Page 9 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
One of the soldiers glanced over at her, saw her state of distress, and answered for her. “From the wound, it appears someone stabbed him from behind.”
The doctor glanced over at her.
“It couldn’t have been her.” The soldier reassured the doctor. “You can see her outline on the bed from when he was stabbed. Someone else had to have been in the room.”
A demon.
The doctor studied the outline, heaved a sigh, and then walked over to her, the candlelight flickering over him. Adorra’s eyes stared at the blood that had soaked his clothes in the brief time he’d been inside her room.
“I’m sorry my lady.” The doctor shook his head his grey frizzy hair standing on end. “There was nothing I could do. Nothing anyone could do. The wound was too severe.”
Adorra nodded dumbly. She knew enough about battle wounds to realize it would have been a miracle if her husband survived, but she’d hoped. She couldn’t help but hope.
Her most romantic day had just turned into the longest most tragic day of her life. Suddenly, she was reliving the moment she’d been told about her parents’ death. She’d only been a child, and it’d taken her a couple of weeks to realize her parents were never coming back. Even after attending their funeral, it hadn’t really sunk into her young mind.
“Adorra?” A familiar voice said from behind her.
Adorra spun around to see Isabel coming straight for her. “Isabel.” She choked out around her sore throat.
“What has happened?” Isabel took her into her arms.
“Your dress. I don’t want to ruin it.” Adorra muttered as she attempted to pull away.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Isabel’s arms tightened around her, not letting her go. “A ruined dress is the least of my concerns.”
The doctor faced Isabel. “Lord Gothar has been killed.”
Adorra heard Isabel suck in a harsh breath. “How?”
“The guards suspect an intruder.”
Isabel’s hands moved over Adorra’s back in comforting strokes as she listened to the doctor.
“I want a bath.” Adorra managed to get out.
“Of course you do.” Isabel guided her away from the room and through the manor, avoiding the merrymaking that could still be heard going on in the great hall. Soon it would all come to an abrupt end as they heard the news, but for now, they were dancing around and having a good time.
Isabel stopped a maid that they passed. The young woman’s eyes widened as the flickering candlelight in the corridor revealed all the crimson blood covering Adorra.
“Draw us a bath in my chambers,” Isabel ordered the young woman.
The woman stood there like she was frozen as she continued to stare openly at Adorra.
“Now!” Isabel barked, her brown eyes flashed in irritation, and even Adorra was a bit startled by the sudden change in her friend.
Casting her eyes down, the maid scurried away.
Then Isabel gently coaxed Adorra back through the halls of the manor until they arrived at Isabel’s chambers.
“Here,” Isabel guided her over to the tub that was quickly being filled by several servants, “let’s get you out of your nightgown.”
Adorra nodded numbly. Her mind had shut down as she attempted to piece together everything that had happened to her.
Isabel quickly whipped off Adorra’s clothes and ushered her into the warm water in the tub. Adorra sank down into the gentle caress of the water, and Isabel began washing the blood off of her with a washcloth.
“Thank you.” Adorra looked up at her friend who was carefully making sure all the blood was washed off her body.
“I can’t imagine what you just went through.” Isabel shook her head. “On your wedding night.” She sounded as appalled by the idea as Adorra felt.
