The Dowager Countess (The Saga of Wolfbridge Manor Book 2), Sahara Kelly [best thriller novels to read txt] 📗

Giles hid a sigh of relief. “Excellent, lad. In that case, you are more than welcome here. Evan, Jeremy and Royce have already agreed to my offering you this chance, so now all we have to do is tell them the good news.”

Gabriel’s spine visibly loosened a little and the tension left his shoulders on an exhale. “I am so happy about this,” he said, a quiet smile crossing his features. “It feels as if I’ve come home.”

“And now, since you are home, we have to find you work.” Giles smiled back. “What can you do?”

“Uh…” Gabriel blinked at the question. “Well, what do you need?”

“Right this moment?” Giles leaned back in his chair. “I need someone with the ability to be gentle and sympathetic to our Lady.”

Gabriel frowned slightly. “I’m not sure I see why?”

“Put yourself in her place. She will regain her health over the next weeks, but she knows nobody here. Not the house, the countryside or any of us. She has nothing of her own, no clothes, no friends, not even much hair since I had to cut that off.” He shuddered a little at the memory.

“A difficult situation for her, I agree,” said Giles.

“And you are in pretty much the same one, Gabriel.”

“Ahh.” He nodded. “I see. Yes. Peas in a pod, so to speak. She might be less afraid to speak to me since I too am unfamiliar with all these things and will be learning them at her side.”

Pleased that he understood so quickly, Giles smiled and rose. “You have it in one. And, of course, should her Ladyship unwittingly reveal matters that we should know about—is she in any danger from anyone in her previous life, that sort of thing—you will be able to let us know so we can take whatever actions we feel necessary.”

“So, spy on her?” Gabriel’s eyebrow rose.

“Not in so many words, no. Confidences must not be betrayed. But her welfare is everything, Gabriel. So you will be the judge of what you think we should know, and what may remain between the two of you.”

“All right. That sounds fair.” Gabriel stood as well. “Um…she will need clothing as she heals…”

“And you’ll need some, too. That will come from our household accounts. Royce is settling in as estate manager, so he’ll have more information on that in a few days.”

Gabriel nodded. “I will speak with Royce.”

“One thing,” said Giles casually. “When we found you, you had a small purse strapped to your ankle. It’s in your bedside table now. It contained a locket, which bears an interesting inscription in Latin.” He watched Gabriel’s face. “May I ask where you got it?”

Gabriel nodded. “Oh good, that’s where it is. I am so glad you found it, and that I still had it on me. My aunt gave it to me when I first went to live with her. I believe it was from one of her ancestors, but I’m not positive. The miniature isn’t anyone I know.”

“Ah,” answered Giles. “That makes sense. Just so you know, that’s all you had on you. It was clever of you to conceal it so well.”

“I don’t think it’s very valuable to anyone but me,” he commented. “But again, thank you for the information.”

Giles sat back, understanding that the young man did not understand the connection to Wolfbridge. He made a mental note to do a little research into the Parr lineage when he had time.

“Any other questions?”

“Probably thousands, but I can’t think of a single one at the moment.” Gabriel’s green eyes were clear and focussed, the shadows that had been there earlier were no more, as a smile lit his face. “I will go and visit my…my Lady patient.”

“The room you use…it is acceptable?”

“Very much so.”

“Then it is yours. Tell Jeremy if there’s anything else you would like in it.”

Gabriel nodded and walked to the door. “Thank you, Giles.” He opened the door and put his hand on the side, turning back to look at him. “Lady Gwyneth’s life may not be the only one you’ve saved this week.”

Giles, left alone in his study, accepted that Gabriel might indeed have been right.

*~~*~~*

Oh God, I ache so badly.

Gwyneth moaned as she awoke, wondering how a body could be so painful and not claim the life of the one who occupied it.

“Easy now, my Lady.”

A soft voice sounded from beside her and the bed dipped as someone sat next to her. “I have a drink for you. Sweet with honey. Just what you need to get you back on your feet.”

An arm circled her and she moaned again as she felt herself raised enough to have a cup placed to her lips. Obediently, she drank, the warm sweet water sliding down her parched throat, a blissful sensation she could barely believe.

“Ohhh,” she sighed as someone withdrew the cup. “More…”

“In a little while,” answered the voice. “We have to be careful not to overdo it. You’ve been very ill, but you’re getting better. Patience is important.”

She was allowed to lean back again into pillows, cool and fresh and smelling of roses. For the first time in longer than she could recall, she wanted to open her eyes. If this was indeed Heaven, then she would see what it looked like.

Slowly, she tried, but her eyelids seemed stiff. She frowned with frustration.

“Wait, my dear, just a moment. This may help.”

A warm cloth touched her face, lingering so gently on her eyes, moistening the skin and bringing a sigh of pleasure to her lips.

“There now, that’s better.”

It was indeed. She could lift her eyelids, and blink rapidly, her eyes rough, stinging a little. It took several moments for her to bring anything into focus; it seemed she was in a room, in bed, but it