Excerpt copyright @ 2019 Kara Griffin
By the time Sean reached the clearing where Alvin directed,
the snow ended. A gale whipped the trees and bushes and sent a chill to the
air. Sean’s mouth went dry and his muscles tensed when he viewed Frances from
afar, her body stretched out and unmoving on a log.
All that he was ceased: his breath, his heart, his mind. A
shudder brought him out of it, and he rushed forth. He took a deep breath and
cleared his throat. Sean staggered forward, and knelt next to the log, and
hoped and prayed she wasn’t injured.
“Frances,” her name came from his lips in tormented lament.
She didn’t appear to breathe, and his life halted at that
moment. With shaking fingers, Sean gently pried the bloom from her hand and
tossed it aside. Her skin was warm and flush with life. He touched her face and
wished her eyes would flutter to give a sign she lived.
Sean leaned over her and gently kissed her lips. She gasped
a small intake of breath and her eyes scrunched as if panic gripped her. “It’s
me, Sean. Aye, I’m here, love.”
She seemed to relax, but she didn’t open her eyes. He lifted
her body and held her in his trembling arms. His lady appeared uninjured and
likely was poisoned for she wouldn’t waken.
James stood by Alvin and asked questions. Sean caught their
discussion as he passed.
“I hit him with a rock and he fell there.” The lad pointed to
the wide log Frances lay upon.
“You didn’t recognize him?” James paced the length of the
log and was as concerned as he was.
“Nay, I saw him from the back.” Alvin paced next to James
and mimicked his saunter.
“Where’d he go?” James asked.
“I know not. Came…for help.” Alvin sidled next to Sean and
wouldn’t allow him to move ahead and kept the pace all the way back to the
keep.
Nearly twenty men followed, and they trailed behind him
grimly.
Sean turned to Grey, his eyes implored him. “Have the healer
fetched. And have the entire grounds searched for someone with a bump on his
head.”
He hastened inside and took Frances to their chamber and
noticed the box on the bed was empty except for a pair of shackles. What had
the fiend intended?
A knot hit his stomach, but he was thankful he’d found her
in time. He backhanded the box from the bed and set her in the center. His
comrades stood near the doorway, all quietly watched, and Sean realized he
couldn’t undress her in front of them.
“Take rest. I’ll get Frances settled and then we’ll hunt him.”
A few gruff agreements came, and all left but Grey. He stood
behind him and rubbed his temples. “Damnation, Sean, this situation discomforts
me.”
“She’s been poisoned,” he said wearily.
Grey spoke in awe, “I’ll find out if James can make a remedy
for the poison.”
“Aye, it might be needed. I’ll ask the healer when she gets
here.” As soon as Grey left, Sean touched Frances’ face, his touch gentle. Her
eyes remained closed and her breath shallow. She barely hung on to life.
Sean started to remove her gown and tried his best not to
damage it. He recalled how much she adored it and so had he with her in it.
When she was freed of the gown, he took note of any injuries and noticed none.
He realized Frances hadn’t tried to flee, for there was no sign she’d run
through the woods. No abrasions on her legs or cuts from branches at her gown
hem either.
The despicable banshee poisoned her to incapacitate, and she
couldn’t fight back. Reason gave him to believe he overpowered her, and she
wasn’t able to gain her release when he’d taken her. He assessed her hands, and
the blood beneath her fingernails. She’d scratched him. Perhaps she was able to
fight. The healer arrived with James. He held various items and set them on the
table near the window.
With a pestle, James set about his task. “I’ll ground mugwort
and thyme leaves. It should take away the effects.” He handed the small vessel
to the healer and encouraged her to take it.
“What’s this?” she asked and set it aside.
“For Milady. It’s a tonic that will bring her to. It’ll help
rid her of the poisons. You must get it in her. Here,” he said and handed her a
cup of water.
“Nay, we must remove all her garments. My Lord, if you’ll
remove her shift?” the healer stepped back and allowed Sean to move in. He
quickly undressed her and covered her with the tartan at the end of the bed.
“She needs to empty her stomach. Get that bowl, James, and
be quick about it.” Muriel moved in and used a spoon to get Frances to wretch.
Sean couldn’t bear to watch the ordeal and paced in the
chamber. When he glanced to find out what was happening, he wished he hadn’t.
His wife’s body convulsed and it tore his heart to shreds.
“My Lord, move aside the window coverings. She’ll need air.”
“Won’t it get too cold? She’ll freeze.” He was hesitant to
do what she ordered.
“She’s been poisoned and the fresh air will help. Now, please,
open them. We’ll keep her warm enough.” Muriel pulled another tartan over
Frances.
Frances settled and lay motionless. Sean was about to order
them to leave so he could be alone with her in her final moments. For his
trepidation led him to believe she wouldn’t survive.
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2 comments:
I'm adding this to my wishlist. I've not read any of this series. Are they on KU?
Hi Ann, thank you for stopping by my blog. Unfortunately the series is no longer available on KU. But I'll be sure to enter you in the Giveaway, the complete box set of the series. Winner to be drawn on 10/31.
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