The Charlotte Series: Book 3: The Pretender's Gold

05

Chapter 5

Summer opened her eyes slowly and blinked against the brightness. She groaned and cursed the blinding light. Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment a moment later when she realized it was only a candle.

Oh, how her head hurt!

She fought through the haze to remember what happened.

There was a dog. No, that wasn't right. Rain...

Oh.

She remembered being embarrassed by Mother's churlish attitude. She remembered the storm and the frightening ride through dark wet streets. She remembered there was a dog and then the carriage went every which way. There was shouting and screaming and then...

Then there was the pain. Grandmother would be irritated that they had been detained. Summer let out a sound somewhere between a snort and a laugh as she rolled her eyes.

Grandmother would be apoplectic at their tardiness. She would glare at Mother and then Mother would-

Summer wrinkled her brow as her lips tugged down in a frown.

Surely someone had thought to inform Grandmother. And what of Mother or the driver? What about-

"Oh." Summer mumbled though it passed her swollen dry lips as more of a moan.

"Hello Miss." Summer heard a familiar voice and tried to smile.

"Merry?"

"Yes Miss." She sniffled.

"Please-" she licked her lips and tried again. "Won't you please tell me what happened?"

"I can't miss. The doctor says you're not to be disturbed."

"But I am already disturbed. I remember the accident and I would like to see Mother. Could you tell her for me? Please?" Summer pleaded, "Won't you fetch my mother to me?"

Merry's face twisted into a look of utter despair and she burst into tears as she ran from the room. Summer felt the urge to scream. Closing her eyes tight against the fear she took a long deep breath and held it a moment before she let it out slowly.

It didn't help. Her heart pounded and tears of frustration spilled over. Unable to run away from the panic and despair that overwhelmed her she squeezed her eyes tight and turned her head to the side, pressing her cheek into the pillow as her fingers curled into fists.

Mother must be...dead...

She felt her body trembling as she wept. She couldn't claim a strong affection for the woman, especially for taking her away from Papa and Hank...but the woman was still her mother. There were some fond moments in her memory and...

Hiccup.

There was an ocean between her and home and she was stuck here with Grandmother-and the woman barely tolerated her!

Hiccup. "Oh Papa! I miss you!" her heart wailed as her sobs shook her aching body.

Some time later she fell into an exhausted sleep. She awoke in the wee hours and used the aches of her injuries to focus her thoughts on the here and now. She would get some answers from the very next person that entered the room. Determination kept her eyes fixed on the door for-well there was no telling how long she stared in the darkness until sleep pulled her lids closed.

The soft creak of the door hinge pulled her from slumber. It was clear the person was trying to be quiet but she was awake at once. Her visitor was a stern looking woman with gray hair tucked into a frumpy cap. Her dress was gray and her apron was crisp. Summer did not know the face, but it was clear this was no maid as she began to address Summer's wounds.