To Walk in the Sun (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies - Book 1) Read Free Page B

their teacher.
“You are covered in blood,” one of them explained with slow
deliberation.
    Covered in blood . He should have never
let her run so far. Vincent strode forward and turned Miss Crawford
toward him. The girls were correct. Blood streamed from the cut on
her head, between her eyes and down the side of her face. It
trailed to her neck and the modest dress absorbed the dark
spreading stain.
    “Lord Atwood!” Eliza gasped and stepped
back.
    He ignored her fear and searched his pockets.
He had already given his handkerchief to Miss Crawford earlier and
didn’t have another. He turned toward Eliza. “Go find bandages or
cloth for your teacher.”
    The girl simply stood, staring at him. Her
eyes wide with shock, face ashen.
    “Did you hear me?” he snapped. The girl came
out of her stupor and darted toward an older woman.
    “You don’t look very well, Miss Crawford,”
the remaining student muttered, her eyes fixed on Miss Crawford’s
face.
    “I am fine, Sophia,” Miss Crawford answered,
though she swayed on her feet.
    She was going to faint. Vincent stepped
forward and placed his arm around her waist at the same moment she
crumpled. Thankfully, he was close enough to keep her from falling
to the ground.
    The elder woman came forward, bandages in her
hand. Vincent scooped Miss Crawford up in his arms. “Is there
somewhere I might place her?”
    “The front parlor is undamaged.”
    He followed the woman toward the house. The
students and teachers parted like the Red Sea. A girl behind him
stopped Sophia and whispered loudly, “Be sure to check her for
marks.”
     
    * * *
     
    Tess opened her eyes to find Sophia very
close to her face. “What are you doing?”
    Sophia glanced over her shoulder before she
whispered, “I am checking for bite marks.”
    Bite marks? Oh dear, Lord Atwood must
have followed her home. But, how had she gotten on the couch?
    “I was going to tell her that I restrained
myself but I didn’t think she would have believed me.”
    Tess turned her head toward the voice. Lord
Atwood stood at the end of the couch. A smiled pulled at her lips.
For some reason, she was grateful to see him there. She was sure it
was only because he saved her life. And for that, she would always
be grateful.
    Why hadn’t I noticed how handsome he was
in the crypt? Well, there were other concerns at the time and
it was rather dark. Such was not the case now. The gentleman before
her had dark as midnight eyes, black hair, chiseled, if not pale,
features; high cheek bones, strong nose, perfect lips. Goodness,
where had that thought come from? How hard did I hit my
head?
    Mrs. Wiggons bustled into the room. “I just
spoke with the doctor. He returned to the village to treat
fractures and such. He said he’d be around to check on you as soon
as possible.”
    “Miss Crawford’s injury should be stitched
immediately,” Lord Atwood insisted.
    Tess’ stomach clenched at the idea and put
her hand against her forehead. “I am sure it will be fine. I no
longer feel any blood.”
    His lips quirked. “It is bandaged.”
    “Oh.” Tess let her hand drop.
    “Was anyone injured?” Tess struggled to sit
up but a wave of dizziness rushed over her and she let her head
fall back onto the pillow.
    “No, thank the heavens. Our more urgent
concern at the moment is what do we do now? The back of the house
is destroyed.” Mrs. Wiggons turned and studied the room. “I suppose
we could move the girls down to these floors and keep them at the
front of the house.”
    “All three dozen?” Tess raised her eyebrows
at the absurd thought, but she quickly relaxed them due to the
discomfort.
    “No, just a few.” Mrs. Wiggons waved a hand
in dismissal. She tapped her foot and looked around the room as if
trying to determine how she could make the temporary sleeping
arrangements work.
    “If you don’t mind,” Lord Atwood interrupted,
causing both women to turn toward him. “Until the damage can be
thoroughly assessed, in