"Love never dies. Just like the fairy tales say. Find your brave golden knight and live happily ever after, my sweet."
For a moment she felt the light touch upon her brow. It was warm, radiant even, and filled her with courage and hope.
But bleak despair hovered on the fringes of her consciousness as the dark knight seemed to circle her like a wolf waiting to pounce.
"Help me! Help me!"
"I'm here!" came a voice from very far away.
She was sure it was Clifford's.
But before she could reach him, biting hands dragged her back toward the shadows.
"Good God, Vanessa! What have you done!" a male voice cried in horrified accusation.
Then all went black. The light of the sun was sucked from the sky as if into a void, and she was in an emptiness of nothingness in which all she could hear were her own protests. Her own screams.
"I didn't do it! I'm innocent. I never--"
Vanessa sat bolt up right, her hands blindly groping in front of her to search for anything to cling to. She clutched the bed covers so hard she yanked them right up off the foot and up to her neck.
Her cries and sudden start scared the wits out of the young maid who had been bringing in the coals.
The girl dropped the scuttle and leapt backwards with a small cry. With her back flat against the wall, she began to sidle out of the room.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. It was just a bad dream," Vanessa apologized quickly. "Please, please don't go."
"No, Miss," she said dutifully. "I hope I didn't wake you."
Vanessa let out a shaky laugh. "I'm glad you did."
"If you please, Miss, you've got some visitors downstairs," the timid maid said, never once taking her wary eyes off Vanessa.
"Visitors? At this hour?" she asked, squinting against the bright sunlight.
"Yes, Miss. Your aunt and her sons."
"I see. Can you not tell them I am indisposed?"
"Dr. Gold did try, but they refuse to leave until they have seen you. They've tried to force their way up the stairs a few times already. Fortunately Mr. Branson has told them that if they don't sit still in the dining room partaking of refreshment, he has a nice cell down in the jail for the two gentleman."
Vanessa felt a small smile tug at her lips. She pushed her heavy fall of auburn hair back from her face, and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "Can you let me have that black gown there, with the lace collar?"
"Yes, Miss. Take your time. You've been ill. Are you sure you want to dress? I could just send them up when you--"
"I dare not. They'll make too much of a fuss if I do that. Hot water?"
"In the kettle on the hob, Miss. I'll help you." She introduced herself shyly as Mary, and laid out her clothing according to Vanessa's instructions.
The two worked in tandem to get her decently clad and quite pretty, considering all she had been through in the past few days.
"Can you tell Mr. Stone that I should like him to attend upon me with the Stephens?
"Of course, Miss."
"Do you think Dr. Gold will mind if we use his drawing room?"
"Not at all. I'll shall show them in there and convey your message. And bring tea."
They shared a conspiratorial smile. "Ah, yes, such a great social asset, the tea tray. Able to smooth even the most ruffled feathers."
"Forgive me for saying so, but you've been ruffled enough, Miss. If they upset you, just tell them to leave. The doctor won't mind."
"Indeed, they will be only too glad to leave. I just have to make sure that they don't take me with them." She gave a wan smile, and the maid actually dared to pat the fine young lady on the shoulder.
"They won't. The doctor and Mr. Stone won't let them, I'm sure."
Vanessa smoothed her coiffure once more and took a last look in the mirror to reassure herself she looked as decent as she could given the circumstances.
Then, accepting Mary's offer to help her downstairs, she took her arm.
She should have known one of her companions would be hovering anxiously.
"Are you all right?" Clifford asked, hurriedly offering her his own arm.
"Yes, fine, just a but muzzy-headed from sleep." She gave him a small smile. "You look more ill than I feel. I take it you're becoming better acquainted with my cousins."
"Yes, more's the pity. You can't possibly be considering going there after--"
"Clifford, I do appreciate your concern, but they are my family after all. People might think it odd me preferring to stay with your friends to my own kin, now wouldn't they?"