“As do I, Dora.”
A groan came from Collin, and Cassandra hitched a breath in surprise. She didn’t dare touch him, only because she didn’t want him to think she’d had a change of heart. She had meant everything she told him earlier. Even though she would allow him to stay at the manor while he healed, that didn’t mean she was going to let him charm her.
His eyelids fluttered open. Immediately, he squinted against the light inside the room, even though it wasn’t very bright. Maybe he had a tremendous headache, too. And if that were the case, light would affect it.
“Turn down the lamp, Dora.” Cassandra nudged the housekeeper’s arm.
The older woman hurried to the lamp on the side table and turned it down.
Cassandra kept her focus on Collin as he stopped squinting and moved his gaze around the room. When his attention fell on her, it stopped. Even through the dim lighting, she could tell he studied her in interest, looking at her from the top of her head, slowly over her face, and to the hands she clasped at her waist. She waited for his cocky grin, only so she could shoot down his hopes.
After a few seconds, he met her eyes. Still, she waited for the smile that had always made her weak in the knees—but that wouldn’t happen this time. But it never happened. In fact, his eyes narrowed, and his mouth tugged into a grimace.
“Who are you?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
She held back the snort she wanted to give, only because he genuinely appeared serious. “What do you mean? You know me.”
“No, I fear I have never met you before.”
The nerve of that man playing innocent. She doubted he acted this way because of Dora being in the room, since he rarely cared what servants thought.
“Perhaps your head injury has made your vision unclear,” she replied.
“No, I can see you just fine.” He glanced at Dora. “Because I can see that woman as well.”
Dora curtsied. “Good afternoon, Lord Kentwood.”
His forehead scrunched and his frown deepened. “What did you call me?”
“Lord Kentwood,” Dora repeated.
“I’m afraid I don’t know that man.”
Cassandra rolled her eyes. This needed to stop now. “Collin, have you forgotten you are not Lord Hanover any longer?”
Slowly, he shook his head. The rhythm of his breathing increased, making his chest rise and fall quicker. Panic was his expression now as his breaths escaped his widened nostrils.
“Madam, I…do not know those names.”
He blinked as if trying not to cry. This wasn’t like Collin. He had played pranks before, and she could tell he wasn’t teasing.
“Are you saying you don’t remember who you are?”
Liquid filled his eyes no matter how quickly he blinked. “That is exactly what I’m saying. I don’t know you, and I certainly don’t remember me…or anything.”
Cassandra didn’t know whether to laugh or cry…or scream with frustration. She tried to feel sorrow, since it was obvious his memory loss was due to his head injury. Sadly, the only thought that flashed through her mind was that his memory lapse would stall her getting retribution.
Or perhaps…this was the very thing she needed to finally put the past to rest.
Chapter Four
Cassandra controlled herannoyance as she stared at the man on the bed. The nightshirt he wore didn’t fit him well, leaving the front unbuttoned enough to see his muscular neck and some of his chest, reminding her how powerfully strong he was. His arms were outside the covers, but the quilt covered the rest of his body. The fire blazed in the hearth, keeping the room’s temperature very warm.
The storm clouds had grown darker, which created shadows everywhere. Now she wished she hadn’t had Dora turn down the lamp. But then, perhaps it was good that the man with the head injury didn’t see how upset she was at the moment.
The housekeeper gasped and quickly covered her mouth. Dora’s wide-eyed gaze jumped to Cassandra as she slowly shook her head.
Looking back at Collin, Cassandra breathed slowly. What in heaven’s name could she say to a man who had lost his memory? She couldn’t scream and throw blame at him anymore, because he wouldn’t understand. If the doctor had come, he would instruct her to keep the patient calm.
