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Jane’s countenance changed again, and she almost appeared happy, which was quite upsetting, but Regina would worry about this later. Her health wouldn’t allow her to ponder her friend’s attitude change right now.
“I’m sorry you don’t feel well,” Jane said with a touch of excitement in her voice. “But I make no promises to you, Reggie.”
Regina didn’t like it when her friends used the male version of her name. However, she didn’t have time to argue with Jane right now. “All I want you to promise me is that you won’t have your father announce the engagement tonight.”
Sighing, Jane folded her arms. “Well, my father wouldn’t announce it anyway since Wayne has been detained, and he is not certain he can come tonight.”
Relief swept through Regina, nearly having her sink to the ground because of her weakened legs. “I’m so glad because I would really like you to take a few days and think about what you’re doing before it is too late.”
“Fine,” Jane snipped.
Wearily, Regina turned away from her friend and walked toward her mother, who sat with other women of theton. When her mother’s gaze lifted to Regina, the older woman’s eyes widened, and she stood.
“Regina, are you ill?”
Nodding, Regina grasped her mother’s arm, mainly to keep herself steady. “I am, Mother. But I shall not have you leave your friends yet. I will go sit in the coach until I’m better.”
Her mother nodded and gingerly patted Regina’s cheek. “If you are gone more than an hour, then I will leave the party and return home with you. Your father will understand.”
Regina kissed her mother’s cheek, pulled away, and slugged toward the front doors. She’d never felt this way before. She could only assume that the stress from worrying about Jane made her this ill. What else could it be?
As she fetched her cloak and walked outside, darkness covered the land. A few carriages held lanterns on their sides, which assisted slightly as she searched for her family’s coach. Dizziness assailed her, but she forged on, determined to make it inside the vehicle before she lost consciousness.
Finally, she recognized the coach. The driver wasn’t nearby to open the door for her, but she could climb in and out of vehicles by herself. Yet, she worried about her health tonight. What could possibly cause her to be this way? She prayed it would leave her soon so that her mind could return to normal. Too much needed to be done tonight, and she was determined to see it through.
Chapter 2
It took great pains, but Regina forced her eyes open and glanced around, slowly gaining her bearings. By the stiffness in her limbs and the way she sat, she wondered where she had been sleeping. This certainly wasn’t her soft bed at home.
There wasn’t light for her to see. Not yet, but as she continued to blink and force her mind alert, she recalled staggering into the family’s coach and falling onto the seat before darkness filled her mind.
She closed her eyes again and breathed deeply. The dizziness was gone, thankfully, and only a slight pound stayed in her head. Perhaps she could return to the party. It obviously wasn’t more than an hour, or her mother would have been in the coach with her as the driver took them home.
Regina blinked again and turned her head toward the window. She reached over and moved back the curtains. Lord and Lady Montague’s house was still lit up, and shadowed figures of couples dancing were seen through the windows. Yet it almost appeared as though there were fewer carriages than before when she had climbed into the family’s vehicle.
Rubbing her forehead, she frowned and sat back against the seat. Why had it seemed that more time had passed than just an hour? Her body and mind felt completely rested. It must have been longer. If that were so, then why hadn’t her mother come to get her?
