Page 21 of To Win a Viscount's Heart
“I would like that too.”
~*~
Chapter Seven
Two days later
Selena awoke to the warming glow of sunlight streaming in through the windows. Thank goodness, outside the window, the day appeared bright and sunny. Someone had thought to pull the curtains—it must have been Anna, that sweet maid that had been helping her.
Selena stretched and then winced, the movement causing her injuries to sting. She was thankfully feeling better each day, but she wished she could get out of bed and move around, perhaps even venture outside for some fresh air.
A light knock sounded on the door followed by Anna’s soft voice.
Selena bade her enter, greeting the smiling young woman as she stepped into the room.
“Miss Selena, how do you feel this morning,” Anna asked in her lovely Scottish lilt.
“Much better, I think.” She wasn’t completely sure. “The fever seemed to be gone—thank goodness for that.” Beingalternately cold and hot—more like burning up—was no picnic. “My headache is also gone.”
Anna smiled. “I’m glad to hear the headache has subsided. The fever would go, and then, would return. Several times it happened. Thank goodness your fever has not returned in almost a day.”
“Yes, that is fortunate, indeed.” Selena was thankful that Doctor Baker had discovered the source of the infection that had caused the fever and had secured a tonic from the apothecary.
Selena had taken a liking to the pretty young maid with bright red hair, large brown eyes, and an adorable sprinkling of freckles over her nose. “Anna, do you think I might be able to take a bath today?”
“Of course, Miss Selena. “I took the liberty of ordering a bath. The tub should be ready for you soon. But we should be careful to avoid the area around your wound.”
The head wound that had caused her memory loss. Selena nodded and thanked Anna. She may have been on the mend physically, but her memory had still not returned. She couldn’t even remember her name. She only knew it because he told her.Gerald.Her fiancé. She came here to him, so that had to count for a lot, didn’t it? Even though she couldn’t recall why.That she had ridden through the night on a horse in a frigid rainstorm told her she was running from something. But from what? Or whom?
“Miss Selena, I washed the clothes you arrived wearing, but there were no dresses. Only another pair of britches, a shirt and a shift and other under garments.”
“How odd.”Was I in that much of a hurry to leave?Sorrow wrenched at her heart, and she had no idea why. There was something she should know…something she couldn’t recall. She touched her head as if she could make her memory work again.
“Are you all right?” Anna asked, her brow etched in concern.
“Forgive me, Anna. It’s just my frustration at my loss of memory.”
“Aye. I understand,” Anna said. “I have faith that your memory will return. But sometimes, some things are best forgotten.” Her voice held a trace of sadness.
Selena wondered what could have caused Anna such pain that she wished she could forget it. “Sometimes, sharing a burden with someone else may lessen the load…” Now, where had she heard that before?
“Aye, perhaps you’re right, Miss.”
“Anna, may I ask when you arrived here at Bellwood?” Perhaps there was something she could do to help the girl.
“Angus Connery is a distant cousin of mine. When Lord Bellecote hired him to oversee the property, six years ago, he brought me with him.”
“Goodness! You must have been a child.”
“I was but ten and two,” Anna said.
That meant she was only eighteen. So young. Anna looked to be about the same age as her.However, do I know that?Truth be told, she had no idea how old she was. She didn’t even know what she looked like. Perhaps she would ask Gerald her age. Surely, he would know.
“Do you miss your family?” Selena asked.
Anna blinked back sudden tears.
“I’m so sorry, Anna. I shouldn’t ask such questions.”
