Death of a Duchess by Nellie Steele (i like reading books .TXT) 📕

at a time and refusing to speak to anyone. Her funeral was delayed as a result of Robert’s inability to bring himself to bury her.

According to Buchanan, in the months prior to her death, Annie had become somewhat reclusive. She dismissed her ladies’ maid and preferred not to travel at all. I had hoped to speak with the girl, but her whereabouts were unknown. The only other person involved that I had not spoken to was Edwin. Given his sentiments toward me, I did not imagine he would provide much information.

 As my mind whirled around, images of my dangerous dance on the turret’s windowsill flashed in my mind. Anxiety welled inside me as the reality of the situation smacked me in the face. For the first time in my life, my encounter with a ghost had turned dangerous. It had nearly turned me into one of them!

My eyes popped open as uneasiness overwhelmed me. In the dimly lit room, I made out Robert’s form, dozing in the chair next to my bed. His presence brought me solace, settling my frayed nerves. I closed my eyes again and allowed myself to drift off to sleep.

Chapter 11

The fuss over me the following morning seemed endless. Servants flitted in and out, ensuring my every need was met as I remained abed, an order from Robert. I was not to move for the entire day and only could resume light activities the following day if the doctor approved it.

Dr. MacAndrews arrived by mid-morning to offer his opinion on my condition. The same doctor that pronounced the former Mrs. Fletcher deceased, I worried his presence may upset Robert or worse, Annie.

“Hello, Your Grace, how are we feeling today?” Dr. MacAndrews inquired while removing his stethoscope from his black doctor’s bag. Robert looked on from the foot of the bed.

“Quite well, thank you,” I responded.

“Duke Blackmoore informs me that you experienced quite a frightening incident last night.”

“Yes, but I have recovered quite well.”

Dr. MacAndrews pressed his stethoscope to my chest. “Take a deep breath for me, please,” he instructed. I took several as he listened, moving the instrument around then requesting I sit up as he placed it on my back. He felt for my pulse, then gazed into my eyes and checked my throat. He checked my hands, both of which were scraped and bruised from my desperate clutching at the stone sill. “Have you any pain anywhere?”

“No,” I replied. As I spoke, movement caught my eye. Annie appeared, stepping just inside the doorway. She stood staring in my direction.

“Lenora,” Robert prodded, “are you quite sure?”

I shrugged, eliciting some pain from my arms and shoulders. “A bit of soreness in my arms.”

“Where?” Dr. MacAndrews questioned. “Point to the location.”

I ran my hands up and down each arm and onto my shoulder. “Hmm, yes,” the doctor responded. “Yes, no doubt from clinging to the windowsill. And what of your mindset? Have you any terrible thoughts or strange notions?”

“No, none,” I assured him. “Though the memory remains unpleasant, it does not disturb me greatly.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Dr. MacAndrews murmured. “Still quite an experience for a young woman.”

“What do you recommend, doctor?” Robert inquired.

“I will tend to the wounds on her hands and I recommend two days of bed rest,” he began.

“Two days?!” I cried, only to be hushed by Robert.

Dr. MacAndrews set about tending to the scrapes on my fingers and palms as he continued. “I shall leave a sedative to allow the duchess to rest comfortably. If any changes arise in either her physical or mental state, call for me at once. I shall return in two days to provide another check. If she has improved, we will reevaluate her activity level.”

Annie continued to look on as Dr. MacAndrews finished cleaning and dressing my wounds. I glanced at her several times during the treatment. Buchanan arrived as Dr. MacAndrews packed his medical bag, leaving a bottle of a sedative and instructions with Robert.

Buchanan escorted the doctor out, leaving Robert and I along with our phantom. Annie still stood sentinel near the doorway. Robert eased into the chair at my bedside. “I shall have Buchanan send an extra spoon with your tea for your medicine.” He noticed the direction of my gaze, glancing behind him before questioning me. “What is it?”

“Annie,” I replied, my gaze unwavering.

“What?” Robert questioned, glancing again behind him. “Do not attempt to communicate with her, Lenora.”

“She has been here since the doctor arrived to examine me.”

“Ignore her. You must rest, Lenora.”

I shook my head, focusing my gaze on Robert. “I am resting. And we have not yet finished our conversation from last night.”

“You are meant to be sleeping, not arguing about pursuing a gambit that has proven far too dangerous.”

“I cannot sleep for two days straight, Robert,” I countered. “I agree to stay abed, but there is no reason I cannot rest while awake.”

Robert heaved a sigh. “Lenora, when I brought you here, when we agreed to our arrangement, I never believed you would be placed in any danger. I did not understand that the dead do not behave as they did whilst alive. Under the circumstances, this project must cease.”

It was my turn to sigh. “I do not agree. And Annie’s presence here suggests that she did not intend to harm me last night.”

“Perhaps it suggests she hopes to finish the job,” Robert retorted. “Lenora, I will not continue to argue about this while you lay confined to your bed because you were nearly killed last night!”

“Fine,” I acquiesced. “We shall reserve the argument for when I am up and about.”

Robert offered me an unimpressed glance. “Has anyone ever told you what a stubborn woman you are, Lenora?”

“Yes, on several occasions. I paid them no mind,” I replied, earning a chuckle from Robert.

Buchanan arrived with tea, providing an extra spoon for the medication prescribed by the doctor. “I do not need that,” I objected. “I shall take it this evening.”

“Lenora…” Robert began to object, but I hushed him with a wave of