“There is quite a bit to tell you, Gray, but first, this is Dr. Brainard. Helen said he won’t kill you.”
“Why do I need a doctor, Jack? What happened?”
“I was driving the carriage around the bend and you were riding Durban toward me and I couldn’t stop the horses and Durban was terrified and you got thrown and hit your head against an oak tree.”
“Thank you,” Gray said and closed his eyes again. “Yes, it’s starting to come back to me now.”
“Here, eat a bite of this.”
He didn’t want to open his eyes again, it required too much effort. He just opened his mouth. He tasted a scone that rivaled the best of Jenny’s. He chewed, then opened his mouth again. After three bites he managed to have both his eyes and his mouth open.
It was that beautiful behemoth of a woman and she was leaning over him. “I’m Miss Helen Mayberry. I own King Edward’s Lamp.”
“I didn’t realize King Edward even had a lamp, particularly one that anyone would want.”
“Sir, mind your irony. Miss Helen is the owner of this inn, and the inn is named King Edward’s Lamp.”
“I fancy, Ossie, that our young sir here is really a my lord. Am I right?”
Gray said, “Could I have some more scone?”
“Of course. Just rest and open your mouth. When you’re full, Ossie can tap your chest, peer into your ears, scratch your scalp, all to determine what sort of dreadful potion he wants to pour down your throat.”
“I fancy that you’re not just in the common way yourself, Miss Mayberry,” Gray said.
“Here’s your scone, my lord.”
Jack just shook her head as she watched Helen feed Gray. Her day had begun very strangely, what with Arthur pulling a burlap sack over her head, and now here she was in King Edward’s Lamp watching Gray eat a scone from the white hands of a beautiful, very large woman.
Suddenly a boy not older than ten years banged open the door. “Helen! Hurry, there’s this man who’s
shouting and waving a gun about. He wants somebody named Winifrede.”
Jack jumped a good foot in the air and whirled about. “Oh, dear. It’s Arthur. I’ll just wager he got that burlap sack out of the carriage and he’s vengeful.”
Gray threw back the covers, saw that he was naked, and pulled them back to his chin. “Jack, hand me my clothes and be quick.”
“I can’t, Gray, they’re all wet. You’ll become ill and—”
“Damn you, Jack, do as I tell you. I’m going to be your husband in less than twenty-four hours. You can begin your duties by obeying me now.”
“My lord,” Helen said, rising even as she shoved the last bite of scone into Gray’s mouth. “Allow me to see to this Arthur. Now, quickly—this Arthur is the man who kidnapped you, Jack?”
“Yes, he wanted me to marry him. He was going to force me all the way to Scotland.”
“Helen, he’s coming up here!”
“It’s all right, Theo, let him come.” She turned to Jack. “What do you want me to do with Arthur?”
“Break his right arm,” Jack said. “Maybe his left as well if you think he deserves it.”
“Hmmm, a woman who knows her own mind. His right arm? We’ll see,” Helen said and walked to the bedchamber door.
“No,” Gray shouted after her, “don’t break any of that little swine’s body parts. Bring him here, to me. I’ll do all the breaking. Oh, yes, if you would please give me a gun. I must protect Jack.”
“Arthur and Jack,” Helen said to herself. They heard Arthur yelling, his boots heavy on the oak stairs. Then he was coming down the corridor toward them.
“Don’t worry,” Helen said over her shoulder, calm as a sail in a windless sea. She planted herself squarely in the open doorway.