Page 27 of The Girl Out of Time
The duchess thoughtshewas Miss Grey.
Leon needed help—badly—but the duchess was unlikely to provide one for a stranger.
“Yes!” She jumped to her feet. “I mean, uh—no! All is not well at all!”
“Then what is the matter?”
“My friend needs help. He’s severely injured.”
“Your friend? Of the male persuasion?”
Dream or not, that was apparently always going to be a problem.
“I mean, my servant. Forgive me, Your Grace. He’s—uh—he’s been with our family for so long, you see. His mother was our housekeeper for many years until she passed away, Godbless her soul, and his father died when he was young—”
Wait, wasn’t she reciting the plot ofThe Lady of Craighugh Castle? Nevermind—
“So he feels practically like family.” She clutched her hands in front of her.
“I see.” The duchess continued to fan herself lazily. “And what has happened to this man?”
“We were attacked on the road. By bandits! Horrible, terrifying bandits. He valiantly tried to protect me, and he drove the criminals off, but they wounded him. He’s in the servants’ quarters now, being taken care of, but he requires a surgeon.”
“Goodness.” The duchess put her free hand to her chest. “My apologies, Miss Grey. I thought the roads here were safe, especially during the day.”
“Oh, it’s not your fault. But could you—”
“Certainly. We’ll get a surgeon to him immediately. Are the rest of your servants all right?”
“Huh?”
“Surely, you’d brought at least a lady’s maid with you.”
Oh, no.“Actually, she fell ill before the journey. It’s just me.”
“And your servant.”
“And him. Yes.” God, she was digging herself deep with this one. The driver hadn’t told her how indisposed the real Miss Grey was; how much was “a few days”? How long would her cover last?
Until Leon got better. That was all she needed. A surgeon could surely fix him up in a few days, and once he was well, it didn’t matter if Emmeline’s cover was blown because they could both leave.
She knitted her eyebrows.She couldn’t shake off the feeling this wasn’t a dream. All the strangeness aside, her reactions, her feelings—the elevated heartbeat, the rapid breathing, the absolute, dreadful worry about Leon—they were too intense even for the worst nightmare.
“We’ve prepared a room for you,” the duchess said. “Your luggage should’ve been taken upstairs already, so if you wish to go and refresh yourself before dinner …”
“Uh …” Emmeline opened her mouth.
“Yes, Miss Grey?” There was only the slightest sharpness to the duchess’s tone.
“The bandits absconded with my luggage.” Emmeline tried hard to not make it sound like a question.
“Of course.” The duchess snapped the fan shut. “Louisa can lend you a gown. Once you’re feeling better, the two of you can go to the town to purchase more. Take it as a wedding present.”
A what now?
A high-pitched scream of excitement cut through Emmeline’s confusion. Steps pounded down the staircase, and the door flew open as a young woman burst into the room, her blonde curls flying around her face. “You’re here!” Without hesitation, she ran to Emmeline and locked her into a rib-crushing hug. “We’ll be the best of friends, you’ll see!”
“Louisa,” the duchess chided.
