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“Simon?”
Simon frowned, uncertain if he’d heard a voice. Not with the pounding in his head making it impossible to think, let alone focus. A gentle hand settled on his shoulder as he laid on his side, the touch somehow helping to ease the hammering inside his skull.
“What happened?”
The feminine tone was familiar, but he had difficulty understanding the words. They sounded muffled, as if they came from another room. Then a hand gently touched his cheek and anchored him. He wasn’t alone. Relief seeped into him as his thoughts slowly cleared.
“Where are you hurt?” Those hands roamed along his back before skimming his temple and cheek. He couldn’t help but moan as her fingers grazed the painful spot on the back of his head.
“There,” he managed to say.
“Bring the light closer.”
He kept his eyes closed but could sense the light.
“Oh, goodness,” she said as she examined the injury, causing him to wince. “That is a terrible lump. It’s bleeding.”
Simon forced his eyes open with the hope of making sense of the situation. Norah shouldn’t be here. Worry flooded him, and he lifted to his elbow, only to have his head ache all the more, the room swinging alarmingly around him.
“Don’t move, Simon. Not until you feel well enough.”
He studied Norah, who knelt beside him, then glanced about to see he was in the museum. His memory of the moments leading up to the blow slowly returned.
“Do you know what happened?”
“Someone hit me.” He lifted a hand to test the tender spot but immediately regretted it. Even the slight touch hurt like hell. Still, he managed to sit upright. He drew a slow breath, then another. The pain in his head made him nauseated.
“Did you see who it was?”
The lantern shifted. Norah’s two sisters and her footman became visible.
“No.” He placed his elbows on his upright knees, willing his brain to start functioning again.
“Are you injured anywhere else?” Norah asked.
“I don’t think so.” He was careful not to shake his head. “I wanted my notes and realized I’d left them at the museum.” He frowned at Norah. “How did you come to be here?”
“When you didn’t arrive at the ball, I started to worry.”
“You thought to look here?”
“Marbury and Worley went to your home to see if you were there,” she explained. “We thought this might be more likely.”
“Jarvis, my driver, was waiting for me.” Alarm filled him at the thought of the older servant.
“Your carriage is out front, but we didn’t see any sign of him.”
Simon shifted to rise, only to hiss when his head felt like it would split open.
Norah placed her hand on his arm, her expression pinched with concern. “Don’t move yet. You need more time.”
Ella leaned forward. “Norah, why don’t we leave you to watch over Simon? James, Lena, and I will look for the driver.”
“Excellent idea.” Norah glanced at Simon before looking back at Ella. “Call out if you find him.”
“Be careful.” Simon directed the order to the servant, hating how weak his voice sounded, but his aching skull made him feel positively ill. “Whoever struck me could still be in the museum.” He was relieved the sisters had their footman with them.
“We shall take care, my lord,” the footman said with a bow. The man lit a nearby wall sconce, then followed Ella, holding the lantern aloft.
