“Collin, put your weight against mine and I shall help you inside,” she said.
The softness of her voice was too much to bear, and he wanted to cry. But no. Men didn’t cry, especially not twice for the same woman. However, he did as instructed while she helped him stand. He opened his eyes, but didn’t dare look at her, afraid he might accuse her of using him and trampling his heart. If she had wanted Kentwood all that time, why had she spent time with him and kissedhimso passionately?
Uncertainty continued to spread over him. Why did he feel like his life was in a puzzle and there were several pieces missing? Had he remembered everything correctly? Yet nothing made sense, especially the tingling inside him as leaned against her, experiencing the heady touch of her hands—one on his back, and one on his chest. They had touched each other so personally that night he was at her home while her family were still at the masked ball. Why did his feeling seem so real when it happened so long ago?
Slowly, they walked toward the bed. As soon as they reached the mattress, he fell against the softness, closing his eyes again.
“Oh dear.” Her gasp was louder this time. “Collin, why couldn’t you have stayed down? Your head is bleeding again.”
“I thought…I was stronger.” He wasn’t certain which hurt more—his head or his heart.
“Dora?” Cassandra called out. “Come quickly.”
The padding of feet on the tile floor echoed in the hall, and moments later, the housekeeper rushed in his room and stopped suddenly. Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth.
“Dora, I need more bandages,” Cassandra instructed her.
“Yes, my lady.”
Once the housekeeper was out of the room, he shifted his focus to the woman standing over him, unwrapping his bandages. Was she the same woman he had begun to love over a year ago? Or had Lloyd changed her?
Groaning, Collin closed his eyes again, fighting against the anger and betrayal raging through his mind and heart. The food in his stomach threatened upheaval. He must stop fighting the dizziness trying to take over. It was probably better for him if he didn’t think of what had happened between his cousin and Cassandra. However, he needed to know. Perhaps that would make his confusion leave.
“Cassandra,” he whispered as he lifted his hand and touched her arm.
She stopped unraveling his bandage and met his stare. “What is it? Are you in a lot of pain?”
“I need to know… You must tell me…”
She frowned and held his hand. “Collin, none of my servants know who hit your head and knocked you out. But I assure you, as soon as the storm passes, I will send for the constable. We will get answers soon.”
“No, not that.” He breathed slower, in through the nose and out through the mouth. The dizziness grew thicker, but he wouldn’t allow it to consume him yet.
“What is it, then?”
“I remembered something.”
She hitched a breath. “What did you remember?”
“About…us.”
“Oh dear.” She swallowed noisily and sat on the edge of his bed. “What exactly did you remember?”
“I remember meeting you and kissing you at the masked ball…and afterward at your home.”
Her face grew red, and she straightened her shoulders. “Is that all?”
“No.” He licked his dry lips. “I mean, it was mostly all. I also remembered the day we were going to meet in secret—it was raining, much like the weather is today.”
“Indeed. The storm was bad.”
“And I remember when my cousin told me that…” Collin’s chest tightened. How could he say the words? They were still too painful to think about, let alone talk about.
“What did Lloyd tell you?” she asked roughly.
“That your father forced him to marry you.”
Her lovely expression turned sour, and she scowled. “Yes, my father forced him to do the right thing by me.”
