Michelle Willingham - The Accidental Countess

Falkirk House, England1850

C ool hands sponged his forehead. Stephen Chesterfield fought against the darkness that threatened to pull him into oblivion once more. Pain lashed his skull, ripping through him in violent waves. His mouth felt lined with cotton wool, and his body ached with vicious pain.

Drink, a woman said, lifting a cup of warm tea to his mouth. It tasted bitter, but he swallowed. Youre very lucky, you know.

Lucky? He felt as though someone had cracked his skull in two. He hadnt even the strength to open his eyes to see who was tending him.

How am I lucky? he managed to whisper. Lucky to be alive, shed probably say.

Youre lucky I havent got any arsenic for this tea, she remarked. Or another poison, for that matter. Otherwise, youd be dead by now. A warm poultice dropped across his forehead, scented with herbs.

I beg your pardon? His knuckles clenched around the bedcovers, and he forced his eyes open. The room blurred, and he tried to grasp his surroundings. Where was he? And who was this woman?

The creature intending to murder him had the face of an angel. Her hair, the color of warm honey, was pulled back into a loose chignon. Long strands framed a face with tired amber eyes. Despite the hideous serge mourning gown, she was rather pretty, though her cheeks were thin.

She was familiar, but her name hovered on the outskirts of memory. Like a childhood acquaintance, or someone hed known long ago.

You broke your promise. If it werent for you, my brother would still be alive. Anguish lined her voice, eroding the waspish anger. Her eyes glistened, but she kept her chin up.

She blamed him for her brothers death? There had to be a mistake. He didnt even know who she was, much less her brother.

He pulled off the poultice, and glared at her. Who are you?

She blanched. You dont remember me? The question held sardonic disbelief. And here I thought this day could not get any worse. With a clatter, she set the saucer down.

He had little patience for her frustration. Damn it all, he was the one whod been wounded. And each time he tried to reach back and seize the memories, it was as if they faded into smoke. What had happened to him?

You didnt answer my question, he responded. What is your name?

My name is Emily. She leaned in, her gaze penetrating. Almost as if she were waiting for him to say something.

Hazy bits of the past shifted together. Emily Barrow. The Baron of Hollingfords daughter. My God. He hadnt seen her in nearly ten years. He stared hard at her, unable to believe it was true. Though her rigid posture proclaimed her as a modest woman of virtue, he remembered her throwing rocks at his carriage. And climbing trees to spy on him.

And kissing him when hed been an awkward, adolescent boy.