as having been a patient at Gollingham.”
“Go ahead,” she said boldly. “I have my life back, thanks to my husband and cousin.”
Jefferson said, “I hope my investigative work will be able to free Miss Stone and possibly others. Comparing notes with Mr. Haggard, neither of us can find any physician who diagnosed Miss Stone as mad. I believe she was placed there merely on her brother’s word, in order for him to gain access to the school and monies left to her by her father.
“You are a very brave woman, Lady Torrington,” he continued. “To share with me the horrific conditions you endured.”
“I hope something good will come from your articles, Mr. Jefferson,” she said. She rose. “Thank you for coming.”
Knowing they were dismissed, both Jefferson and Haggard left the drawing room. Dez pulled her into his arms.
“You have more courage than any man I ever saw on the battlefield, my love. I want us to raise our children with conviction. To teach them to always do the right thing. I want our girls to know they are as valued and loved as our boys.” His palm flattened against her belly. “This little one, son or daughter, will have two parents who will give it our love. Our time. I want our children to grow up free to express their opinions to us, while at the same time learning to always be kind to others.
She touched his cheek. “You are a remarkable man, Desmond Bretton. I doubt a handful of men in Polite Society would feel as you do. It’s just one of the reasons I love you so very much.”
He kissed her and then said with a smile, “I would enjoy showing you how much I love you, Lady Torrington. I believe you were to take a nap before we were interrupted by our unexpected guest.”
Anna laughed. “Let us keep the world at bay for a few hours then.”
Dez swept her into his arms, carrying her to their bedchamber, and did just that.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dez awoke to a bloodcurdling shriek. Anna thrashed on the bed, in the grips of a terrible nightmare. Coral rushed in and ran to the bed, halting when he saw Anna’s arms striking out violently at empty space.
The valet blanched but quickly said, “What can I do, my lord?”
“Nothing, Coral. Go,” he commanded and the servant sadly turned away, quietly closing the door as he exited the bedchamber.
Dez captured his wife’s wrists and lowered them to her sides, securing them there.
“Wake up, Anna, my darling. Wake up. You are with me. Dez. Your husband. Wake up, sweetheart.”
Her eyes flew open, darting about as she quickly assessed her surroundings. Slowly, the tension eased from her body. He released her wrists and lay beside her, pulling her close. Even now, her heart beat rapidly, like a wild animal caught in a trap, thumping against his bare chest. Dez didn’t speak. He merely held her to him, hoping to warm her chilled body. After some minutes, he no longer could feel the pounding of her heart against him and he sensed her relaxing.
“Another nightmare?” he asked.
Anna continued to have bad dreams about her time in the madhouse. They had seemed to lessen in frequency, however. The intensity of this one bothered him.
“Yes,” she finally replied. “I thought I was getting better. I am afraid talking with Mr. Jefferson yesterday brought up things I had locked away.”
“You don’t have to see or speak to Jefferson again, my love,” Dez said, hoping to soothe her.
“No. It’s all right. If I can help him to gain the release of even one woman existing in that living Hell, then I want to continue to see him and assist in whatever way I can.” She smiled up at him. “Besides, I have the most handsome, loving husband in the world to offer me comfort and chase away the lingering feelings of my nightmares.”
He hated that the reporter’s visit had caused another setback in Anna’s recovery but Dez knew his wife must follow her heart and do what she could to liberate any patient she had known.
“I dreamed of Matron again,” Anna said. “Above all the others, she haunts me most.”
“Perhaps because of her extreme cruelty,” he suggested. “Your most terrible experiences were at her hands.”
“I suppose so. I wonder why she took such joy in tormenting those under her care.”
He kissed her temple. “She wasn’t caring for you or any of the others, sweetheart. She made no attempts to help heal anyone. Matron was