“I knew it. Thoseweresprouts last night, weren’t they?” Jeremy made gagging noises.
Giles sighed. “Gabriel, walk me upstairs to Lady Gwyneth’s room. I would not wish to frighten her with a new face when she’s just becoming accustomed to the four of you.”
The two of them left Royce to his work and walked up the stairs together.
“Have you had chance to get a sense of Lady Gwyneth’s state of mind?” asked Giles.
“Confused as hell, I’d guess,” Gabriel shrugged. “She knows she’s at Wolfbridge and that she’s been ill. Whether she remembers anything before you found her, or during her period of starvation? I don’t know. She’s…”
“She’s what?”
Gabriel shook his head. “I might say she is careful. Or reticent. I’m not sure which. But I think she might be slightly more aware than she’d like us to know.”
Giles thought about that. “Not an unwise precaution when you wake up in a strange place with strange people, no matter how well they tend you.”
“Good point,” acknowledged Gabriel, pausing outside her door. “You would like me to introduce you?”
“Yes, I think that would be wise.”
“Very well, then. Let’s see how the lady reacts to meeting her saviour.” Gabriel opened the door quietly and walked inside. “My Lady,” he said in a low voice. “Are you feeling up to some company?”
There was silence for a moment.
Then Giles heard her voice, as if for the first time.
“That would depend on who it is.”
*~~*~~*
Gwyneth turned her head on the pillow to see Gabriel peering around the bed hangings. He was smiling. He smiled a lot, she had noticed. But not in a way that made her uncomfortable; it was more that his disposition was fundamentally a cheerful one.
She believed him to be gentle, caring—and also weak. But it was too soon to solidify her impressions, so she held her judgement in reserve for the moment.
“It is the gentleman who rescued you, my Lady,” said Gabriel in answer to her comment. “His name is Giles, and he’d like to speak with you for a little while.”
She shifted on the pillow. God knew that she could use some diversion, since she was as useless as a kitten and disliked it with every fibre of her being.
“Very well.” She tugged the sheets up, noting that her arms still lacked strength for even that minor task. She took a breath and fought for a composure she did not feel.
He walked to the bed and bowed, an appropriate greeting she appreciated. “My Lady. I am pleased to see you on the road to recovery.” He glanced at a nearby chair. “May I?”
She nodded. “Yes, of course.”
He was tall, older than she’d imagined, and she didn’t recognise him at all. The touches of silver above his ears lent him an air of elegance, as did the neatly trimmed beard. His eyes were brown, and at this moment they were fixed on her face, revealing nothing.
Obviously a man who understood caution, as she herself had come to understand it.
He glanced at Gabriel and made a slight gesture with his head. Gabriel nodded, gave her a little bow, and left.
Then he turned back to her. “First let me ask how you are feeling?”
“A very common question, Mr Giles. To respond, as I have already done about a dozen times today, I am weak as a kitten, possessed of the ability to fall asleep at a moment’s notice and most displeased by both.”
He inclined his head, amused. “I can only imagine your frustration. Thank you for your courtesy, but it’s just plain Giles, if you please. I am happy to say your comments indicate a mind that is now working clearly, even if the rest of you is still catching up.”
She blinked. “I should hope so.” Her eyes drifted to her hands, as she cleared her throat. “Was I not in my right mind earlier? When you found me?”
“You were barely alive, Ma’am.” His voice was quiet and emotionless. “There was no chance for conversation, nor did you have the inclination.”
