“You suffered a traumatic blow to the head, possibly two actually. The doctor said you would wake when the swelling decreased, and you did. Perhaps your memory will return as you fully heal. Don’t worry. You are among friends. I will take care of you. Are you hungry? I’ll get you some food.” She headed for the door.
“Wait, one more question,” he called out.
She turned back.
“Who are you?”
“I am Susanna.” Then she opened the door and quit the room.
Susanna, it was a pretty name. Nothing that jogged his memory though. He scooted carefully back down to the pillow.Susanna.But who was she? She said he was among friends, that she would care for him and he believed her, even though he had no bloody idea who she was. A head injury made sense. He would recover his memory when his head healed. He had to believe that. He shut his eyes.Susanna.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Susanna slumped againstthe wall outside of the bedroom. She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle the sob that rose in her throat. He had no memory of who he was, of who she was, dear Lord! This was all her fault. Flashes of Stuart’s henchman bashing Miles on the head, of Miles collapsing, of his deathly pallor as he lay on the road filled her vision. Her stomach churned.
If not for her recklessness Miles would be at Brooksdale sitting under the great willow tree in his brother’s garden visiting with Daniel and Charlotte, safe and whole. Instead, he was hurt and couldn’t even remember his own name. Would he ever regain his memory? She slid down the wall until her backside hit the wooden floor. Tears slid down her cheeks and across the hand clasped over her mouth.
“My dear, is he worse?” James Marlow appeared in front of her, his eyes filled with concern.
She hadn’t even heard him approach. He extended a hand down to her and she grasped it and let him help her to her feet. She shook her head. “No, quite the opposite, he is awake.”
“That is good news. So, the tears are of relief?”
She shook her head again. And the tears threatened to turn into sobs. The last two days had been so overwhelming that she didn’t think she could be strong anymore. She wanted to be, for Miles, she needed to be strong to take care of him, but it was all too much. Quickly, she turned and headed down the hallway toward the front stairs as she wiped furiously at the moisture on her cheeks.
Mr. Marlow walked next to her as Susanna tried to swallow her tears to no avail. At the top of the wide carpeted staircase, he pulled her gently to a stop. “Come here.” He enveloped her in a warm hug.
Susanna lost control of her battered emotions and the sobs came. She cried big fat tears all over Mr. Marlow’s jacket. “He…he can’t remember who he is…or…or who I am.”
Mr. Marlow rubbed circles on her back and made soothing nonsense sounds until her sobbing abated. She sniffled as the storm of emotions passed. Pulling her head off his shoulder she glanced sheepishly up at him. She must look a red and mottled mess. He calmly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. Susanna blew her nose and mopped up her face.
“Come now, we will have some tea.” Mr. Marlow wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
They walked down the stairs and he guided her into a cozy drawing room. The sconces had been lit and the dusky sky outside the windows gave the room a gentle orange glow from the setting sun. Susanna sat in a leather wingback chair and Mr. Marlow rang the bell for a servant.
“Thank you, Mr. Marlow. My emotions got the better of me.”
“It’s quite all right, my dear. I never did believe in the whole stiff upper lip thing. I am a man of passionate nature and I would never judge others for their emotions.”
The housekeeper entered the room. “What can I help you with?”
“Mrs. Hobbs, we are in need of a strong pot of tea and some biscuits if you have them handy. Thank you.”
The housekeeper glanced over at Susanna and her eyes widened dramatically. Drat, she must look an utter disaster. Susanna quickly blotted again at her face with the damp handkerchief.
Mrs. Hobbs nodded. “Right away, sir.”
“Now tell me what has happened,” Mr. Marlow said. “You said he woke.”
“He did. The bump on his head is gone down by at least half. The doctor was correct that he would regain consciousness when the swelling went down.” She twisted the handkerchief in her lap. “I have been so worried. When he woke Hawksridge looked so perplexed and then he asked me who he was. He can’t remember his own name or who I am. What is that called? Amnesia?”
Marlow nodded. “Yes, it’s more common than you think with head injuries. I saw plenty of it when I was in the service. But it’s usually temporary.”
She scooted forward in her seat. “Do you really think so?”
“Yes, something will jog his memory or his mind will simply heal as his body does and his memories will return.”
“That makes me feel so much calmer.” Miles would recover. He must. She just had to be gentle with him and help him. “Do you think if I told him things about his life it would help him regain his memory?”
