Page 43 of A Masked Lady for Mr. Kenworthy
As soon as she reached the final step, she gasped loudly. With a long, drawn out moan, she allowed her entire body to go limp, and she fell to the floor. Because she could not make a perceptible effort to soften her fall, she accidentally bruised the heel of her left hand and bumped her head on the floor. But none of her injuries were serious, and she forced herself to lie perfectly still and not react in any way to the pain. She focused on keeping her eyes firmly closed and regulating her breathing, and she prayed her act would be convincing enough.
The next thing she knew, the putrid scent of smelling salts filled her nose. With a groggy start, Faye realized she must have, in fact, dozed off for a couple of moments. She silently thanked the heavens for answering her prayers, as above her stood a very concerned-looking marquess, holding a small bowl of the salts under her nose.
“Lady Faye, my dear,” Lord Turlington said, his voice soft and kind. “Are you alright?”
Faye started to push herself upright, careful to do so slowly so as not to give away her true physical wellbeing. She rubbed her head, which was still tender from the bump to the floor, and tried her best to look around as though confused as to what had happened.
“Oh, my,” she said. “How long have I been here?”
The marquess gave her a sympathetic look.Good,she thought, forcing herself not to get too excited.
“I heard you collapse about ten minutes ago,” he said. “I sent for the smelling salts immediately upon reaching you, but it took me this long to bring you around. I was beginning to fear you would never awaken.”
Faye blinked in real confusion. Had she really been asleep for that long? She must have been more fatigued than she realized, but it certainly explained the sincere concern etched onto Lord Turlington’s face.
“Heavens,” she said, feeling genuine perplexity. “I do apologize, my lord. I have made a terrible fool of myself.”
The marquess shook his head, surprisingly gently, for a cold, hardened criminal.
“Not at all, Lady Faye,” he said. “My foremost concern is for your wellbeing. We must get you back upstairs and into your bed, and I shall send for a physician.”
“That is not satisfactory, Lord Turlington,” Selina said, floating toward them with determination and purpose. “She must return to London at once.”
The marquess rose from Faye’s side, raising an eyebrow at the countess.
“She has taken a terrible fall,” he said, his voice level but carrying an edge of malice. “I believe that traveling is the last thing she needs just now, especially when I can have a physician tend to her here.”
The countess brushed past him, kneeling before Faye and touching her forehead. She gave Faye an imperceptible wink, instantly understanding what Faye was doing. Then, she turned back to the marquess, who was watching Selina warily.
“It would take hours to send word for the physician and then await his arrival,” she said matter-of-factly. “At best, we could likely expect him after nightfall. Perhaps even later if he cannot get away from his patients right away.”
Lord Turlington clearly did not like being challenged. He remained near Faye but straightened his shoulders and set his jaw.
“My maids will attend to her every need until the physician arrives,” he said, with great authority. “I believe we can keep her comfortable and resting until the physician arrives.”
The countess shook her head firmly.
“And what if she is more greatly injured than we can tell?” she asked, her voice more commanding than the marquess’s. “Or what if her illness worsens too rapidly and she slips into a state beyond medical care while she waits? You would not wish to be responsible for causing further damage to her health, would you?”
The marquess scoffed.
“I would be deemed a hero for keeping her where she will be safe until a doctor can examine her,” he said arrogantly.
Faye’s stomach began to turn. What if the marquess continued to insist that she stay? And what if he sent Selina to fetch a doctor, leaving Faye alone with him?
Selina sighed, and she shook her head sadly.
“My lord, you do not understand,” she said, her voice suddenly forlorn, rather than sharp and demanding. “I was up with poor Faye all throughout the night, as she was running a terrible fever. I thought it had broken around dawn and that she was getting better. But this spell proves to me how wrong I was in that assessment.” She paused, gasping dramatically and putting her hand to her forehead. “For heaven’s sake, she could very well have contracted influenza.
Lord Turlington eyed Selina, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. Faye’s heart began to race, and she quickly began fanning herself and moaning softly. It caught the marquess’s attention immediately, and he took a very quick step backward. Selina wrapped an arm around Faye’s shoulders, successfully shielding her from the marquess’s touch.
After another moment, Lord Turlington nodded curtly.
“Well, as you have already potentially exposed yourself to whatever she has come down with, I see no sense in exposing myself to it, as well,” he said, taking another step away from the women. “And I would hardly be a worthy host if I risked someone sick with influenza attending any party of mine. Very well.” He gave Faye a sad smile, though his eyes still said he was more suspicious than sympathetic. “My dear, this is most unfortunate, indeed. I wish you a safe journey back to London and a speedy recovery.”
Without bothering to bid the countess farewell, the marquess turned sharply and walked away from the women. He barked at some nearby servants to see that a carriage was made ready and that their belongings were packed and loaded straightaway. Faye held her breath until she could no longer hear Lord Turlington’s footsteps. Then, she started to sit up and pull herself to her feet. But the countess quickly shook her head, pressing her hands firmly against Faye’s shoulders and giving her a pointed look.
“You must continue to play along,” she said, almost inaudibly. “We do not know if any of his servants can be trusted. You must allow them to carry you to the carriage when they bring it around, and you must stay in there until we are ready to depart.”
