Ashton’s heartbeat was still careening, and he feared he would be the one losing consciousness next. Never had he been so scared. Or worried.
He had heard of people who died because they were choking. As he watched her choke, thoughts ran through his mind, and he didn’t want to think of what he’d do if she’d died. Although they had just met, his heart had become involved. The idea of losing her made him physically ill.
Staring deep into her eyes, he continued to stroke her cheek. “Are you feeling better now?”
“I am, thank you.” She sighed deeply. “Ashton, you...saved my life.”
His heart warmed. “And such a beautiful life to save.” He winked. “Here, let me help you up.” As she lifted, he slipped his arm around her shoulders to help her sit up. Then, taking her elbow, he assisted as she rose to her feet. She seemed to wobble slightly, so he slid his arm around her waist. “Would you like to sit here or in the sitting room?”
“I think I can walk.” She smiled.
He helped her out of the dining room and into the other room. Thankfully, his friends were the ones with him tonight because if he had done something like this to Nicole in a room full of people, they for sure would be gossiping and passing judgment. But his friends wouldn’t say anything. Of course, Nickerson and Larson knew how infatuated Ashton was with Nicole. Even though her life and her secretive family made him curious, he still couldn’t deny the fact that she intrigued him, and he enjoyed feeling this way.
“Here you go,” he whispered as he helped her onto the sofa before sitting next to her.
“You are so kind.” She squeezed his hand. “But I shall be fine now. I assure you.”
“What happened earlier? Did you swallow a piece of food the wrong way?”
She shook her head. “No, I think I breathed too fast when I drank the wine. The next thing I knew, I couldn’t breathe.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re better now.”
Mrs. Browning strolled by and sat on the chair next to the sofa. “I’m so relieved you are all right.”
Nicole nodded. “I recall hearing your voice helping Ashton. Are you a nurse?”
“I was in a way, I suppose.” She adjusted her gown around her legs. “I volunteered in the hospital several years back.”
“Oh, I bet that was awful for you.” Nicole frowned.
“Indeed, it was, but I learned a lot of different things. Many soldiers had stopped breathing. So when the doctor breathed air into their mouth, the soldier was able to breathe on their own after that.”
“How remarkable.”
Mrs. Browning arched an eyebrow as she glanced at everyone in the room. “I don’t believe the others thought it was remarkable. They looked at me as if I had gone daft.”
Ashton chuckled. “Nonsense, Mrs. Browning. You have to admit, though, that when you first learned the doctors did this, you were surprised as well.”
She shrugged. “You’re correct. It took me a while to believe.”
Ashton was grateful for Mrs. Browning’s interest in Nicole’s welfare, but he almost wished the older woman would leave. He had enjoyed those little intimate moments with Nicole, and wanted more of them. He tried to think of a way to get more privacy with her, but then someone tapped him on his shoulder. Glynn stood behind him and motioned his head to the back of the room.
“Could Steve and I talk to you privately for a moment?” he whispered.
He nodded and swung his gaze back to Nicole. Gently, he patted her hand. “I shall return momentarily.”
Her eyes widened in curiosity as she watched him stand, but she didn’t try to stop him. He followed Glynn to the back of the room. Steve stood wearing a scowl as his wife hurried past Ashton and went to sit beside Nicole.
Unease ran through Ashton as he studied his partners’ grim expressions, and he for sure knew he wasn’t going to like what they had to say.
“Ashton,” Glynn started in hushed tones, “there is something I need to tell you about Miss Bastian.”
“What?” Ashton asked warily.
“Mrs. Browning knows Miss Bastian’s companion—Mrs. Phelps.”
“All right, so what is bad about that?” Ashton wondered.
