Page 80 of Betrayal from Beyond
It wasn’t easy,but he managed to get Kara back to Chiswick, riding double on his rented mount. Not easy at all, in fact, but the alternative was to wait for the carriage to be fetched, and he could not countenance the delay. His wife was still out cold. Not even the difficult ride in the chilly night air roused her. By the time they reached the village, he was starting to feel frantic.
Gyda and Dalton had ridden ahead to secure rooms at the Meryton Hotel. Niall was able to carry Kara straight upstairs and lay her out on the bed in their room.
Dalton saw them settled, then ran downstairs to ask for coffee. Looking worried, Gyda sat next to Kara on the bed and took her hand. “Niall, do you remember Eval?”
“I’ve been thinking of nothing but him during this entire, miserable ride.” Eval had been a friend they had shared during their time in Oslo. The unfortunate man had had a severe problem with opium.
“One time when he indulged in too much—”
“One time?” Niall interrupted bitterly.
“One time,” Gyda said patiently, “not too long before the last time… He took too much and a chemist friend of his used a hollow metal needle to inject him with a stimulant to bring him around.”
“I knew something like that had happened. I was trying to recall the particulars.” He couldn’t look away from Kara. “I’m starting to get truly worried. But where would we find someone like that here?”
“I’d wager that lady tavern keeper might know someone,” Gyda said wryly.
“No need to consult the local opium users,” Dalton said from the doorway. “We have a decent, knowledgeable physician in the village. He’s a friend of mine. He’s used to dealing with excess of all kinds, with the sort of parties that go on at Chiswick House. I’ll go and see if he’s at home.” He approached, carrying a traywith coffee and tea. “And then I’ll go and tell the director that I’ll be taking a brief leave from the school.”
“Are you sure?” Niall asked.
Dalton glanced at Gyda. “That woman killed my…” He choked. “My Katherine. Do you think I feel it any less than you?”
“No.” Gyda lifted her chin. “You deserve your part in this, too. And we’ll appreciate the help.”
“Thank you,” Niall said, taking the tray from him. “And please, do fetch the doctor. And Dalton?”
“Yes?” The teacher had already started for the door.
“Please, hurry.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Bring the lighta little closer, please?”
An unfamiliar voice sounded close as Kara shied away from a bright, insistent light.
“Ah, there. You see, she’s coming around.”
“We did manage to rouse her enough to get a couple of cups of coffee in her while we waited.”
Niall.That was Niall’s voice. She tried to reach him, to pull herself out of the darkness that held her.
“I offer my apologies for the wait, but the local midwife needed assistance with a difficult birth. You did just as you ought, though. The duchess is breathing at an acceptable rate. Her heart sounds steady. Since you have been able to rouse her…”
The voice went on. It sounded kind, but she couldn’t follow it all. Something made her frown, though.The duchess,he’d said.Me. “It’s me,” she said out loud, but the sound of her voice made her cringe. Why did she sound like a croaking frog? “I’m the duchess.”
“Kara.”
The bed sank as Niall settled on the edge.
Bed? She looked around. “Where are we?”
“Back in Chiswick. Can you open your eyes, Kara?”
She hadn’t realized she’d closed them. She opened them with difficulty, and smiled at Niall, hovering close. He looked both worried and relieved at the same time.
“We took rooms at the hotel. Here.” He wrapped her fingers around a warm cup, but kept his hands around hers. “Drink. We need to get a little more coffee into you.”
