The Restless Viscountess

Chapter 19

“It was like we were exchanging codes, on how to be a father and a daughter, like we'd read about it in a manual, translated from another language, and were doing our best with what we could understand.” Aimee Bender, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

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Chapter Nineteen

“Ow,” groaned Imogen lethargically as she came to. What was that pounding in her head? And why could she hear it? How could one possibly hear pain?

Her temple was absolutely throbbing. Her entire body ached. What on earth had happened?

“Imogen?” gasped a panicky Alexandra. “Imogen, are you awake?”

“Mm,” moaned Imogen. Her eyes fluttered open. Her vision was blurry and it took a moment to focus. She was in her bedroom. It was dark, only illuminated by a few flickering candles.

Alexandra sat in the chair beside her bed while her mother was currently dozing in the settee next to the fireplace. Imogen wondered what time it was. It had to be very late.

“Mama!” cried Alexandra. “Mama, wake up! Imogen is conscious!”

Bess immediately stirred and raced over to the bed to tend to Imogen.

“What happened?” asked Imogen quietly. It was hard to hear her own voice over the sound of her head throbbing. She could remember being out on the ride, and she could remember congratulating Alexandra on her engagement, but the rest was blank. Had she fainted? She had fainted dozens of times before without losing any of her memory.

“Your horse spooked,” explained Alexandra tenderly. “You fell from your saddle and you hit your head. But fear not. Doctor Richardson has been to see you and he says there is nothing to worry about.”

“You just need to rest, sweetheart,” her mother said softly as she brushed her hand over her forehead. Imogen did not feel the action, which told her that either she had lost all feeling in the area, or that it was bandaged. The former was slightly dramatic so she assumed the latter.

“My head hurts,” Imogen complained.

“You have a few stitches,” replied Bess, “little ones, so no scar. I have some laudanum somewhere. Would you like me to fetch it? I do not want you in any pain.”

Imogen nodded, but immediately regretted the action. Nodding felt as though she were jostling the pain around inside her head. Bess quickly left the bedroom to hunt down the laudanum.

“Oh, I was so frightened,” exclaimed Alexandra. “Just seeing you on the ground unconscious …” Alexandra shook her head as she trailed off. “Imogen, I do not know what I would have done if something had happened to you.”

“I have been unconscious plenty of times before,” murmured Imogen.

Alexandra seized her hand. “But not like that. I was panicking, Joaquín was trying to keep me from fainting from shock, but Simon …”

“What about Simon?” Imogen had tensed at the mention of Simon’s name, an action she quickly regretted. She had severe bruising on her abdominal muscles, she could feel it. She immediately relaxed and felt relief.

“Oh, he was brilliant,” gushed Alexandra. “A true military commander. He immediately set us to work, sending Joaquín and I off in search of the doctor while he brought you home on his horse. He did not panic. He led us calmly and he made sure that you had everything you needed.”