Page 7 of A Duke to Restore her Memory
Without it, it was as if she were nobody. It was as if she had as much importance as a shell lying on this beach.
Now, I am someone called Georgina. I have become a new person. It is as if I have been born again.
“Can you stand?” asked the duke, stepping towards her. “If you are agreeable, I will tie your horse to my own, and you can journey with me. It will be much safer.”
The physician and the duke helped her to her feet. She staggered a little before correcting herself. “Yes, I can stand.” She blinked rapidly, gazing around. “Did you say I have a horse? I can ride?”
“Apparently, you can,” replied the duke, his mouth twitching with amusement. “At least, I assume the beast belongs to you. It was wandering along the top of the cliff, looking quite distressed. It seemed to be concerned for you … and no one else has claimed it.”
Christina shook her head incredulously. She knew how to ride. When had she learned such a skill? Who had taught her how to do it?
But her mind drew a complete blank. She simply could not remember a single thing about her past life. It was so disconcerting. She could be anyone … but at the moment, she was no one. She was a woman called Georgina who had no past. She was a blank slate entirely.
The duke helped her mount his horse, then got on himself after tying a large, sleek black horse to his own. She stared at the beast. It was beautiful and spirited, stomping its hooves, tossing its mane.
She wondered what its name was. She wondered if she indeed did own it, or whether she had borrowed it from someone to journey here. She wondered why she was here at all.
“We found a small bag, as well,” said the duke, putting his arms around her to take the reins. “I took the liberty of going through it, to try to discover your identity, but there is nothing within it to indicate who you are. Just some items of clothing, a small amount of coins in a purse … and an apple.”
Christina drew a deep, ragged breath. “Well, I know that I like apples, at least.”
The duke laughed mirthlessly. “Indeed. Are you ready? Shall we go?”
“As ready as I will ever be,” replied Christina grimly.
The duke shook the reins, spurring the horse onward. Suddenly, they were flying like the wind across the top of the cliffs. Christina closed her eyes in pure terror for a moment, frightened that she would fall off the beast. Her head throbbed with pain.
But then, she felt the wind upon her face, as soft and cooling as a caress. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. She leaned back against the duke, gazing around, taking it all in.
She gasped. It was stunningly beautiful. The high cliffs dropped dramatically, standing guardian over the sea, which was so intensely vast and blue that it almost hurt her eyes to take it in.
The sky vaulted over it, almost the exact same colour. The sun was a golden orb in the distance.
This is my home. These cliffs, this sea, this sky. And yet, I cannot remember it. It is as if I am seeing it for the very first time.
She gasped again. She was going to the home of a stranger. A very handsome and seemingly kind stranger who happened to be a duke. But still, she didn’t know him. A pang of fear shot through her. Was she safe? What was going to happen to her?
Chapter 4
Sebastian tightened his arms around the woman on the horse, sensing her fear, scared that she would topple to the ground in fright. But then, she slumped against him, her head turning left and right excitedly.
She is starting to relax at last. That is good.
His heart contracted. He had been impulsive, offering to care for her, but what else could he have done in the circumstances? She was injured, and she had lost her memory.
No one knew who she was. She had nowhere else to go. And she had suffered her injury on his land, in one of his mines, which hadn’t been boarded up properly. He was duty-bound to offer her care and sanctuary.
She could be anyone. She might be a thief. She might be a local confidence woman. I simply have no idea. It is a risk.
Georgina. The physician had given her a temporary name. He wasn’t entirely sure it suited her, but it was good enough for the moment. He was suddenly consumed with curiosity. Who was she? Why had she been riding along the cliffs so early in the morning … and how had she fallen?
He glanced back at the black horse he was leading. He knew his horseflesh – it was an expensive animal, which would indicate that she had considerable status. It wasn’t a common carthorse.
But on the other hand, she was dressed so plainly, like a servant or someone without much wealth, and her small, faded bag hadn’t contained anything of value.
His heart contorted again. Had she stolen the animal? Was he harbouring a thief?
His frown deepened. Then there was her voice. She spoke with the clear vowels of the upper class – she didn’t have a local accent. That suggested she was a gentlewoman of some sort. But no gentlewoman would have been riding alone at that time of day dressed in such clothing. It was a great puzzle.
