Page 15 of Romancing the Scot
“You’re welcome to read it,” Hugh told her. “But first I should take you back to bed. I’ll get Jo.”
She looked around her, her body tensing, once again recognizing she was in a strange place.
“No,” she protested. “I must go. Find him. He can’t manage.”
“You’re not well,” he said quietly, supporting her and leading her out of his study. “You’re in no condition to go anywhere.”
Dr. Namby would be back midmorning, but Hugh feared that might be too late. The woman’s fever could kill her. Jo would know what to do. And he’d send someone to the village now.
“Where am I?”
She’d asked the same question the very first day. “You are in Scotland. Baronsford.”
He helped her to take a few steps.
“Two volumes,” she said.“On Fines and Recoveries.”
She was referring to books on his shelves again. He was no expert when it came to afflictions of the mind, but he’d seen distracted soldiers withdraw into their own worlds and cling to what they could take comfort in.
“Have you read them?” she asked.
Hugh smiled. If she didn’t feel like a hot poker in his hands, he would have sworn she was testing his qualifications.
“I don’t know. I might have.”
She raised her face close to his. “Whoareyou?”
“Who am I, as in, why don’t I recall reading those books? Or who am I, as in, who is it standing beside you now?”
“Kindly answer the question.”
There was a confidence in her tone that transcended her present condition. She was accustomed to getting answers.
“Hugh Pennington,” he said. “And what is your name?”
“Grace,” she whispered.
Seven days at Baronsford and they finally learned her name.
Considering all the danger she’d survived, the name suited her. “What is your family name, Grace?”
Her face took on a guarded look as she gazed at the dark stairwell ahead. Hugh felt her thin shoulders tense, and she braced herself, unwilling to take another step.
“Can’t go up. They’re after me. Those men.”
“Who’s after you?”
“They’ll kill me.” She huddled against him, clutching at his shirt.
This was the fever talking. She didn’t know where she was. One moment, she was speaking about the books on his shelf, in the next her nightmares were coming to life.
“You’re safe here,” he assured her. “I won’t allow anyone to hurt you.”
“Upstairs. Waiting. I hear them. They want to kill me.” She looked up, her eyes wide. “Run. We have to get away.”
The sudden burst of strength was surprising. She jerked herself free and backed away from the steps.
This time he wasn’t fast enough. She fell hard to the floor.
