Page 20 of His Unforgettable Bride
“Nothing else, at least according to the sisters. They swapped your wet clothes for dry ones while I waited in the hallway. Afterward, the three of us hefted you into the bed, and Livy put more balm on your wounds.”
A new tightness gripped his chest, and it had nothing to do with his injuries. Three strangers…or perhaps one stranger and his aunts had gone to great lengths to rescue him and save his life.
The woman—the maid, or whoever she was—glanced at the doorway. “They wouldn’t find it proper, me here alone with a gentleman at this hour. But let’s give you that water before I go.”
“I could drink the ocean dry.”
She softly chuckled, and he liked the pleasant sound. “I’ll raise your head a notch, and you tell me if anything ails you.”
Ever so slightly, he shook his head. “I have neglected to inquire after your name.”
“Juliet Dash.”
“Since I cannot tell you mine, I shall remain a man of mystery for now.”
“Fine, unless you’re a low-down murderer or someone of that ilk.”
He was tempted to laugh yet lacked the strength. But then again, perhaps he did possess a dubious character. He could not deny the possibility. “As far as I can determine, I am an innocent man.”
“Good.” Without spilling, she snaked her free hand underneath his head, lifting him a measure. At the same time, she drew the dipper to his lips.
For a reason he could not explain, her tender touch anchored him. The cool metal touched his mouth, and the liquid soothed his lips. Heaven blessed heaven. He swallowed twice before she returned his head to the pillow.
“Enough for now. Otherwise, you’ll spit it back up, and neither of us wants that. I nursed my grandfather and had to be mindful of such things.”
Clearly, Juliet was not a gentle lady who used perfect diction and followed every protocol of polite society. He was unsure how he knew such a thing, yet somehow, he did. Her evident goodwill and charitable compassion, two admirable traits, shone a bright light in the middle of his dire situation.
She took a step away from the bed. “Will you manage if I leave you alone for a minute or two?”
“Yes.” Honestly, he wanted her to stay. All too soon, he might spin back into the emptiness that had enveloped him earlier. “May I call you Juliet?”
“Only when we’re alone. I’m just a servant who started working here yesterday. That sure seems like a dozen lifetimes ago.”
What a bizarre first day of employment for her. Although he had no idea what had transpired to lead him where he now lay, he assumed his immediate past had not been stellar either. The pain in his head intensified, and his stomach muscles pinched. He closed his eyes, hoping to ward off another round of intense discomfort. “You are dismissed.”
“Well, then, goodbye to you too, fella.”
Had he offended her? Was he too curt? “I shall try not to forget you.”
“That’s a good plan.” Her voice held sarcasm as her footsteps padded from the room.
* * *
“Can you open your eyes again?” A sweet voice, not Juliet’s, awoke him.
Strangely, he had dreamed about the beautiful maid. They had shared a picnic by the water, she in her nightgown and he in day clothing. They laughed and launched paper boats on a lake that matched her eyes. The instant he tried to draw her close for an embrace, she disappeared in the same fashion as his memory.
His heavy eyelids refused to lift, almost as if someone had nailed each one shut. Why was his body and mind failing to cooperate? One more mystery to add to the growing list.
“His face is less gray, and his pulse beats stronger than last night.” Another new female voice held authority as she clasped his wrist with cold fingers. Did the comment belong to one of his possible aunts?
When he tried to force his eyes open, dizziness came rushing in, and the bed seemed to rotate. The same as the last time he had awoken.
“During the night, he said he doesn’t recall his name or past.” Juliet’s voice. How much time had lapsed since she left him?
“Based on a few books I’ve read, medical forgetfulness is rare,” said the firm voice above him, “though not unheard of.”
“You read doctoring books?” Juliet again.
