Beauty for Ashes. Dorothy Clark

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      “It has been my experience, Mr. Randolph, that when a person is subjected to treatment such as your wife has obviously suffered, it leaves a bruise on the soul that takes much longer to heal than the physical ones. You may need to give her a good deal of love and understanding to bring that healing about.”

      The doctor shifted his black bag to his other hand and pulled the door open. “Good evening, Mr. Randolph. May God grant your wife a speedy recovery.” The door closed with a soft click behind him.

      Justin stared at the closed door. Love and understanding, indeed! He turned and looked down at the slight rise in the coverlet that was caused by Elizabeth’s body. One bruised, creamy-white shoulder was exposed to the cool night air. He walked to the bed, pulled the coverlet over her shoulder and gently tucked it under her swollen jaw. What had happened to her? Why had—? Abruptly, he chopped off the thought, spun on his heel and strode to the door. He had been ensnared by compassion once—he would not allow it to happen again. Never again!

      The fire flared brightly in the draft as Justin yanked the door open and stepped into the hallway. It flickered wildly as he slammed the door closed again, then settled to a steady burn that warmed the room with soft golden light and lent radiance to the pale face of the young woman lying comatose on the bed as his angry footsteps faded away.

      Chapter Five

      E lizabeth awakened to the sound of raindrops against the windowpane. A dull ache permeated her whole being, and the thought came to her that she was ill—that she had some dreadful disease. Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes and rolled down her face, making damp spots on the pillow. She lifted her hands to wipe the tears away and a sudden, sharp pain stung her left jaw as something solid bumped against it. There was a gold band on her finger. Her brow furrowed. She had no gold ring. She— Reginald!

      Elizabeth jolted fully awake. Was she married to Reginald? A wave of sickening fear drove her lethargy away. She threw the covers aside and lunged to her feet, then halted as pain streaked through her body and the room started to spin. She groped wildly in the air for support and her hands closed on soft, warm flesh. A startled scream rose in her throat.

      “Here now—you got up too quick-like.” Small, work-roughened hands eased her gently back down onto the bed and smoothed her petticoats around her legs. “There. You’ll soon feel better. The dizziness will pass. It’s only ’cause you stood so fast.” The softness of a blanket brushed her chin as it was tucked around her shoulders. Elizabeth’s eyes prickled with hot tears. How could she escape with someone watching her? She drew a deep breath to quell the nausea that had accompanied the dizziness, and opened her eyes. They focused on a round face topped by gray hair. She’d never seen the woman before. “Where am I?”

      “You’re at the Wetherstone Inn. My husband owns it.” The woman smiled. “An’ a proper fright you gave him last night when Mr. Randolph come carryin’ you in. He thought there’d been an accident.”

      Wetherstone Inn? Mr. Randolph? Who—? Oh! Elizabeth bolted to a sitting position. The judge! And that strange marriage proposal. Yes. Yes! She had married a man named Randolph last night to escape Reginald and—and what? Her heart fluttered wildly. She shut her eyes trying to remember. What had happened after the ceremony? Why was she here? And where was this Mr. Randolph now? She could vaguely remember him climbing into the carriage and then…then nothing. “Oooh!”

      “What is it, dear? Are you feelin’ poorly?” The woman gently brushed a clinging tendril of hair from Elizabeth’s temple. “You lay back an’ rest. I’ll go fetch Mr. Randolph an’—”

      “No!” The woman glanced at her sharply and Elizabeth made a valiant effort to control her sudden panic. “I—I mean, that won’t be necessary. I’m fine. Truly I am. The dizziness has passed. It’s only that I can’t seem to remember…”

      “Remember?” The woman snorted the word. “My stars, child, how would you remember? You were fainted dead away! Josiah said when he opened the door you were hangin’ across your husband’s arms like a limp rag doll. An’ your Mr. Randolph, well—” the woman’s lips twitched with amusement “—Josiah says he was shoutin’ an’ stormin’ an’ hollerin’ for Josiah to help him. Hah!” The snort was louder this time, and filled with lofty disdain. “As if Josiah ever knew what to do about a woman.” The woman chuckled gleefully. “Oh, I wished I’d a been there! Josiah says Mr. Randolph was in a proper broil. There ain’t nothin’ so helpless as a man with a sick woman on his hands.”

      “Oh, my! Whatever must Mr. Randolph think of me?” With a flurry of arms, legs and ruffled petticoats, Elizabeth jumped from the bed. “I must see him immediately! I have to explain. I—” She stopped dead still. What would she say? What could she say?

      “Now, now. There’s no need to work yourself to a dither about last night.” The woman retrieved Elizabeth’s soft, satin slippers from under the bed and held them out to her. “You’d best put your shoes on, lest you catch a chill. There’s no need to sicken yourself over the matter. Your husband ain’t the first man to be disappointed on his weddin’ night, an’ he ain’t likely to be the last.”

      Oh! Oh, my! She hadn’t even thought about that! Hot blood surged into Elizabeth’s cheeks. She looked away from the woman’s knowing gaze, accepted the offered shoes, then grabbed her dress from off the back of a chair where someone had tossed it. Had it been this woman who had removed it from her unconscious body—or Mr. Randolph? The thought made the nausea worse. Elizabeth clasped the dress and shoes to her chest like a shield and forced herself to concentrate. Why was she here with the proprietor’s wife? Where was her…her husband? And what was going to happen to her?

      She closed her eyes for a moment to gain composure, then opened them and smiled at the short, stout woman who was watching her closely. Her eyes widened and she gave a startled little yelp as pain darted along her facial muscles. She lifted her hand to cup her throbbing jaw and her gaze fell on her upper arm. It was covered with ugly purple marks. “Well, I look a sight. I—I had a fall.” A tremor slid through her body at the memory of crashing to the floor when Reginald struck her.

      Disbelief flashed in the woman’s eyes, her face softened. “I’ll bring you the tub I have tucked away in the kitchen an’ you can have yourself a proper soak. It will help with the soreness.” She headed for the door.

      “Wait!” Panic overrode Elizabeth’s embarrassment. She took a deep breath as the woman looked her way. “Why was I left here alone? Where is Mr. Randolph?”

      “Alone? Well bless my soul, child! You wasn’t left here alone. Your husband set me to watchin’ over you ’cause you was took ill, is all. He’s waitin’ on you down in the common room. You’re to join him there as soon as you’re able.” She pulled the door open and stepped into the hallway. “He’ll be at the table in front of the fire. He always sits starin’ at the fire.” The door closed behind her.

      An odd sort of quivering began in Elizabeth’s knees and spread throughout her body. She dropped into the chair behind her and stared at the door. What had she done? How could she explain to this Mr. Randolph that she had been forced by circumstances to accept his offer of marriage? She couldn’t tell him about the betrothal agreement her father had signed—or about Reginald Burton-Smythe’s attack—or running away. He might send her back.

      Elizabeth’s stomach roiled. She took a deep breath, but it didn’t help. This time the nausea wouldn’t be denied. She dropped the dress and shoes she still clutched in her hands and leaped for the washbowl. She reached it just in time.

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