Read Online My Lady Vampire - Book Three by Sahara Kelly - Free Book Online Page A

anywhere in the country. She carefully cleared her throat. “Where am I?”
    The woman bustled about, calling for a maid to relight the fire and placing tea things on a low table. “You’re at St. Chesswell, dearie. The home of Sir Sidney Chesswell and his son Adrian. You’re quite safe now.”
    Remembering those eyes, most likely belonging to his son Adrian , Katherine wondered if that statement was wholly accurate. A sensual shiver crossed her skin and she repressed it.
    The sound of tea being poured also made her shiver, but for a different reason. She gathered a sheet around her. “I must…I need to use…” She glanced about the room as she slipped her legs from the bed.
    “Oh my goodness, of course you do. There’s a screen. The necessary is behind it.” The woman smiled as she nodded across the bed to a shadowy corner where an ornate screen hid the chamber pot.
    Gratefully, Katherine stumbled behind it and relieved her overflowing bladder. As she reemerged, she glanced down at herself. “I seem to have nothing but the sheet, Mrs.…er…” She paused.
    “Tooting, dear. Mrs. Tooting. I’m Sir Sidney’s housekeeper and don’t worry, a maid is bringing you something now you’re awake. To be honest--” She looked a little embarrassed. “We wasn’t sure you was going to survive your injuries. Sir Sidney said to leave you be ‘til we knew you’d make it.”
    The woman tapped her head with one finger. “Nasty things, them head injuries, so Sir Sidney said.”
    “Ahh.” Katherine nodded in agreement. Sir Sidney clearly had some sense about him, since his words bore out what Katherine knew to be true. Head wounds were very nasty things. She was a very lucky woman to have gotten off with just bruises and a bump on her scalp.
    A knock heralded a maid bearing a fluffy armful and Mrs. Tooting took it with a smile, dismissing the girl and shutting the door on her wide-eyed curiosity. “Oh good. Here’s something for you to wear. It’s a bit out of date, since there hasn’t been a lady in residence in a good many years, but it should do you for the time being.”
    She slipped the froth of fine lace over Katherine’s head. Katherine couldn’t have cared if it was sackcloth ripped from a hay wain, she just wanted something to cover her nakedness. To hide from those eyes .
    “My clothes?” Katherine returned to the bed and sank thankfully against the pillows.
    “Your trunk was smashed open and much of what was in it got muddied and soaked. I’ve got some servants working on it, dear, but I don’t know how much they’re goin’ to be able to salvage.” She passed a cup of steaming tea to Katherine. “I would like to know what to call you…”
    Katherine smiled. “I’m Kitty Edgeworth. Mrs . Kitty Edgeworth.”
    “And is there someplace we should notify Mr. Edgeworth that his wife is here, safe and sound?”
    Kitty swallowed a sip of tea and composed her words carefully. “There is no Mr. Edgeworth anymore. I’m a widow. My…husband was killed several years ago. Recently I was companion to Mrs. Byerly, the lady who unfortunately lost her life in the accident.”
    Tears filled Katherine’s eyes as she remembered Jessie--so flighty, so silly and yet such fun . She would have lasted all of a month at Byerly Grange, Katherine knew that. Had they not fled, she’d be alive.
    Had they not fled, Katherine would be once again alone. Or worse.
    She gulped down the tea, thankful for the heat that warmed a chill around her heart. “I’m sorry. I seem to be very emotional.” She passed the empty teacup back to the woman with a grateful smile.
    Mrs. Tooting stretched out a comforting hand and brushed Katherine’s flyaway hair off her forehead. “You just rest now and get well. Nothing else to worry about for the time being.” The woman looked a little self-conscious. “Sir Sidney had me put a couple of drops of laudanum in your tea. He wants you to sleep as much as possible right now. The best thing