Kit frowned. Steele? He knew no Steele.
And exactly where was he? In Moorcock? He didn’t know. He tried to think. He couldn’t. His head began to pound as if he’d overexerted himself.
Booted footsteps crossed the room. A door opened. “Doctor?”
More heavy steps. Kit closed his eyes.
“He’s awake?”
Steele answered, “He was.”
“He won’t have an easy time of it. But he will heal. He’s young. Here, let us give him some more of my headache tisane.”
Someone lifted Kit’s head. They tried to pour liquid down his throat. It smelled of wine and something unappetizing. He turned away. He didn’t need drugs. He needed to find Elise. He tried to sit up.
“He’s a difficult one,” the doctor said.
Strong hands grabbed Kit and held his head, tilting it back. The liquid was poured down his throat. He attempted to spit it out. The taste was bitter. “Elise—”
It hurt to speak. “I must...” he started, but then fatigue overtook him. He fell back on the pillow.
“I mixed a sleeping draught in with the medicine. He should be fine after some rest,” the doctor whispered to Steele, and that was the last Kit remembered.
***
Kit opened his eyes. He expected to be in his bed at Smythson. He stared at the wall. It was plain plaster without adornment.
He was not at Smythson, and then he remembered what was important.
“Elise?” His throat felt raw. He remembered candlelight... and Steele.
Could he still be in the same place? Light flooded in through an open window. A bird called in the distance. How much time had passed—?
“You are awake again,” a male voice said.
Kit struggled to sit up.
“Careful. You are still healing.” The man satin a chair across the room from the bed. His jacket was off and his waistcoat unbuttoned. He was dark-haired and had almost a wolfish countenance. He was stretched out as if he had been napping in the chair. He did not appear comfortable.
“Steele.”
The man acknowledged the name with a nod, and, moving stiffly, rose to his feet. “So, you do recall?”
“Elise—”
“She is fine. She should be back with her family in London by now.”
Elise was in London? She was not here?
Kit had to search his mind to recall where “here” was. He remembered the silver pond, Elise telling him she loved him—what had he answered?
His mind went blank for a moment and then he remembered. He hadn’t said anything. He’d been too caught up in the moment. They’d made love and once again he’d been taking when he should have been giving. What must Elise think?
“I need to find her.” Kit sat up, ready to throw aside the bedclothes. Every muscle in his body contracted in pain. His head swam. He forced himself to breathe, to relax into it. “I must talk to her.”
“Fortunately, that won’t happen anytime soon.”
“I’m sure she’llwantto see me.”
