CHAPTER27
The carriage couldn’t make it through our gate. We stopped just outside of it. Everard picked me up again and carried me through the tunnel into the courtyard.
“I can walk,” I told him.
“You have no shoes.”
“They hurt my feet.”
He looked at me for a second.
We reached the house door, and then he brought me down the hallway toward our communal bath. A door swung open. Clover and Shana stood in front of the stone tub of steaming water. Clover saw me and went pale.
Everard tried to bring me in, but Shana blocked his way. “My lord, we’ve got it from here.”
For a moment, he hesitated, still gripping me to him, then he set me on my feet.
“Support her. She is in pain.”
I stumbled, but Clover caught me. I looked back to Everard. I didn’t want him to go.
“I will be right outside,” he promised.
Shana shut the door in his face.
I tried to walk, and the pain punched my knees. I gritted my teeth.
Shana caught me by my waist and steadied me. “This won’t take but a moment. Hold on.”
Clover stripped the remnants of my bloody shift off me.
“I’m sorry,” I told her. “That fucking asshole ruined the beautiful dress you made.”
Clover swallowed. “No worries, my lady. I’ll make you another one.”
“Maggie,” I told her.
“Maggie.”
I could see myself and I was covered in blood.
“Hold on to me.” Shana wrapped her arm around my waist.
I took a step, winced, and took another one. Clover bit her lip.
“It’s fine,” I told her. “This is just pain from the healing after I died. The fucker shattered my kneecaps.”
Whatever magic was keeping me alive had a lot more to heal this time around.
Clover shut her eyes for a moment.
Shana maneuvered me over to the drain in the floor and stood back, holding my hands. “Clover, I need that bucket!”
Clover grabbed a bucket and carried it over. Hot water hit me, smelling like lavender.
“Another,” Shana said.
Clover brought another bucket, dumped it on me, and started pulling my braids out and soaping up my hair.
