not knowing her surname. “Won’t you have a seat?”
Since the lieutenant stood before the settee, Alice perched on the wingchair Derek favored. Her fingers nervously smoothed down the fabric of her skirt as she waited for the officer to state his business. She had no reasonable cause to fear him, but something about that bright-red tunic made her uneasy.
“I trust you’re feeling better,” Lieutenant Reynolds said, watching her intently.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“That must have been a terrible ordeal for you,” he said, shaking his head as if envisioning what Alice had gone through.
“I suppose it must have been, but I don’t recall anything that happened before waking up in the room upstairs,” she replied carefully.
“Nothing at all?”
“Nothing.”
“Shame. I was hoping you might at least be able to tell me the name of the ship you’d been traveling on.”
“I’m sorry, Lieutenant, but I can’t even remember my own name, much less the name of a ship.”
“Do you think you might recognize the name of the ship if you heard it?” he tried again.
“I can’t promise anything,” Alice said, wishing the man would just leave. What was he after?
“Essex?” Lieutenant Reynolds asked softly. “Lady Anne?” he tried again.
“Sorry, no. They don’t sound familiar at all.”
“Peregrine?” the major intoned, his gaze pinning her head to the back of the chair.
Something inside Alice recoiled, a cold dread spreading from her belly to her extremities. Peregrine. There was something about the name that frightened her and caused her to suck in her breath as her heartrate accelerated, her palms sweating.
“Are you all right, Mistress Alice?” Lieutenant Reynolds asked.
“You must excuse me, Lieutenant. I haven’t been well. I fear I’m going to be sick,” she mumbled, and bolted from the room. The major found her around the side of the house, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She felt marginally better but needed to lean against the wall for support.
“I do apologize,” he said, sounding genuinely contrite. “Mistress Wilder informs me you’re still suffering the ill-effects of the tragedy.”
“I am,” Alice said, wishing fervently her legs didn’t feel like jelly.
“Can I help you back inside?”
“Thank you, but I think I’ll stay out here for a few minutes. The fresh air helps.”
“As you wish. I’ll bid you a good morning, then.” He bowed from the neck and turned on his heel, walking away as if on parade, his hat beneath his arm.
Odious man, Alice thought as she watched him put his hat on his head and mount his horse before cantering out of the yard. She waited until he disappeared from view, then reentered the house.
“Are you quite all right, Alice?” Hannah asked when Alice walked into the kitchen. “Did Lieutenant Reynolds upset you?”
“Not at all,” Alice lied. “I wasn’t feeling well when I woke up.”
“Let’s get some breakfast into you, shall we?” Hannah said, setting a bowl of porridge before Alice and adding butter and honey without asking. “Cup of tea?”
“Yes, please,” Alice replied, spooning some porridge into her mouth. She began to feel better as soon as the warm mass reached her stomach, settling with a comforting weight.
Hannah poured them both tea and sat down across from Alice, watching her eat.
“Where is everyone?” Alice asked.
“Derek went into town, and Ben is fixing the fence in the lower pasture. Josh was meant to be helping him, but he came back saying his belly hurts. He went upstairs.” Hannah took a sip of tea and set the cup carefully on the table. “You don’t seem to be getting any better,” she said.
“I am,” Alice protested. “My head doesn’t hurt as much,” she lied. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt the need to reassure Hannah that she was improving.
“I think perhaps the blow was more severe than you imagine. A head injury can often cause nausea and headaches for months afterward. My brother fell out of a tree when he was twelve. Hit his head on a boulder that was half-buried in the ground. He never lost his memory, as you have, but he became temporarily blind.”
Alice gasped. “Did he recover his vision?”
“Once the swelling went down, his vision gradually returned, but he was never the same afterward. Suffered with terrible headaches and double vision for years after the accident.”
“And now?” Alice asked.
“They still trouble him, but not as frequently. I’m glad Dr. Rosings is due to look in today,” Hannah said. “I’m worried about you.”
Alice felt the prickle of tears, deeply touched by Hannah’s concern. If she had to rely on the kindness of