Once Beloved Read Free Page A

go!” She pushed Mrs. Clarke away, her expression filled with unseeing panic.
    â€œMa’am, you’ve had a spell,” Daniel said quietly. When she focused her glazed eyes on him, he continued, still unsure whether she truly heard, “You were breathing just fine during your episode.” He knelt near her head, conscious of maintaining enough space to keep her from feeling trapped. “It appears you may be a bit overwrought. Mind you, your fine lads are just over there, quite worried for your health.”
    A play of emotions ranged over her face as she listened, and then confusion and indignation shifted to clarity and concern when she turned to look at her sons. Slowly, she sat up and composed herself. He was struck then by her fine features, which conveyed a gentle demeanor and undeniable motherly affection. He wondered at the husband who must watch over her, wondered what type of man he was, wondered whether he roused his wife’s fear or tamed it, and wondered why he would allow her to visit this place without his care.
    That nagging sense of familiarity struck him again. He knew this woman somehow. Yet, strangely, his instinct told him he should leave. Immediately. With his first appointment for the day scheduled after noon, Daniel had sufficient time, he hoped, to enjoy what he’d come to London for. Of course, for the sake of furthering Lanfield business, he’d spent the past few weeks taking every meeting he could wrangle in order to propose supplying major London manufacturers with their family’s materials. And, of course, he was much more adept at such business dealings than his elder brother, Gordon. But this was what he’d been looking forward to, the opportunity to examine all these clever machines up close, the opportunity to explore these modern engineering marvels, ones he should have been designing himself.
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    Warmth. Firm, secure warmth beneath her. A murmur seemed to grow louder, though, a discomfiting mélange of people, so many people. If she could just focus on the warmth surrounding her, she could ignore the mob. Then the warmth left, replaced by a cool, hard slab. A familiar voice cut through the chatter, Marissa’s usual commanding tone. She adored her friend, but really Marissa could be so overbearing. For the first time in years, she’d felt comfort and relief, at least until the cold slab beneath her. If Marissa would quiet down, perhaps she could find that warmth again. But, no, of course, Marissa would not be deterred. And then a different voice entered her consciousness, a deep and resonating voice that warmed her from the inside. And that voice spoke of her sons.
    Helena opened her eyes and sat up. It took her a few moments to comprehend the situation. Above, beams of light passing through clouds were crisscrossed by the iron grid of the roof. But something dark eclipsed half of the cloud-framing roof—a man’s hat. A silhouette loomed above her, large and broad, and the faint but comforting scent of fresh wool that somehow made its way through the myriad odors that always seemed to accompany large gatherings of people.
    Merciful heavens, what has become of me?
    She tried to stand, and a sharp pain reverberated through her skull as she heard her head crack against his. She reached up to rub her temple as strong hands grasped her shoulders. A string of curses flitted through her brain, sounding remarkably like what she heard the deep voice beside her muttering.
    â€œHelena, dear, you must stay still and rest!” Marissa cried out. Right. Marissa was by her side so this couldn’t be as bad as it seemed. Of all people, Marissa would not have left her alone with a total stranger, a stranger who even now felt too close.
    â€œWhat happened?” she asked, as she inched away from the man crouching nearby. Now that she could see his face, she thought she could detect pity in his expression. She cursed inwardly at her weakness