Page 36 of A Countess Captured for the Captain
She had received no word from her father and Regina. There had been no message of congratulation on the occasion of their marriage, no words of support or encouragement, not even a simple gift or goodwill offering. Samantha had taken the silence as Regina’s doing and was glad to have nothing whatsoever to do with her. Secretly, she hoped to learn that the child Regina was carrying was of the wrong sex, a fact which she knew would soon see her father lose interest in Regina and her tiresome ways.
“Ah, the lovebirds have returned,” Nox’s uncle said, as they stepped into the hallway.
His aunt bustled out of the drawing room, sweeping Nox into her arms and kissing him on both cheeks.
“Look at zee two of you, a radiant couple in love, it reminds me of the day your parents were married, Nox,” his aunt said.
“Now, my boy, we have some things to discuss. Come along and sit down in here,” Nox’s uncle said.
Samantha moved to follow, but Nox’s aunt shook her head.
“Family business, my dear, one of zee maids will see to you. Dinner will be at eight o’clock. We are fortunate to afford as many candles as necessary, so we are not reliant upon zee daylight to decide our times of dining,” she said, and before Samantha could reply, Nox had been whisked away, the drawing room door closed firmly behind him.
Samantha sighed. She knew Nox was an important man, and possessed of great responsibility, but she was his wife, his newly married wife. This was supposed to be the first throes of their passion, left alone to discover one another more intimately. She felt shut out and looked around her for some means of distraction.
“Shall I show you to your room, My Lady?” a voice from across the hallway asked.
Samantha did not realize immediately that it was she who was being addressed. But suddenly she realized the change in her name, blushing at her own stupidity. It was a maid who spoke, and now she stepped forward, smiling at Samantha who nodded thankfully.
“Thank you, you are very kind. This is all rather new to me. Yes, if you would, please show me where I am to go,” she said, and maid beckoned her to follow.
They made their way upstairs and Samantha paused to look up at the picture of Nox and his parents. It seemed so dreadfully unfair – tragic even – that he could remember nothing of his life prior to the shipwreck. One heard of such things, of memory loss brought on by trauma, and certainly what had happened had been traumatic. But such memories could also return, often in a sudden moment, an epiphany, and she wondered when Nox’s epiphany would come.
“We are pleased to have the Master back home, My Lady,” the maid said, as Samantha followed her upstairs.
“Were you in service when the Earl was a child?” Samantha asked, curious to learn all she could to help Nox to regain some of his memories.
“I was, My Lady, and I remember the Master when he was a boy. He was always getting himself into trouble, but not in a malicious way, you understand. He loved to climb trees and clamber around in the attics. I remember once having to carrying him to the copper tub all covered in soot, he was,” the maid said, shaking her head and laughing.
“But these are memories he needs to be reminded of. He has forgotten everything which came before, everything since that fateful shipwreck,” she said, turning to the maid who seemed surprised at the force of her words.
“But why is it so important that he remembers, My Lady? Surely his uncle and aunt have told him everything,” she said.
But Samantha shook her head. It was not enough to be told something, not when you yourself had lived it. To be told something was to be given a history lesson, not to experience the actual truth in it. Nox needed to know who he was so that he could truly be himself in the present. He had gone too long believing one thing when actually a far greater truth existed, one waiting to be discovered.
“Think about it for yourself, if there were parts of your life you were unable to remember, how would that make you feel?” she asked, and the maid shook her head.
“Well, My Lady, I would not like it,” she replied, and Samantha nodded.
“Precisely, and that I why everything possible must be done to help my husband to remember and not rely on the testimony of others. You will help me then?” she asked, and the maid smiled.
“I will do, My Lady, I will do all I can,” she said.
Chapter Eighteen
“The maid remembers you as a child,” Samantha said, when at last she and Nox were alone.
They had dined that evening with Nox’s uncle and aunt, who once again had whisked him away to speak on matters of great importance pertaining to the family. Samantha had felt left out, but she could make little by way of complaint, confining herself to a sitting room where the maid had brought her coffee.
“My uncle and aunt are doing all they can to tell me more about my childhood, and to help me to remember,” Nox replied, somewhat dismissively, Samantha thought.
“But do you remember it?” Samantha asked. “It is one thing to be reminded of it, but quite another to think those thoughts yourself. How do you know they are not telling you falsehoods?”
Nox looked at her in surprise. Admittedly, it was a strange notion to entertain. Samantha had no reason to suspect that Nox’s uncle and aunt should be deceiving him, nor did there appear to be any reason they should do so. But still, she remained adamant in her opinion that the only way for Nox to embrace his past was for him to remember for himself the things they were telling him. It was easier said than done, of course, but surely a memory lost could also be a memory regained?
“Really, Samantha, they are my uncle and aunt. Why would they ever seek to tell me falsehoods? What possible gain could there be in it?” he asked, and Samantha had to admit that she could not think of one.
“But how do you think you will ever remember these things? Would it not be best to speak with others, rather than just your uncle and aunt? The maid told me a story today of your having once been covered in soot and that she had to carry you to the copper tub and scrub you clean. Do you remember that?” Samantha asked.
