Page 12 of To Win a Viscount's Heart
Good morning Anna,” Lord Brown Eyes said. “Can you ask Mrs. McDonald to prepare a tray with a light breakfast?”
“Yes, my lord.” The smiling maid gave another quick curtsey and left.
Lord Brown Eyes pulled the chair closer to her bedside and sat. “You arrived last evening during a terrible rainstorm, astride a gray stallion,” he said. “At first, I thought you were a boy, given that you were wearing boys’ clothes along with a big hat that covered most of your face. I realized my mistake when your cap fell off and your hair unfurled.”
Confusion, frustration, and a whole host of other emotions swirled through her at his explanation. “Is the horse all right? How is your dog?” She hated the thought that either animal may have been hurt in the storm.
Lord Brown Eyes nodded. “Yes, they are both fine. Azure, your stallion, is a magnificent animal.”
“How do you know his name?” Her father must have named it, which made her wonder why he named it after a color.
“His name is engraved in the saddle, along with a message from your father, wishing you a happy birthday.”
Her father had gifted her with a stallion for her birthday?She had so many questions. “I see. Well, it seems you have me at a disadvantage, my lord. You called me, Selena. What is my full name?”
“Lady Selena Bowles.”
“Selena Bowles.” Nothing. No recognition of her name. She swallowed, as panic began to overtake every other emotion churning in her gut.
“Your father was Viscount Phillip Bowles, and your mother is Countess Fleur Bowles.” He withdrew something from his waistcoat pocket. “Perhaps this will help.” He handed her a gold filagree locket on a long chain. “Mrs. Evans, the housekeeper found this around your neck when she and the maids were attending you last night.”
She opened the locket and gazed at the image of a handsome man with dark hair and gray eyes on one side and a beautiful woman with dark hair and blue eyes on the other. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she touched both miniatures with a trembling finger.
A sudden thought flashed in her mind. “You said,was,”she rasped.“About my father. You said hewasViscount Bowles.”
“Yes.” Lord Brown Eyes blew out a deep breath. “Your father passed away more than a year ago.”
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she turned away from him and wiped them away.My father is gone.“Where is my mother?”
“I assume she must be at your family’s estate in Nottingham. I believe it’s called, Rose Point Chateau. Does the name of your home spark any recognition?”
Saying the name out loud, sent a strange jolt to her heart. As if something bad may have happened. But her memories were foggy and despite her best efforts, there seemed nothing for her to grasp. She shook her head. “No.”
“Your father’s solicitors searched for his heir for many months. I haven’t heard if they found him.”
Pain stabbed her heart at his revelation. “An heir? That means I have no brother…”
“That is true, Selena.”
Her father’s solicitors were required to search for his heir. Unease pricked the back of her mind, but she couldn’t fathom why. Searching her memory, she stared down at the locket, still open in her hand. She looked up and found him staring at her, a strange expression in his dark eyes. “M-my apologies. I do not who you are. Nor how we how we know each other?”
He seemed to hesitate as he combed his fingers through his hair. I am Viscount Gerald Lawrence,” he replied. “Our parents are friends.”
“I see,” she said. “You mentioned my father’s estate is in Nottingham? What of your estate?”
“Bellwood is in Derbyshire, although this is an estate my father purchased for me to rehabilitate. Our family estate is in Sussex.”
“I must have traveled almost two days to get here…” Her eyes widened and she clapped a hand over her mouth. “How do I know that?”
He reached for her hand again and held it between his.
His hands felt warm and comforting.
“Perhaps it’s a sign that your memory is returning?”
“Yes, that seems like it would be a good sign.” She found it hard to form a thought, but it had nothing to do with her lack of memory and everything to do with his big warm hands holding hers. “But why did I come here? Alone and in a terrible rainstorm?” She realized she’d uttered those questions aloud. “There had to be a reason, but what was it?” A memory tickled from behind the weeds of confusion. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t move past those weeds. “Why can’t I remember?” Her voice trembled.
“You were left unconscious from your fall. All night, in fact. The doctor who examined you and treated your injuries will return this morning. I am certain, Doctor Baker will be able to enlighten us. But I suspect your memory loss may be connected to your head injury.”
