Page 74 of Inconvenient Honor
The voiceRichard longed to hear all day came to him in the dark. It must be a dream.
A moment later hands attached to the dream began prodding him in places that hurt like the devil. “Richard! Damn it, wake up.”
Lily?
“Did you have me kidnapped? Those men could have injured me, you insane man.”
Don’t be an idiot. How could Lily believe that, even in a nightmare?
Cool hands pushed his hair from his brow.Not my head; it hurts like hell itself.
“Please wake up. Don’t die on me. Please don’t die and leave me alone with these men.”
Men—Lily!The shot of memory sent him bolt upright. The pain in his head put him back down with a groan. His eyes flickered open and blinked twice to clear.
Lily’s face, deep in shadow, came close, concern marring it. “Not so fast,” she said. “I think they hit you very hard.”
“They nearly took my head off,” he groaned.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t waken,” she said, her voice sounded wet with tears.
“I have a hard head,” he reassured her. Memory flickered. “I thought I heard you a moment ago. Did you really accuse me of having you kidnapped?”
“Maybe.” She sounded guilty. “But that wouldn’t make sense. You wouldn’t harm the baby. I know you wouldn’t.”
“Is he—” He tried to rise again, but she pushed him back down.
“She’s fine. I’m fine, for now at least.”
“I would never hurt you either, Lily.”
Did she just sniff?
“I thought you had left us.”
“I’m here,” he said, looking around. He could see little in deepening darkness. “Where ever ‘here’ is. Is there no light, or are my eyes failing?”
“No windows, and I fear night has fallen.”
He could see her in outline, one shadow darker than the rest of the room.
“Do you have any idea where we are?”
She shook her head. “They hooded me. Theypulled off the hood and pushed me in the door before I got a good look. We can’t have gone far from the quay because two of them carried me here.”
“From the feel of my back, I was dragged.”
“Possibly. A few moments after they left me here, they opened the door and dropped you on the floor.”
Richard felt along his sides. “Stone floor. No wonder I’m cold. Help me to sit.”
He cried out in pain when Lily put an arm under his shoulders, but he pushed himself forward. She helped him feel his way to the wall. He sagged against it and pulled her close with one arm, savoring her warmth.
“No furniture?”
“Nothing. An empty room. I’m not even sure it is a room exactly.” She put one arm around his waist and lay her head against his shoulder. He could feel the swell of the growing child by his side. He forced himself not to shudder. Don’t give in to fear now. It won’t help her.
“Tell me what you saw. Tell me what you heard.” He fought back waves of pain and focused his mind on what mattered. Lily. Danger. The baby. Our baby.
