He tried to move his arms, but the lightheaded sensation sucked him down, the freezing depths of the water pulling deeper into murky darkness. A dark dread suffocated Daniel, filling his lungs, weighing him down like bricks dragging him toward a watery grave, and before he could feel any sense of regret or deeper despair, icy blackness closed over him.
…
Four days had passed since the Earl of Stannis devastated Georgianna’s senses with his illicit kiss, fired her from her dream opportunity, and crushed the hope that had been slowly burning inside her chest like a magical ember. Once in the comfort of her bedchamber, all the anger and despair that had traveled back home with her had been released into a healthy bout of weeping that lasted for far too long. It was not in her character to wallow in a state of defeat or melancholy, not when her sisters relied on her steadiness and resilience in the face of adversity. Should they see her crying or in despair, the heavy burden of worry about their futures would also now rest on their shoulders.
Georgianna had spent a few hours pacing the threadbare carpet in her room, desperately seeking another way for herself and her family. It was only at last night’s ball held in the town assembly hall, she had subtly mentioned to a few notable members of their society that she had served as head chef for an earl, and he had been very pleased with her food and creativity. Everyone had been inarguably impressed. Georgianna had been very deliberate in mentioning how much the earl himself had complimented her food, and Mrs. Ford had been quite eager to retain her services for the exorbitant sum of fifty pounds.
Untying the string to her bonnet, she hung it on the peg and skirted past their housekeeper, Mrs. Woods, whom they had only been able to retain on two days a week. When their parents had been alive, their manor had been staffed, with Mrs. Woods full time, a kitchen maid, a cook, and a man of all work. Georgianna almost told Mrs. Woods the good news that she might be able to increase her daily wage but decided to hold her counsel until she calculated their household expenditures for the next four months, at least.
“Good day to ye, Miss Heyford,” Mrs. Woods said, pausing in her cheery hum as she polished the banister. “Miss Elizabeth said to inform you that she had taken a walk with the young Mr. Hayle.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Woods. I shall walk out to meet them.” Hurrying out without donning her bonnet, Georgianna made her way toward the pleasant grove where Lizzie loved to walk.
She saw Lizzie, Sarah, and Mr. Hayle in the distance, and they gaily waved to her.
“Sarah,” Georgianna scolded when she noted her sister held a small piglet in her hand, already muddying her gown. “Only yesterday I mended this gown, and look at it now.”
Sarah did not appear in the least contrite, and Georgianna almost threatened to roast the piglet her sister adored. Lizzie came forward, her eyes glittering with excitement, a rosy flush on her cheeks, and lips that appeared as if they had been thoroughly kissed. Mr. Hayle doffed his hat and bowed courteously to Georgianna, and she returned his honor by dipping into a simple curtsy.
He was a rather handsome young man, a very good-natured spirit, even if his humor bordered on scandalous. He made Lizzie laugh…and more alarmingly, despite his reluctance to publicly court her, Georgianna could see that her sister was falling hopelessly for his many charms and perhaps had allowed dangerous liberties.
Oh, Lizzie, please take the advice you gave me and be careful!
It was at moments like these Georgianna desperately wished their mother was alive to provide them with her guidance. Her sister leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
“Have you heard the news, Georgie?”
Promptly putting aside her own news that she had been eager to share, she asked, “What news?”
“Mr. Hayle called by to inform us a gentleman was found this morning on the shores on the outskirts of Crandell.”
“Good heavens! Was he dead?”
Lizzie cast her an aghast stare. “Why must you be so morbid? It is nothing that dire.”
“It is grave enough that this man is said to have lost his memory,” Mr. Hayle added, his dark gray eyes somber.
Georgianna gasped. “What do you mean, lost his memories?”
Mr. Hayle nodded. “It is what everyone is talking about. That the man has no notion of even his name. Can you imagine it? To open your eyes and not know who you are?”
She shook her head. “It is most astonishing and inconceivable.”
“Your cousin has taken him to his house. I presume he told you of it?”
“I’ve not been into town as yet,” she said, curiosity burning inside her chest. Their idyllic village hardly had anything mysterious or exciting happening, so why would anyone wash upon their shores with such a tragic wound?
They spoke some more of this mysterious gentleman and whom he might be before Mr. Hayle took his leave, mounting his horse and riding away. It was her unchecked curiosity that dragged Georgianna’s feet, as if they had a will of their own, through the woodlands, to her distant cousin’s four-bedroom house at the edge of Crandell Square.
It was a solid house, square and unornamented, which looked like it had stood there for centuries while it was only twenty or thirty years since it had been built. She had known Doctor Albert Parnell, a second cousin, from her mama’s side of the family, since she was a small child. He was also their local physician, a very excellent one. On her walk into town, Georgianna had encountered several people, and it was evident Mr. Hayle had spoken the truth. The entire populace of Crandell seemed to know of the mysterious stranger who washed ashore last night and had been taken to Albert’s small practice.
He kept his surgery in a small extension that had been built to the rear of the house, with a number of uncomfortable chairs in a lobby that led to the room. So she slid past the front door and entered the lobby and, as there were no patients waiting, knocked on the doctor’s open door. She hovered on the threshold of the room where he attended to his patients, rising atop her toes in hopes of seeing this stranger everyone said claimed to have no memory of who he was. Such an occurrence had never happened in their idyllic town before, it was quite understandable that everyone was agog. Even Georgianna was astonished that there were such cases of missing memories in this world. How would her cousin solve such a malady?
Albert’s voice as he questioned his patient was low and soothing, and the stranger’s response was just as low. However, something about it felt familiar. Georgianna frowned, stepping forward. Her cousin shifted, rubbing at his nape, revealing the man propped up in the small bed with a few pillows supporting his frame.
Shock darted through her, making her fingers nerveless enough to drop the basket, which held the three pounds of beef, scallions, thyme, and leeks for tonight dinner on her cousin’s wooden floor.
It is the arrogant, wretched Earl of Stannis!
