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Her hands were trembling as she reached for him, kneeling on the dirty street and caring nothing for her new gown. “Carroway,” she exclaimed, suddenly afraid that he might be cold to her touch but forcing herself to press her hands to his face regardless. “Lord Carroway! What happened? Are you hurt?”
Seeing his hand pressed to his side and how he struggled to pull himself from unconsciousness, Titania closed her eyes tightly for a moment, forcing herself to remain as calm as she could. Lord Carroway needed her assistance, else he might succumb to what was an obvious injury. His hand slipped to reveal the growing stain across his shirt and she caught her breath, feeling a shudder run through her.
How she managed to get through the next few minutes without collapsing or feeling herself drawing near to fainting, Titania was not quite certain. However, as she watched Lord Carroway being brought into the house, with Merry and Lady Whitehaven at the door, standing as two horrified marble statues, Titania felt herself fill with a sudden, fierce resolve. Edward had managed to tell her that Ravel had been the one to do this to him, and she was not about to draw back in fear from such a man. No, instead she was determined to help Edward in any way she could so that Ravel could be brought to justice and the difficulties he brought to Edward gone forever.
The knife.
Swallowing hard, Titania looked all about her for the knife that Edward had asked her to find. The knife that had been thrust into his side, the one that would be covered in his blood. It took her some minutes to find it, but eventually she saw
it glinting in the dull lantern light, and she forced herself to reach for it. Picking it up carefully by the handle, she tried not to shudder as she held it up to the lantern light, seeing the pearl handle and the long, thin blade. Why Carroway wanted it, she did not know, but perhaps, she thought, as she hurried inside, he might be have seen it before and therefore he would be able to discover the truth about Ravel.
Hurrying back inside, Titania saw her mother wringing her hands as she waited for her, clearly upset by all that had occurred.
“Whatever do you have there, Titania?” Lady Whitehaven exclaimed, her face ashen. “Surely it cannot be…”
“Lord Carroway bade me fetch it, Mama,” Titania said softly. “I must do as he requests.”
Her mother closed her eyes tightly but gestured her to hurry inside. “Close the door and bar it,” she instructed the butler, opening her eyes again as Titania set the knife down on a white cloth that one of the footmen held out for her. “Make sure that those who enter are known to us. It may be that whoever has attacked Lord Carroway may attempt to do so again.”
“I do not think they will, Mama,” Titania said, trying to reassure her as she handed the now cloth-covered knife to one of the footmen, bidding him to take it to Lord Carroway’s bedchamber. “It would be futile to even attempt it.”
“Regardless,” Lady Whitehaven replied, her voice a little shrill. “We must remain vigilant.” She drew near Titania and, unexpectedly, drew her into her embrace. “Goodness child, I was worried for you.”
Titania leaned into her mother, feeling tears prick at her eyes. “I am worried for Carroway, Mama.”
Lady Whitehaven let out a long breath and looked down fondly at Titania. “You care for him, do you not?”
Titania closed her eyes against the tears that dampened her eyes. “I fear that I have come to care for him a great deal, Mama. I did not know that I could feel such a depth of affection.” A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed twice in an attempt to dislodge it. “To see him lying there, to know that he has been gravely injured, I…” She trailed off, tears escaping from behind her eyes and running down her cheeks.
“I am certain that Lord Carroway will recover,” her mother replied, still holding her close and speaking to her in a reassuring manner. “He will be restored to you soon enough, my dear. I am certain of it.”
Titania wanted to speak but could not, what with the tears that were lodged in her throat. She sniffed hard and found her mother pressing a handkerchief into her hands, which made her laugh softly despite her tears. Lady Whitehaven was, even in her kindest moments, still one for complete propriety and good manners.
A knock at the door had her jumping in surprise, but within a few moments, an older gentleman with a long, thin nose and a pair of pince-nez set on them walked into the house, a bag held in one hand.
“The surgeon, Mama,” Titania whispered, stepping away from her mother as Lady Whitehaven hurried to address the man. She watched with anxious eyes as the surgeon was led away by one of the footmen, praying that he would be able to help Lord Carroway.
“You can see him once the surgeon had completed his ministrations, Titania, Lady Whitehaven said, sounding a good deal more in control of her emotions than before. “Come now. You must be tired. Let us go and change and then seek some refreshments.”
Titania nodded, glancing down at her gown and see the streaks of red that caught at various parts of it. She swallowed hard, chasing away the rest of her tears as she lifted her chin, determined not to lose her composure. “Thank you, Mama,” she said, following after her mother and feeling a new sense of strength fill her. “I think I shall do just that.”
* * *
One hour later and Titania was finally allowed in to see Lord Carroway. She had changed, eaten, and drank copious cups of tea but still had found the door to Lord Carroway’s room to be closed to her. Her mother had been sitting with her in the parlor, along with her sisters, and they had, for once, simply been sitting in silence as they waited for the surgeon to reappear. Dinah had not joined them but had stated that she would remain in her room praying for Lord Carroway and for the skill of the surgeon. Rather than be annoyed by this, Titania had found herself quite grateful for her cousin’s willingness to do such a thing and had herself prayed for Lord Carroway’s recovery as she waited for the surgeon to return.
Now, as she hurried into the guest bedchamber, her heart in her throat, Titania found herself fearing what she might see. The memory of Lord Carroway lying slumped against the railings would not leave her, fearing that he had lost a good deal of blood and might now be danger of losing his life.
However, to her very great surprise, as she walked into the room, she saw Lord Carroway sitting in a chair by the fire and not lying in bed as she had expected. A clean shirt had been given to him and, whilst it remained untucked and rather lose about his waist, it did not hold any streaks of blood. His face was, however, quite badly bruised, and one eye appeared to be swelling closed, but he was not drawing near to death, as she had feared.
Such was her relief that Titania almost stumbled with the sudden weakness that caught at her heart, blinking her tears away as she made her way quickly to him.
“Forgive my lack of formal attire,” Lord Carroway quipped, a small smile tugging at his mouth as he gestured to his shirt. “The surgeon was forced to stick a needle and thread into my side, and therefore, I am quite unable to dress as I ought.”
Titania let out a half sob, half gasp of relief and practically fell at his feet, her hands catching his as she sat on her knees and looked up into his face. Lady Whitehaven remained at the door, talking quietly to the surgeon and allowing Titania some private moments with Lord Carroway.
“I am quite all right, Titania, as you can see,” Lord Carroway murmured, putting both hands over hers and squeezing them gently. “I was lost to unconscious for a time, and I confess that I have a terrible headache but that was due to the blow to my head rather than the knife to my side.”
Titania nodded, her breath rattling out of her as she fought to keep her composure. She wanted nothing more than to rest her head in his lap and sob with relief, but she forced herself not to do so. Her eyes lifted to his, and she saw him smile tenderly, despite the bruises that covered either side of his face.
