Page 27 of My Blind Duke
Melanie watched it crawl away in horror as Prudence took them both away from the spot it had been.
“Are you all right, darling? Were you hurt?” Prudence fussed, patting the girl’s hair and face.
Melanie shook her head. “I-I am fine, but Prudence… were you bitten?”
Prudence had thought about lying and saying she was fine, but the pain in her leg was growing by the moment, so she tried to be encouraging instead.
“I was, but it is merely a small bite. I will be fine.”
“But – but –”
“Do not worry. Let us leave our flowers here, hmm? I will send someone to come and fetch them later,” She promised through gritted teeth, barely able to mask the pain anymore.
“All right,” Melanie nodded with a sniff, putting her arm around Prudence. “Lean on me. I will help you back inside.”
“Aw, how sweet of – oh!” Prudence screamed, feeling the pain suddenly become even more intense.
“Sorry, sorry! I am so sorry,” Melanie began to cry, guiding her toward the door.
Prudence shook her head but could not speak, starting to feel light-headed. They managed to hobble together to the house and Melanie urged the duchess to sit down at the front steps.
“I-I will go get help!” Melanie said, before running into the house.
While Prudence waited, doing her best to endure the searing pain that was spreading through her leg, Melanie ran through the halls, relieved to find someone in the first room she had checked inside.
Lady Clementina was having a cup of tea and Melanie approached her hurriedly, her words tumbling out before she arrived near the woman.
“Lady Clementina, Prudence – I mean the duchess! She was bitten by a snake! Please, you must come immediately–”
But she stumbled, lost her balance, and bumped into the older woman, causing her tea to spill onto her dress.
Outraged, Clementina rose to her feet and slapped Melanie across her face.
“You horrid little creature! Look what you have done!” she screamed, gesturing at herself. “Is this a way for a lady to conduct herself? Rolling all day in the dirt and then spewing such outrageous tales?”
With a hand pressed to her stinging cheek, Melanie started to cry even more, running out of the room to find someone else who could help.
She had not gotten too far when she bumped into someone else.
“What on earth… Melanie! How many times have I told you not to–”
“Papa! You must come quick!” she cried, tugging at his hand. “The duchess and I were in the gardens and we saw a snake! Please help!”
It felt like ages before Prudence heard footfalls coming in her direction, relieved to have gotten help. She had barely managed to stay away, overwhelmed by the need to lay down but she did not want to frighten Melanie any more than she already had been.
“Duchess!” she heard the duke snap and struggled to stand, desperately clinging to a pillar. “What were you thinking, exposing Melanie to such danger? What if she had been bitten?”
Prudence managed to mutter.
“She is safe, Your Grace.”
And then she slumped forward, barely acknowledging the arms that wrapped around her before she was consumed by darkness.
Chapter 9
“Duchess?”
William’s heartbeat quickened when his call was met with no response and he tightened his hold on the woman in his arms.
