Page 114 of Waking Roslyn

I moved aside and stood up against the wall so they could ignore me as they spoke and walked.

“She’s sleeping peacefully, normally,” the doctor assured him. “This is a good thing. While it might seem strange that she would need sleep in order to recover from sleep, it’s true. This is a natural sleep, not forced. If we were to shout, she would wake, which is why we should leave her in the quiet.”

“Fine.” The duke pulled a hand down his face, then looked back at the door. “I did try to get her to come,” he said.

The doctor smiled. “I’m certain Her Grace will let Lady Roslyn rest.”

The duke nodded and they continued down the corridor.

Roslyn was resting. Good. I told myself that was good. The doctor had said that was good.

I sat on the chair across from her door and tried to get comfortable.

***

Less than two hours later, the duchess came out of Roslyn’s room. “I won’t be long,” she said, then closed the door. When she caught sight of me, still sitting across the hall, she seemed relieved. “You’ll take care of her, John?”

“Of course, Your Grace.”

She nodded. “Everly is with her, but I feel better knowing you’re here as well.”

She left, and my heart warmed at the knowledge that the duchess trusted me with her daughter.

After several minutes of failing to convince myself that I should stay in the hall and that Everly truly was trustworthy, I knocked on Roslyn’s door, expecting to hear the maid call out, but instead the “Come in” that came was Roslyn’s voice.

I opened the door and peeked inside. Roslyn was sitting up in bed and Everly was sitting close by, mending. I went further into the room. “You spoke,” I said in astonishment.

She grinned. “I did. When I woke up after my nap, I felt much lighter than before. Look.” With a tremendous amount of effort, she lifted both of her arms nearly to shoulder level before dropping them back to the coverlet with a grunt. She was breathing hard, but smiling. “It’s definitely wearing off.”

A massive sigh wooshed out of my lungs as relief made me weak. “I’m so glad.” I started crossing toward her, thinking only that I needed to hold her in my arms and assure myself that she was well. But before I reached her, I caught sight of Everly in the corner of the room. I couldn’t very well greet Roslyn the way I wanted to if anyone was watching.

Just a groundskeeper, I reminded myself. Yes, we care for each other, but I’m still just a groundskeeper, or…soldier.

So instead I sat beside her and slid one of my hands close enough to be able to brush her fingers with mine. “Hello,” I said as words suddenly failed me.

Her smile was bright and it shone across her face. “Hello, John.”

I took a careful breath and let it out. “I’m so glad to see you awake.”

“I’m relieved to be awake. It was—” Tears crowded her eyes without warning and she had to swallow several times before continuing. “It was so terrifying. I kept trying to wake up, but I couldn’t. It was like I was weighed down by sacks of flour. But then I did open my eyes.” Her smile was back, and she lifted her hand enough to brush her fingertips across my cheek before it dropped back to the bed. “And you were there. And my parents were there.”

I didn’t care that Everly was in the room. I picked up Rose’s hand and pressed it to my lips, then held it against my cheek. “Whoever did this to you is still out there.”

She closed her eyes and nodded.

“So as soon as your mother returns, I’m going to go. There is something I need to track down.”

She frowned. “Can’t the guards do that?”

I shook my head. “Not this time.”

“Will you be gone long?”

“Only a few hours. I promise.”

“Good.” Her gaze slipped down to my mouth and she tugged on her hand a little, trying to draw me closer. But before I could decide whether or not kissing her was a good idea, the duchess came in and rushed to Roslyn’s other side. I dropped her hand and stood up.

“I’m sorry I was gone so long,” the duchess said, clutching Roslyn’s hand.