Forever Mine (38 page)

His mind reeled at the memory of seeing her fall backward over the railing of the opera box. God help him, he still had no idea how he’d kept Victoria from falling to her death. His mouth went dry as he remembered his hand catching nothing but air until he found her arm and pulled her back into the box. As for Darby, he couldn’t say he was sorry the man was dead. The bastard had almost cost him the life of the woman he loved.

The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the house. With the assistance of Jamieson and one of the footmen, Nicholas limped his way into the house with his precious burden in his arms. As he crossed the threshold, he heard the whisper of a moan cross Victoria’s lips. Relief sailed through him. Glancing down at her, Nicholas saw her breathing was beginning to return to normal. As quickly as possible, he climbed the stairs and carried her through the open door of her bedroom. Nicholas called out for Roberts who miraculously appeared in Victoria’s bedroom doorway almost immediately. A worried frown wrinkled the valet’s brow as Nicholas laid Victoria on the bed.

“Fetch Molly, I’ll need help getting her ladyship undressed.”

“Yes, my lord,” Roberts said, already halfway out the door.

As he began to remove Victoria’s shoes, another soft moan escaped her lips followed by an anguished cry of fear.

“Nicholas.”

Victoria shot upright, and Nicholas quickly moved to sit down next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

“I’m here, my love. You’re safe.”

Sheer terror glazed her blue eyes as she stared up at him. Her expression made him wish Darby was still alive so he could make the bastard pay for his assault on Victoria. Slender fingers curled around the lapels of his evening jacket as tears rolled down her cheeks. Trembling, her teeth began to chatter and the violence of her tremors hammered their way into his body. Where the devil was Molly? He gently forced Victoria to turn toward him so she was pressed into his chest. Her tremors continued as his fingers unbuttoned the line of pearl-shaped buttons running down the back of the gown. A knock at the door made him turn his head to see Molly ushering a man into the room.

“Dr. Waverley, my lord,” Molly said quietly.

“My lord.”

The doctor nodded his greeting at Nicholas as he moved quickly to the other side of the bed. The black bag he carried opened with a soft snap, and Victoria jerked in reaction to the sharp sound. Dr. Waverley pulled a stethoscope from his bag and leaned toward Victoria.

“I need to check her pulse, my lord.”

Nicholas gently tried to make Victoria extend one of her arms, but she resisted.

“It’s all right, my love. I’m right here you must let the doctor examine you. Victoria’s eyes were still wide in her face as she allowed Nicholas to extend her hand to the doctor. The man frowned as he took her pulse then touched her cheek and the back of her neck. With efficient speed he completed his examination before looking at Nicholas.

“She’s in shock, my lord. We need to get her out of these clothes now and under the covers immediately.” At the man’s orders, Nicholas nodded.

With Molly’s and the doctor’s help, Victoria was under the blankets in less than two minutes. Even beneath the warm covers, Victoria continued to tremble, but her tremors seemed to have eased somewhat as he held her hand. The doctor gently pressed his stethoscope against her chest to listen to her heartbeat. When he finished he straightened to stare at Victoria for a brief interlude before he looked at Nicholas.

“Lord Starling’s message said that her ladyship was almost killed tonight,” Dr. Waverley said softly. “She appears uninjured physically, but her pulse is far too rapid to my liking. I believe a strong dose of laudanum will enable her to sleep well into the morning so as to put some distance between her and this trauma.”

“No,” Victoria whispered in a barely audible voice. “I don’t want to leave you Nicholas. I don’t want to go back.”

“Shhh, sweet witch, it’s only to make you sleep. You’re not going anywhere,” he reassured her as he kissed her brow. Nicholas glanced at the doctor and nodded. As the man prepared the medicine, Nicholas met Victoria’s gaze. Not even the night when she’d been chased across the estate grounds had she looked so shaken. She’d had a brush with death, and he knew it would take time for her to recover from the experience. Her tremors had abated, but the fear in her eyes made his gut twist with guilt. He was responsible for what had happened. If he’d not left her side, none of this would’ve taken place. Nicholas cleared his throat as he bent his head toward her.

“I should never have left you, sweet witch,” he murmured. “If I’d lost you…” His words trailed off and Victoria’s hand touched his cheek.

“It’s not your fault,” she rasped.

“Here you are, my lady,” Dr. Waverley said quietly as he handed Nicholas a small metal cup and a glass of water Molly had retrieved from the bathroom. Victoria eyed the cup with distaste before she met his gaze.

“It will help you sleep, my love.” At his assurance she nodded and accepted the cup from him.

“It is best if you drink it quickly, my lady,” Dr. Waverley said in a kind voice. It tends to disagree with the palate.”

Victoria did as the doctor ordered and tossed down the medicine. She gagged a split-second later, and Nicholas offered her the water, which she drank quickly.

“What the hell…was…that?” she asked in a shaky voice. The doctor’s eyebrows rose slightly at her question, and a small smile twisted the corners of Nicholas’ mouth. Her colorful language meant some of her fear was receding. Even her color was returning to her cheeks.

“Laudanum, my lady,” Dr. Waverley said as he put his belongings back in his bag and snapped it closed. “It’s a mixture of opium and other medicinal herbs that will let you sleep undisturbed until late in the morning.”

“
Opium
,” Victoria’s harsh whisper made Nicholas raise her hand to his mouth. He kissed her fingers then clasped her hand firmly in his.

“You’ll sleep more soundly, Victoria. I’ll not leave you alone tonight, sweet witch. I’ll be right here.”

Victoria closed her eyes and nodded as her fingers squeezed his hand. Dr. Waverley stood up and looked at Nicholas.

“I think today’s rest will ensure Lady Guildford’s physically recovered to enjoy the festivities on Christmas Eve at the end of the week. However it is possible she’ll have nightmares for some time to come. Even unexpected movements or sounds might trigger a reaction.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Nicholas said. “Molly will see Dr. Waverly out.”

“Yes, my lord.” Molly bobbed her head in his direction then turned her head toward the doctor. The man shook Nicholas’ hand then followed the maid out of the room. Just as Molly was about to close the door, Nicholas stopped her.

“Molly, tell Roberts I’ll not need him for the rest of the night. In the morning, I’ll have breakfast in the dining room with my brother.”

“Yes, my lord.” With her quiet response, the maid closed the door behind her.

Nicholas turned his head back to Victoria who looked up at him sleepily. The opium was already having an impact on her. He released her hand, but she grasped his arm in a display of panic. He kissed her gently.

“I can’t sleep in my evening clothes, my love.”

With a reluctant nod, she slowly released her grasp on his arm. Not wasting any time, Nicholas quickly undressed then returned to the bed. Sliding underneath the covers, he pulled her into his arms. She was on the verge of sleep, but it was obvious she was fighting the drug’s effect.

“Nicholas.” She whispered in a barely audible voice.

“Hush, my love. You need to rest.”

“He tried…to kill me.” There was a note of confusion in her voice that made him grimace.

“He failed, Victoria. You’re safe here with me.”

At his reassuring words, she snuggled into his side as a kitten might a blanket. Her fingers lightly trailed over his chest before her cheek pressed into the crook of his shoulder, and she breathed a soft sigh.

“I love you, Nicholas. I don’t ever want to leave you.”

The whisper shot a bolt of lightning through him. He bent his head toward her, only to see she was sound asleep. Nicholas closed his eyes. She loved him. The happiness drifting through him was an euphoria he’d never experienced before. The sensation ebbed away as he realized how close he’d come to losing her. His gaze focused on the ceiling as he remembered once more the sight of Victoria tumbling over the opera box railing. Then the memory of her pale features as he realized she’d fallen into another one of her fainting spells.

A sharp pain pushed its way up past his knee. For the first time since returning home, he realized how badly his leg ached. In all the chaos he’d completely suppressed the pain signals his leg been driving up to his brain. Gently, he released Victoria, and left the bed in search of liniment. He shrugged on the robe Roberts had thoughtfully draped over the end of the bed. A quiet knock on the door made him frown with irritation. He crossed the room to open the door where Roberts stood hold a container of fresh liniment, and Nicholas’ anger vanished.

“I saw how badly you were limping, my lord, and I knew you would need this.”

“Thank you, Roberts,” he said with a grateful smile as he accepted the small metal tin. “I just got up to look for some.”

“I hope her ladyship is all right, my lord.”

“She’s quite shaken, but I believe she’ll recover quickly.”

Nicholas frowned as he remembered the doctor’s warning that she might have nightmares in the future. The idea that she might have more bad dreams troubled him.

“The staff has been concerned for her ladyship, and they’ll be pleased to know she’s going to be all right.” Relief swept across Robert’s face as he met Nicholas’ gaze. “The police were here earlier asking for you. They needed to get your account of the incident. They made no mention of her ladyship’s disappearance. The inspector said he’d return at nine tomorrow.”

The valet’s words eased the tension holding Nicholas’ muscles rigid. At least Victoria would be spared an interrogation.

“Very well,” Nicholas said with a sharp nod. “Wake me at eight, and make sure Molly understands she needs to sit with Lady Guildford until I return from my visit to Sir Kenelm’s office.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Good night, Roberts,” he paused and lifted the container of liniment. “And thank you again.”

“It is my pleasure as always, my lord.” The valet smiled then turned and walked away as Nicholas closed Victoria’s bedroom door. He glanced at Victoria to ensure she was sleeping comfortably before he limped his way to the chair in front of the fire.

It didn’t take long for the liniment to ease his pain, and Nicholas looked over his shoulder at Victoria. What had Vickie been involved in? Abigail had mentioned Darby’s insistence that Victoria return a book. What book? That question led to another one, and another one, until he had a long line of questions, all of which led him back to Reardon.

He was certain Reardon was the reason for Darby’s assault on Victoria. He just couldn’t prove it. The man was exceedingly clever, and it frustrated Nicholas. He turned his head to look at Victoria once again. Tonight illustrated just how much danger she was in. Even if Darby had been the one sending the threatening notes, Reardon still posed a threat. The instant Nicholas heard the quiet cry from the bed, he was on his feet.

Victoria was mumbling something, but he couldn’t understand what she was saying. Shrugging off his robe, Nicholas slid into bed next to her and wrapped his arms around her. After several moments, her muttering ceased. Relief surged through him as he closed his eyes and held her close. Whatever the cost, he would keep her safe. Not Reardon, or any other person would take her from him.

§  §  §

Sunshine filled the room as Victoria blinked and opened her eyes. Intense relief spread its warmth through her body as she realized she was still in the past. She’d been so worried when the doctor and Nicholas had insisted she take that God awful medicine. The idea of not waking up here, with Nicholas, had terrified her. Turning her head, she saw Nicholas was gone, but the pillow was dented where his head had been.

Suddenly, the image of Darby’s wild-eyed look filled her head, and she sucked in a sharp breath. Victoria shuddered as she remembered how slapping Darby had pushed him over the edge. On the heels of that memory came the raw sensation of plummeting backward over the railing of the opera box. The images flooding her head made bile rise in her throat.

With a guttural noise she scrambled out of bed and ran into the bathroom where she threw up in the toilet. When she’d finished, she sank down onto the floor. God, she’d never been sick like this before. Not even when her father had died had she been like this. Did she have the flu? She’d not felt this terrible in ages. A second wave of nausea rolled over her, and Victoria quickly moved toward the toilet as she threw up again. The medicine, she thought. What had the doctor said? Opium. The drug must have made her sick.

“Oh, my lady,” Molly exclaimed as she entered the bathroom. The young maid wet a hand cloth then gently pressed it against Victoria’s forehead and cheeks.

“I’m fine,” Victoria said as she realized it was the truth.

The nausea had eased a great deal, and she could only assume she’d purged the drug from her system. She got to her feet despite Molly’s protests and made her way back into the bedroom. Still feeling a bit queasy, she sat in front of the small fire burning in the hearth.

“I brought you the hot cocoa you like, my lady,” Molly said with a worried note in her voice. “And Mrs. Babcocke made you some breakfast.”

Molly pointed to the tray she’d set on the small table beside the chair. Perhaps eating something would make her feel better. Victoria lifted the lid of the covered dish, and the smell of freshly scrambled eggs and bacon wafted up under her nose. In a split second, the nausea returned. Bile threatened to clog her throat, and she sprang up from her chair to race toward the bathroom again. Molly hovered over her in concern, and as the wave of nausea passed, Victoria leaned back against the cool rim of the porcelain bathtub. The young maid shook her head in a sympathetic manner.