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Amelia had been so preoccupied with the presence of the otten to feed herself A fact her eh the woods looking for the driest sticks she could find The steady pile of tih the next few days if they were lucky
The woods were nearly i the store branches that now blocked the path she usually used to get to Sir Hubert’s house Luckily, that meant there was fresh wood now available if she snapped off the smaller branches she could carry
Unfortunately, it also h to the e another way through the dense woods She could only hope Sir Hubert would understand her absence, and be alright fending for hih the deep mud towards home
Once there she quietly she eased the front door open, shoving the wood through the door before toeing her oing to get theather rapidly around her feet with a sigh She hated getting wet, and because of the events over the past day or so, had already worked her way through nearly all of the contents of her scant wardrobe
Her sto quickly at the bed, she was pleased to see her new guest was resting peacefully Taking advantage of the solitary ed into her last dry dress, before turning her attention to the remainder of her many chores
Eventually, exhaustion began to catch up with her Unable to take another step, Aing the thin blanket around her, she tried hard to ignore the cold of the stone beneath her seeping through her dress, and wriggled around in search of aspot on which to lie
Her fitful doze was interrupted so fro li on the cold stone floor, she lurched to her feet and crossed the room
“Daentle hand upon the soft pelt of his chest hair The skin beneath her fingertips burned as he tossed his head upon the pillow
Instinctively she tried to soothe hiers across his forehead and down his cheek
“Rest now, you are perfectly safe, Sebastian” Amelia wasn’t sure how much he understood, but was fairly certain he had heard her when he immediately settled
Her fingers continued to stroke the soft skin of his brow, over and over She couldn’t be certain whether the fever was caused by unseen injuries, or the chill of being soaked to the skin wearing nothing but a thin cotton shirt But there was little she could do except watch and wait
Briefly, she wished she had chosen to live in the village At least then she would have a neighbour she could call upon to summon assistance At thathim thrash about in feverish confusion, she had never felt more alone, or more scared, in her entire life
Well, not entirely, she reminded herself with a shake as stark h, involved someone else’s future
Social strictures notwithstanding, there was a very real possibility that this gentleman of nobility, as undoubtedly heir to a vast fortune and estates somewhere, could very well lose his battle for survival Alone With her In her cottage Then ould happen to her? Her life, su
ch as it ould be left in tatters His would be gone completely