. Surely you didn’t imagine Miss Courtney could traverse the entire estate, in her condition?”
“Matilda, don’t blame Aurora,” Courtney murmured weakly. “She tried to discourage me. I refused to listen. The fault is mine, and mine alone.” She smiled faintly. “But I shall be duly punished by having to endure the earl’s bellowing later tonight. So, please, have pity on me.
