Adam nodded. “Of course.” He strode toward the window at the end of the corridor. “Magnolia Makepeace.” He couldn’t place the name either, but he was hardly an expert on London Society. “Do you think she’s from the country?”
Lucy pushed a curl behind her ear. “It’s possible. But even then, you’d think I’d be acquainted with her relatives. Though I wasn’t about to ask her to recite her family tree under the circumstances. I think it’s best to leave her to rest until the doctor arrives.”
“Agreed.” Adam cleared his throat. “Did she mention where her lady’s maid was?”
Lucy plucked at a fold in her skirt. “No. She didn’t seem to even remember her lady’s maid’s name, which is also odd,” she added. “But then again, she’s suffered quite a shock. I doubt she’d be pleased to know that her trusted servant ran off.” Lucy sucked in her breath. “Oh, you don’t think her servant was involved in pushing her down and taking her coin, do you? She doesn’t have a reticule.”
Adam shook his head. Leave it to his imaginative sister-in-law to come up with an outlandish scenario. “No. I saw the coach that hit her and there was no sign of a lady’s maid. Nor a reticule for that matter.”
Lucy shrugged. “At any rate, I informed her that the doctor is on the way and I begged her to rest before he arrives.”
Adam unrolled his sleeves. “That sounds sensible.”
Lucy rocked back and forth on her heels and gave Adam a mischievous look. “But I believe she wants to see you.”
Adam looked twice. “Me?” He pointed at himself.
“Yes.” Lucy nodded, her curls bouncing. “She was carrying on about someone named Peter, but I got the distinct impression that she meant you.”
Adam frowned again. “Peter? That’s odd. Besides, I never told her my name. She wasn’t awake.”
“Which explains why she doesn’t know you’re named Adam.” Lucy laughed and nodded toward the lady’s bedchamber. “Go on then. She won’t bite. At least I don’t think she will.”
Adam tugged at his cravat. “Do you truly think it’s a good idea? She should rest.”
“I don’t see what it can hurt. She’s perfectly decent. And I don’t see how much more rest one can get while lying in a bed. I assume she wants to thank you for saving her life.”
Adam swallowed hard. He hadn’t saved her life. He was no hero. He’d never been a hero. Never would be one. No, that role was reserved entirely for Derek.
At Lucy’s second insistent nod, Adam reluctantly agreed. He squared his shoulders and made his way to the bedchamber door, where he paused momentarily, his hand arrested above the handle. He took a deep breath, then pushed the handle and swung open the door.
She was sitting up against pillows. Lucy had managed to place a bandage on her forehead but otherwise, her long dark hair hung down around her shoulders and she blinked at him with big, dark doe-like eyes. Adam sucked in a breath. She was … well, breathtaking. And that was a horrible thing to be thinking about a poor young woman who could easily have lost her life earlier today.
He closed the door behind him and took a few tentative steps toward her. She gave him a dazzling smile and he felt … aroused. Good God. That was inappropriate.
She tilted her head to the side. “There you are.”
He eyed her carefully, his brow furrowing. “You remember me?”
Her dark eyes widened. “Of course I remember you.”
The furrow deepened. How was that possible? The woman had been completely insensible when they’d—ahem—met. “You do?” he prodded.
“Yes, of course. You’re my betrothed, after all.”
CHAPTER SIX
“Your betrothed!” Adam couldn’t keep the shock from his voice, though the words came out louder than he’d intended them to.
Her brow furrowed. “Yes, of course.”
“Have you lost your—” He stopped abruptly. The look on her face was quickly turning to fear. In that moment he realized she was entirely serious. And he needed to remain calm and not frighten her.
“Lost my what?” She searched his face.
Adam began backing away. “I think there’s been a mistake.”
She sat up, her back ramrod-straight, but the look of concern still creased the corners of her eyes. “Mistake? What mistake?”
He studied her face carefully. “What is your name?”
A shadow of hurt crossed her pretty features. “You don’t remember the name of your future spouse?”
He swallowed again. How in the devil was he supposed to deal with this? “I’m not sure you remember the name of yours.”