Read Online A Christmas Code (The Code Breakers Series Book 2) by Jacki Delecki - Free Book Online Page B

no longer deathly white. She was exhausted and unable to differentiate between slumber and stupor any longer, but she had to maintain the regime.
    Once more, she repeated the routine of the cold water on Ash’s face for the umpteenth time. Ash opened his eyes. “What the hell?” He pushed against her so forcefully that Gwyneth almost fell off the bed.
    “Ash!” Tears poured down her face as she ran her hand along his cheek. He was warm to touch—the deathlike chill had passed.
    “Get off me, Worthy! His voice was tremulous, but he was conscious. He took a deep breath then closed his eyes. “Sleep… I want to sleep.”
    Gwyneth was no longer able to maintain her calm, stoic role. Painful sobs shook her body and made her unable to speak or breathe.
    Brinsley proclaimed, “Thank God.”
    Amelia came to the side of the bed where Gwyneth was perched. “Gwyneth, he’s going to be okay. You did an unbelievable job of nursing him.”
    Gwyneth turned and continued to cry on her friend’s chest. “I’m so sorry, but I don’t know what I’d have done if I’d lost him.”
    Worthy had tears in his eyes when he spoke to Gwyneth. “Lady Gwyneth, let me take over. You need to rest. I’ll call you if there is any change.”
    Amelia pulled Gwyneth up from the bed. “Let me take you to my room. You can claim you have a headache. Your maid will believe your story since you look like hell.”
    Gwyneth burst into laughter, as Amelia had planned, but the hysterical laughter was mixed with painful gulps.
    Amelia pinned back the falling hair from Gwyneth’s chignon. “We must keep up appearances. I must dress for dinner.”
    Her friend had risen to the challenge. Amelia hardly acted shocked that the French cook had poisoned Ash because he was a spy. England was at war and everyone’s perspectives had been altered. The English waited for the day Napoleon would invade their country.
    “Yes, let’s not forget about appearances,” Brinsley said sarcastically.
    “What would you know about good behavior, sir?”
    For some reason Amelia and Brinsley had taken to each other in strong dislike. How two people who had just met this morning could have such strong feelings toward each other was difficult to comprehend.
    “I must go down and pretend that nothing out of the ordinary has occurred and make excuses for Gwyneth’s absence.” Amelia smoothed the wrinkles on Gwyneth’s crumpled muslin dress, but could do nothing about the wet spots from the tears.
    Recognizing Amelia’s worry by the way she fussed, Gwyneth took her friend’s hand. “You’re absolutely correct, Amelia. I haven’t had time to think about dinner.”
    “You will rest in my room. I will tell your maid that I’ve designed a special dress for you tonight, and my maid will assist you in the dressing.”
    “It figures you’d spend your time on frivolous activities.” Brinsley shook his head as he rolled his eyes upward.
    Her amiable friend’s voice turned hostile. “What is that supposed to mean, sir?”
    Since everyone had been under incredible stress, Gwyneth ignored the outburst. “Will it be unusual if both Ash and I are missing from dinner?”
    There was silence as everyone contemplated the implications of two absent dinner guests.
    “It is acceptable to not participate in the day’s activities, but everyone is expected to be at dinner. It will be noticed and remarked upon if you’re both not at dinner,” Amelia said.
    “Ash has said that he planned to return to his own estate for the holiday. We could announce that he departed quickly because of the snow, but plans to return for the arrival of the Prince of Wales,” Gwyneth said.
    Brinsley nodded in agreement. “It will give us the time we need. And perhaps this is the right time for me to rejoin society.”
    “What?” Both Gwyneth and Amelia asked in strangled voices.
    “Lord Derrick Jeremy Randolph Brinsley.” The man built like an ox executed a bow worthy of the Queen’s drawing