Page 91 of Never Leave Me
“I think he was attempting to hide doses of holy water. In the cathedral crypt, perhaps in other locations. During all our planning, he was of the mind to drain the well and disperse the water by placing it into diverse hiding spots that survived the test of time. He claimed that would keep people from fighting over it, that eventually they’d forget all about the well and the holy water discovered there. Hiding the water would also prevent it from being used so rapidly.”
“So he decided to start hiding it himself?”
“Sister Christina gave him ampullae she found within the priory. He probably suspected he had little time left to hide them and wanted to do so before it was too late.” Harrison rubbed a hand wearily across his eyes.
She wanted to argue with him and convince him not to join in the rescue efforts tomorrow, but now wasn’t the time, not with the weary lines in his forehead testifying to his exhaustion. “You should get some sleep.”
With more raindrops pelting them, he didn’t resist as she led the way inside and up to her bedchamber. When he lowered himself into bed and immediately fell asleep, she gently covered him with a blanket and then stood back.
In spite of the uncharacteristic raggedness of his appearance,he was as handsome as always. And he was as kindhearted and noble as always.
An ache formed in her chest. While she understood his need to help rescue Dad, she couldn’t let him go out again. The battle wasn’t his to fight. And it wasn’t Will’s either.
She’d been the one to bring about the conflict with Lord Worth, and now she needed to be the one to solve the problem. Would Lord Worth consider trading her life for Dad’s? Perhaps he would marry her after all. She could request an annulment.
Did she dare attempt the feat? Even if she failed, she’d rather try it than allow Harrison to risk his life. And she definitely didn’t want all those within Reider Castle to suffer if Will and his allies resorted to dangerous warfare techniques.
The only problem was that Harrison would lock her away if he realized her intentions.
Her gaze landed on the leather pouch filled with holy water.
He wouldn’t be able to stop her if he wasn’t around to do so.
A light rain pattered outside the open window, and the room was dark and damp, sending a chill over her skin.
Before she could talk herself out of her idea, she swiped up the flask and slipped out of the room. She knew exactly where Marian kept a supply of small bottles made of thick glass. And she also knew from Marian where Will stored the key to the vault.
Harrison had once saved her. Now it was time for her to do the same for him.
23
HARRISONAWOKEWITHASTART.He stared straight up, blinking and trying to remember everything that had happened since his crossover two days ago—he’d married Ellen, spent a torturous night with her, prevented Lord Worth from claiming her as his bride, helped take over the wellspring at St. Sepulchre, and then watched Arthur get captured and accused of being a witch.
During all that time, he’d rested very little, and after returning to Chesterfield Park with the holy water, he’d been drained.
How long had he slept?
“Lord Burlington?” A woman’s voice came from beside the bed—a voice that didn’t belong to Ellen.
He tried to focus on the bed canopy overhead. But all he saw was white.
“My lord?” This time a man spoke to him. “Are you awake?”
Harrison shifted toward the voice. He nearly recoiled at the sight. “Drake? What are you doing here?” Had his faithful servant taken holy water too? Or...
The canopy above the bed was gone, and the white belongedto the ceiling. Glass replaced the shutters in the windows, and artificial lamplight cast shadows, instead of the glow of the candle.
His heart sank. He’d returned to the present.
“Lord Burlington.” The female voice spoke again.
He pushed himself up to his elbows. At the same time, Sybil rose from the chair beside his bed. She’d tossed aside her black leather jacket to reveal a form-fitting white shirt, and she’d pulled her long hair into a ponytail.
“What time is it?” His throat was tight and hoarse.
“Oh three hundred hours.” Sybil didn’t have to look at her watch, which told Harrison she’d been keeping meticulous track of the time—likely since he’d been unconscious.
Drake held up a glass of water and pressed the straw inside Harrison’s mouth. “You’ve been in a coma for over two days.”
