hell,” Hunt hissed, then moved to the seat beside her. He placed his hand on her forehead and issued another swear word more violent than the first. She was burning up. Her forehead was streamed with perspiration, yet when he pulled her to him she was trembling like a leaf.
“My lady,” he said, grabbing the blanket that had fallen to the floor and wrapping it around her. “Wake up, my lady,” he said, holding her as close as he could. But she said nothing, stirred not at all, her head lolling awkwardly to the side.
With stunning clarity, Hunter absorbed the urgency of the situation. He knew now why the woman hadn’t called for help. She was quite unconscious.
Hunter wrapped his arms around her and tucked her head beneath his chin. He rubbed her arms and back in an effort to stimulate blood flow, but her body didn’t react to his ministrations. He stuck his hand out the window and pounded on the side of the carriage. “Faster, man. Go as fast as you can.”
When Lady Atherton’s brother realized they had sped up, he rode toward the carriage. “What’s wrong?”
“Your sister has lost consciousness. We need to get to Rainwood Manor as quickly as possible.”
At this speed, the rocking carriage nearly threw the poor woman onto the floor. Hunter caught her up and held her on his lap. “Jannie?” he asked brushing several strands of damp hair from her forehead. “Stay with me. We’re almost home. I’ll get you into a nice soft bed and you’ll be better in no time.”
Hunter prayed he was right. He prayed that she would be better in no time. But she was burning with fever. And each mile felt like ten.
“We’re almost there, my lady. We just turned into the drive. A short jaunt up the lane and we can get you to bed.”
Hunter was never so thankful as when the carriage pulled up in front of Rainwood Manor. He stepped from the carriage with her in his arms and raced through the door his butler held open for him.
“Send for a doctor, Mason, and send up some cool water and cloths.”
“Very well, my lord. Right away,”
Hunter carried her to the first guest room he came to and laid her on the bed. He’d be glad when her aunt caught up with them. They needed to get her out of her clothes and dressed in a nightgown. He didn’t dare undress her by himself, even though it had felt to him that her bodice was soaked through.
At that moment the viscountess bustled into the room with a worried frown on her face.
“Oh, dear heaven, Lia! What is wrong with her, Lord Montclaire?”
“Lady Atherton is ill. I’ve sent for the doctor but it will take time for him to arrive. I’ll leave you and your maid to look after her.”
“Of course. Of course. We will manage.”
“Good. I’m going to make arrangements for your trunks to be brought up. Then I’ll send a tea tray for you, and inform Miles of what has transpired.”
“Very well, my lord.”
Two maids rushed in to help, leaving Hunter free to step out of the room. He made sure the babe was settled and rooms prepared for Lady Atherton’s aunt and her brother. He met Miles in the foyer and invited him to join him in his study.
The first thing he did was pour two glasses of brandy and hand one to Miles.
He took a healthy sip, then turned to face Miles Halloway. He couldn’t hide the anger that welled inside of him.
“Who the bloody hell is Lia?”
Chapter 8
The look of surprise on Miles Halloway’s face told Hunter he’d stumbled onto something monumental.
“What did you say?”
Hunter took a threatening step closer to Halloway. “I asked you who Lia is and why your aunt called Lady Atherton ‘Lia’.”
Miles Halloway finished his brandy in one swallow, then rose and walked to the other side of the room.
“No lies, Halloway! Why would your aunt call Lady Atherton ‘Lia’?”
Miles braced his hands against the window frame and lowered his head between his outstretched arms. “I shouldn’t answer you. It’s not my place to tell you. It’s…Lia’s.”
“I presume Lia is the woman who is lying unconscious upstairs?”
“Yes.”
“Since she is unable to speak, Halloway, the responsibility falls upon you.”
Miles Halloway turned away from the window, then reached for his glass and filled it again before returning to his chair. “I told Lia she wouldn’t get away with her lie for long, but she said she couldn’t risk you