Julius feared it was something serious like this that had brought her running to him. Why had she fled here and not to her darling viscount? Well, he did not care. All that mattered was that she was here and he was going to protect her. “We had better notify the authorities. But first tell me what–”
“No!” she cried softly. “You cannot let anyone know I am here.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “Why should I keep you hidden? Others will worry when they realize you are missing. Worse, the authorities might think you are the one who did him in and are now on the run because of it. And what about your viscount? You are getting married in a week’s time. Do you intend to hide out here until your wedding day?”
“May I? Do you mind?”
Did he mind Gory in his bed?
If it were up to him, he would want her there permanently. “I do not mind having you here. But is it not better to report the crime to the authorities before others find your uncle’s body? Where is your aunt?”
Gory sat up, and then winced. “She’s visiting her sister in Windsor.”
The effort of sitting up must have pained her.
She put a hand to her forehead to give it a delicate rub.
Did this not confirm she had been struck on the head?
Why would she not allow him a better look? Not that he knew the first thing about proper treatment of a head wound. But he knew just the man to summon…Dr. George Farthingale. He was the best doctor in London and could be counted upon to be discreet.
However, Julius hesitated.
He did not want to embroil anyone else in this possible murder situation until he had more facts. “Gory, when is your aunt due back?”
“Later this afternoon.”
“All right, this gives us several hours to attend to the problem. Tell me everything you know.”
“Julius, you haven’t asked me.”
“Asked you what?”
She stopped rubbing her forehead and looked up at him with her hazel eyes wide. “Whether I killed my uncle.”
He arched an eyebrow. “The thought never entered my mind…but, did you?”
CHAPTER 2
“IN TRUTH, I don’t know what happened,” Gory said, wishing her head would stop pounding. “Julius, all I remember is hearing raised voices in the study. I was in my bedchamber and walked downstairs to see what was going on. I had no sooner walked in than I was struck over the head with some heavy object. Perhaps a candlestick because it felt thick and metallic. When I regained consciousness, my uncle was dead beside me and I was covered in blood.”
“Dear heaven,” Julius muttered, furrowing his brow. His steel-gray eyes met her gaze and made her melt a little inside, for behind that facade of cool steel burned hot embers that she had always wished might burn for her. “The intruder might have killed you. Thank goodness he spared your life. Let me–”
“No!” She cried out softly and shrank back when he tried once again to inspect her scalp. “It hurts too much and I don’t want you to touch it.”
She threw her hands protectively in front of her face.
“Gory, don’t fight me on this. I need to help you.”
“I know you mean well.” But she still did not want him to touch the area of the wound. By the pain slicing through her, she thought the damage began just above her left ear and ended slightly behind it. “I might need stitches,” she admitted, now feeling nauseated in addition to reeling from the unrelenting pounding in her head.
Being settled in his bed helped a little, for the mattress was soft and the sheets and pillow coverings smelled nice, a mix of lavender and his refreshing bay spices scent that wrapped around her like a soothing blanket.
Julius groaned as he rose to reach for the bell pull. “I am going to wake Greeves and have him send one of the footmen to fetch Dr. Farthingale immediately.”
“Then your staff will know I am here!”
“They are going to find out in a matter of hours anyway. Do not get out of my bed,” he warned when she started to draw aside the coverlet. “Look at you. You cannot even sit up.”
