Page 19 of The Duke on Her List
Before she could take stock of the expression on his face, before she could determine whether he seemed angry about what he had encountered, the candle flickered and went out.
CHAPTER 10
Gabriel re-lit his candle, and the flame flickered back to life. He had been correct about what he had seen.
Lady Agnes was standing in the hall—not at all in the library, where he had been heading, expecting that he would find her reading there, intending to offer her some company if she wanted it.
It was odd. He knew that he had promised to leave her in peace to read tonight. He had intended to do just that. But as he’d sat in his study, he had found himself unable to forget the conversation they had been having. It didn’t feel as if it had concluded. He had found himself wanting to go and find her, to continue the conversation they’d begun at the ball. Why would he want such a thing, though? They had been arguing at the ball, hadn’t they? He was certain the answer was yes, and yet he couldn’t remember feeling angry or distressed about it at all. He had enjoyed it, somehow.
Every moment with Lady Agnes was so strange.
Now she was standing in his hallway, though, and what was more, Helena was with her. How hadthathappened?
“What’s going on here?” he demanded of them. “Helena, what are you doing out of bed in the middle of the night?”
It was Lady Agnes who answered. “I think she’s sleepwalking, Your Grace,” she said. “I’ve never encountered it before, but I’ve read about it. She came into the library in this state, you see, and I thought the best thing for me to do would be to try to get her back to her bed, only I don’t know where it is. I was hoping I might come across someone who could help—so I’m very glad we found you when we did.”
Fear spiked through him. “Sleepwalking?” he repeated.
“Does she have a tendency to do that?” Lady Agnes asked him. “I mean, is it something you’ve seen from her before?”
“I haven’t known her to.” But now he was worried. Was it possible that Helena had done this before? Had she been walking around the manor at night? “What’s the matter with her? Will she be all right?”
“She’s perfectly fine,” Lady Agnes assured him. “I don’t think you should worry at all. But I do think we should get her back to bed. Can you lead the way?”
“Shouldn’t we try to wake her?” He was already moving down the hall in the direction of Helena’s room, and Lady Agnes was following, still leading Helena along. He wanted to see her eyes clear. He wanted to hear her voice, to have her tell him that she was all right.
“I don’t think she would wake easily,” Lady Agnes said. “According to the reading I’ve done, you have to be in a very deep sleep to begin sleepwalking in the first place. The best thing is just to get her to somewhere she’ll be safe.”
“This is her room.” He opened the door. He frowned for a moment, then swept his niece up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way to her bed. Walking to the wall, he pulled the bell that would signal her maid. “I don’t think she should be alone.”
“I agree, for now,” Lady Agnes said. “For your own peace of mind as much as anything else, it seems a good idea to have somebody sit with her for the next little while.
“I just don’t know about this,” he said, wringing his hands. “What if it means something is the matter with her? I think maybe I should call the physician after all. This isn’t normal behavior.”
The maid appeared in the doorway, looking flustered. “Your Grace. What’s the matter?”
“I need someone to sit with Lady Helena tonight and make sure she’s all right,” Gabriel explained. “Apparently she’s been sleepwalking, and I don’t want it to happen again.”
The maid looked rather pale, but she nodded. “I can do that,” she said.
“If she tries to get up, just guide her back into bed,” Lady Agnes said. “She’ll be easy to lead. All you have to do is make sure she stays in this room.”
The maid nodded. “I’ll keep her here. Don’t worry, Your Grace.”
But Gabriel was worried. Sleepwalking! He didn’t know what to make of it. He left the bedroom and stood in the hallway for a moment, trying to decide what he ought to do next.
Lady Agnes paused beside him. “Why don’t we go to the library?” She suggested. “I really have read about this, Your Grace. I can see that you’re concerned, and I might be able to answer some of your questions for you. Maybe I can put your mind at ease.”
His first instinct was to lash out, to deny that she could do any such thing. She might have read a few books, but she had no real medical knowledge—what could she possibly tell him about Helena’s well-being?
But she looked so calm. So certain. Gabriel was man enough to admit that a little calm and certainty were just what he needed right now. There was no harm in hearing what she had to say. Maybe itwouldput his mind at ease.
He followed her to the library. Her candle was burning low. Her book lay open on the seat of her chair—she must have abandoned it there when Helena had come in. He cleared his throat and sat down. “Thank you for taking the time to help her.”
“Of course,” Lady Agnes assured him. “It was no hardship to me, and I would never want her to be in any danger.”
“So you do think she’s in danger?” He sat forward, anxious.
