“Don’t worry about me; I’m fine.” She smiled to reassure him.
He set her down, but his hands remained on her waist. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.” His lips curved in a wry smile, but his eyes were laced with worry. “Worrying about you has become integral to my existence, and I cannot stop.”
She longed to throw her arms around his neck and feel the press of his body against hers. She longed to tell him what was in her heart, but now was not the time. Something might be terribly wrong.
“For your safety, stay behind me.”
She didn’t argue with that. Her mind was still trying to catch up with her heartbeat as she recovered from her fainting spell and that strange vision of her past life with Jack.
Turning, he began to run toward where the shot had come from, and Gabriella picked up her skirt and ran after him, trying to keep up. When they reached the picnic area, they saw Sir Edward walking toward them, cradling a bloody, unconscious Cynthia. The baroness trotted beside them, looking pale and distraught.
“What happened, Edward? Who shot her?” Jack called.
“It’s not she who was shot but a wild boar, and he’s very much dead. I heard a scream and ran to find out what had happened. It’s unusual for a boar to attack in this area. The baroness and Miss Maxwell had gone for a stroll and must have somehow raised the beast’s ire, because he viciously attacked. I shot the beast, but not before he impaled Miss Maxwell, and she needs medical attention. I know a surgeon in Populonia, but we’d better hurry; she’s had significant blood loss.”
Jenee rushed forward, holding a medical bag, and took Cynthia’s wrist to take her pulse. “Before we see this surgeon, I want to examine her. I’m a physician, and time is of the essence with blood loss. At the very least, I can bathe the wound and stem the blood flow. I have the medical bag you brought when Gabriella fainted. I grabbed this blanket from the carriage. Please lay her down, and I will examine her.”
Sir Edward laid the unconscious Cynthia on the blanket Jenee rolled out on the ground.
“Sir Edward, there are no clean bandages in this bag. So, I’ll need as many as you can find, and a bottle of whiskey or brandy would be helpful.”
“Of course—I will see to it at once,” said Sir Edward. He rushed off in the direction of the tents.
The baroness wiped her eyes. “This would not have happened, Jack, if you hadn’t gone off with the cook. Cynthia was upset and embarrassed over your callous treatment. The poor girl needed to talk, and I suggested a walk so she could air her distress. The beast came out of nowhere and attacked Cynthia without provocation. I, too, would have no doubt borne the brunt of his rage if Sir Edward had not arrived on the scene and destroyed the animal.”
“I resent your inference, madam,” Jack retorted. “Gabriella required attention at the time, and your accusations are only distracting us from attending to Cynthia.”
Aunt Kitty, who’d just rushed over with everyone else, came to Jack’s defense. “Blaming my nephew is not helping Cynthia. Let Jenee do what she can for her. In the meantime, everyone not essential to Cynthia’s well-being should return to the villa. The poor girl doesn’t need all of us hovering over her.”
“You’re right, Aunty. Cynthia is our guest, and her recovery is the only thing that matters. I will attend to her and accompany Sir Edward to Populonia if she requires further attention after Jenee cares for her.” Jack glared at the baroness and added, “I know your first concern, baroness, is Cynthia’s well-being; however, I can see how distraught you are. You should return with the others to the villa. Jenee, Sir Edward and I will do what is needed, and then get word to the villa as soon as we have news.”
Jack’s innuendo was not lost on Gabriella. She could see the last person whose presence he wanted to be in was the woman who dared insinuate he was to blame.
“I will not leave my patient,” Jenee declared.
“Do you wish me to remain here?” Xavier asked Jenee. Taking her hand, he pressed a kiss to her palm.
“Of course,mon amour, an extra pair of hands will be helpful—but Lady Darling is right. The less commotion, the better for Cynthia. She is in good hands.” Jenee smiled reassuringly and turned her attention to her patient.
*
The damper onthe day’s activities made for a quiet ride back to Nido dell’ Aquila. The picnic had been quickly packed up, as everyone had lost their appetite. Kitty went into drill sergeant mode and had Constance, Stefano, and Donatella accompany her in one carriage. Gabriella, Colin, and Emily rode in the other. It had been decided that Sir Edward would see Jack, Jenee, Xavier, and Cynthia to the doctor in his wagon.
Gabriella fidgeted. She was worried about Cynthia. There had been so much blood on her dress that Gaby could not even discern where she’d been wounded. Jenee was an excellent doctor and would do everything she could to help Cynthia.
But Gabriella couldn’t get the baroness’s words out of her head. Her blaming Jack for neglecting Cynthia only underscored the situation. Gabriella was no expert on the psychology of men or what caused them to behave in one way or another. But Jack was a gentleman through and through, despite his roguish ways. What if he was overcome with guilt over Cynthia’s injuries and Donatella’s accusations? Would he decide to go through with his proposal to Cynthia? The pain would be unbearable for Gabriella, especially given her vision that Jack and she had loved each other in a past life, and the love deprived them.
In her vision she’d forced them both over that cliff, believing it was the only way forward. Dying together in that spot meant they would meet again and be given a second chance. Surely, Gaby being flung back to this era had been fate asserting itself. Yes, Marco and Iris had picked her to go back, but it must all be connected. It had to be. It was fate righting a past wrong.
But what if I’m wrong?What if history was just repeating itself?
Gaby realized she was thinking incoherently. Why would Jack suddenly propose to Cynthia when he had all but said he loved her, and why did she doubt his sincerity? She hated when her insecurities surfaced, but Jack was from the aristocratic class, wealthy, and unpredictable. At least, hewouldbe wealthy when he recovered his father’s estate. He was also brilliant, confident, and too good looking, and she couldn’t help feeling insecure. She was dangerously in love with him, and it scared her.
Talk about “opposites attract.” Gabriella was an Italian American chef from Chicago, the daughter of a hardworking couple who ran a successful restaurant. Her grandparents were immigrants and had carved out a life for themselves through sheer hard work and determination. She was born almost a century apart from Jack, and her lack of experience with men made her vulnerable. Jack was an earl, Oxford-educated, and a man who assuredly had plenty of experience with women. The very idea of their finding lasting happiness was as ludicrous as her traveling back in time.
And yet here she was. Here they were.
Emily interrupted her reverie. “Since our time is limited, why don’t we get to the juicy part? What the hell happened to you in that burial chamber?”
