Page 78 of Finding Hope
Rotham whisked her back to the house with breathtaking speed, his embrace so firm she found breath scarce, yet she uttered no protest. Relief flooded her, safe in his arms, as hewhispered sweet endearments and vowed to shield her from harm eternally. He revealed that the Duchess had been banished from the estate, ensuring she would never plague them again.
Faith and her sisters were waiting in her chambers, a warm bath ready and waiting. The warm blankets had already gone a long way towards improving her circulation, and she knew the bath would warm her further.
“Thank God!” Faith exclaimed and she hugged Hope as Rotham gently set her down.
“We will help her from here, my lord,” Faith said to Rotham. He gave a reluctant nod, and kissed Hope on the cheek.
“I will ring for you when she is more herself,” Faith assured him.
Faith and her younger sisters quickly stripped the blankets and clothes from her and then helped her to step into the bath. It was excruciating as her body regained its normal temperature. Her sisters plied her with hot tea laced with brandy, and she shook as her body slowly warmed.
“Thank God this happened in the summer,” Patience remarked.
“I don’t want to imagine such a thing in the winter,” Grace agreed.
“I cannot believe the Duchess ordered such a wicked thing!”
Hope said nothing. She did not want to think about that woman ever again. She herself had already gone through the process and realization over and over in her mind, but she understood her sisters’ need to speak of it, so she said nothing. All her efforts were centred on regaining her warmth.
“I heard them say the Duke was himself escorting her from the property. He feels responsible for allowing her to go as far as this,” Patience remarked.
“How could anyone have guessed she was mad?” Grace asked.
“Not mad,” Hope whispered.
“It turns out that one of the footmen was the son of her Grace’s maid. He was the one arranging the delivery of things unnoticed,” Patience said. “According to Jenkins, the maid was so grateful to have been allowed to keep her position when she had a child, that she is now completely devoted to the Duchess.”
“What of them?” Hope asked.
“Oh, they are gone as well. His Grace took them wherever he took the Duchess. Good riddance, I say,” Patience emphasized.
“Would you like more warm water or are you ready to come out?” Faith asked Hope with a warning glance to her sisters.
“I should like to get out now.” They quickly surrounded her with flannels, then blankets again. She would have laughed if she’d had the strength as she was helped into her bed, and then tucked in snugly with several more blankets.
“How are you feeling now, my dear?” Faith asked.
“Much better. I no longer feel as though I am being stabbed with thousands of needles.”
Another warm tisane was placed into her hands, but she pushed it away.
“I am well enough now,” she said with a shake of her head. “I am very fortunate that I was found so quickly, you know.”
“We should let her rest,” Faith said, and with a little grumbling, they all agreed. Each came over to give her a hug and a kiss before Faith ushered them out.
She closed the door behind them, and then came over to sit beside Hope on the bed. She opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated and closed it again.
“What is it?” Hope asked.
“Westwood and I were wondering if you would like to leave. I think you need time to heal before making any final decisions. It will be impossible to prevent a scandal, and you may find, after time to reflect, that this is not what you wish for.”
Hope began to cry. Everything that had happened hit her at once and the thought of leaving Rotham was too much. She also thought it might be too much for him.
“Oh, Hope, forgive me. I did not mean to upset you. I should not have said anything,” Faith remonstrated with herself as she pulled Hope into a hug.
Hope smiled weakly.
“You need to rest. Shall I leave you now?”
