The Rake and The Rose (A Rake's Mistake) (23 page)

"Alexander." Sophie's command was insistent.

"But-" he gasped in protest.

"You're of no help here, go!"

He left, closing the door just as Doctor Lambert sped in with instruments and his case opened, they had been lucky he was home and lived so close.

Charlotte was getting rather annoyed with passing out, her entire body burned and she felt more ill than anything in the world. What had made her sick, the only thing she ate was-was…that damned apple pie.

The people working over her were frantic, but firm. She felt herself being wrapped up, unwrapped. She was sweating, freezing, drained, leeched and given liquids of some form. Her breathing felt awful, she felt like she was breathing in glass.

Someone save me
she prayed.

By the time that she was somewhat conscious, she could hear Giselle and Alexander yelling at one another outside the door. She felt so weak and cold, so cold. Sophie was watching the door, her face stern.

"He doesn't want certain people seeing you. You've been out for a week dear."

"A week?" her voice croaked and Sophie nodded.

"I caught Giselle slipping something into the stew I made you, when I set it down. We have no proof but Alexander is keeping her from you and the kitchens from now on just in case. He's been in a foul temper."

Alexander stormed in and looked at her. "You're awake!" The anger lifted and he rushed over and cradled her head in his hands, before kissing her forehead "Sweetling…" she saw he had dropped the rabbit on the bed.

She sat up slowly. She still felt cold, freezing.  She wanted his hands on her again. That rabbit-her head hurt looking at it- looking so innocent with its fur and the ribbon and bell,
tinkle-tinkle-tinkle
. The bell rang more like a church bell than a child's bell in her head.

“Here, Charlotte, I take it you still want it.” He was forcing a smile as he handed over the rabbit.

"Apparently she was annoyed that you had him. Lottie's father apparently gave it to her."

Lottie, that name again.
Why did it hurt so much? Her father…what was his name. She should know.

Richard.

With that her mind broke like a dam, Charlotte felt the very second her sanity snapped and her inner self curled inward to protect her.

Charlotte gazed at him and was confused when he looked concerned, as he handed her the rabbit. The bell tinkled in the air and the stabbing headache worsened. The bell rang like a gong as it hit the floor, the metal clinking harshly against the wood.

“Charlotte?” His voice sounded so far away. His hands were reaching for her as she reached out to him.

"Alex…"

Oh yes, those hands…touch me Alex I am so cold.

“Sweetling?” there was panic in his voice when her eyes rolled back.

“I'm so cold…Alex, help me.”

"I'll keep you warm sweetheart. You don't have to worry about a thing!"

He looked on the verge of weeping, clutching her close to him, but her body swayed forward and collapsed limp against his chest. Once again, she was swallowed into darkness.

Alexander nearly wanted to scream and howl in denial, she was so weak, and so tired.

She was dying. And his mind refused to accept it when his heart knew it was true. Giselle was sent away to a country home, not allowed back just in case what was said was true. He made the excuse of not wanting her to tax herself and that Charlotte might die, he did not want that weighing on her mind.

The woman had just shrugged with the explanation, as if Charlotte dying was inevitable. Alex clutched her tighter.

It will not happen.
"She's freezing Sophie,” he gasped.

"Alexander she needs to be warmed up I can-" 

"No, get out. I will take care of her."

"My Lord."

"Get out Damn it!" he bellowed holding Charlotte closer.

"Make sure the water is lukewarm. I will get it ready for you," she curtsied, tears in her eyes. Alexander kissed Charlotte's face. 

"My Sweetling, you cannot leave me. Stay here. Promise me."

She lay still in his arms and his chest constricted.

"Sweetling?" He kissed her eyelids, her lips her face everything smelled clean and fresh after Francesca had cleaned her and the bedroom up after a week of the poison had taken it's toll.

He started stripping his clothing off in near violence buttons popped and bounced on the floor and he was left in his breeches out of sheer courtesy for Sophie.

"We have to get you warmed up, Sweetling? Alright, Sophie is getting a nice warm bath for you ready and I'll be right here the whole time." He cradled her and he peeled off the cold sweat stuck night rail and chemise. When she was completely unclothed he cradled her, shielding her from even Sophie's eyes against his chest.

"Is it ready?"

"Yes, Sir. I'll sit outside. Let me know if you need anything, and Alexander?"

He stopped and looked at Sophie. "The poison has left her body by now, usually they die within less than several days. But she is weak. You need to give her a reason to fight, for not many people survive poisoning of any means."

Her words rang in his mind and he choked back a curse. "She will live." Sophie nodded and left.

"Charlotte, sweetheart I am so sorry." He sobbed into her body when Sophie had left. He had not cried when his mother lay dying. He had not cried when his father died. But here was another half of him, one that he had nearly lost to another man. He could not bear to lose her to Death.

He had been an absolute beast ignoring her, simply so he could get her name renewed and her position in society figured out. Wanting it to be a surprise when he solved the mystery that she had fretted over. . Alexander realized it didn't matter! None of it mattered. He didn't care if she was really the daughter of a poor farmer on the edges of Caversham- or a well-bred Lady. He wanted her. That fact simply would not change with her lineage or her status.

Her status to society would not diminish the longing for her company, or the smell of her skin and hair.

Now that he thought of it, the smell of her skin was different. It did not have that warm tone to it. She smelled like Death had touched her. He had felt Death like an unwelcome visitor in his home, from when he was forced to walk through the door to see what the poison had done to her, he felt the presence that had not relented to leave from her bedroom and made everyone shudder as they walked through the frame of the door.

Death was there like a thief, waiting, and bent on stealing what he had so carelessly tossed aside over a misunderstanding that was his fault to begin with! Furthermore, he had then neglected her with the simple desire for her to have a title.

With a determined and grim mindset, he gathered different lavender oils and sponges and towels and set them on the stool nearby the bath. Easily, he slid them both into the warm water.

He would fight Death, and he would win. He had to or risk dying himself.

Charlotte was shocked from her unconsciousness. She could not open her eyes, but she felt everything, the cold seeping into her bones. Then, suddenly, she felt warmth, on the edges of her skin. She no longer felt sick to her stomach as she had for day’s…maybe it had been years? Charlotte's head felt like splitting open.

She felt strong hands trying to wash her arms gently with soap and oils. Her nose could smell it, but she could not twitch it in agitation at the onslaught of lavender and roses. He was murmuring to her now. 

"It's all right, Sweetling. We just need to get your warmed up." He was so sweet, so gentle; and she was still so cold.

Alexander shifted her body closer and focused on getting her warmed. Finally after a few moments her skin no longer looked so pale.

"I'm so sorry darling. I didn't mean to ignore you. I was trying to find out what you wanted to know,” he exhaled his pain into her neck and she wanted to desperately open her eyes to comfort him.

It's ok Alex, I know you didn't mean to. It's all right.
"I cannot lose you too."

Her breathing had somewhat calmed down. Charlotte's mind was gently forming again, still unable to bear whatever calamity that had caused her memory loss. She only knew that Richard and Lottie were somehow in the mix. They, and the Rabbit had something to do with it.

How did all of this add up? It was as if she were a needle and thread trying to piece together frayed pieces of fabric. The thread was only so long, and yes it would work…but it had to be done right, if not at all. Charlotte gulped in her unconsciousness and she realized she had been moved to a bed, warm and toasty.

"Wake up Sweetling…wake up. Come back to me."

How could she not oblige him?

She opened her eyes and realized that a long time had passed. He was dead asleep across her lap, his hair tangled and flopping across his brow. His face pinched in stressful sorrow. Her hands were clutched in his own and her locket hanging in between them both. "Alex?" she croaked and he stared at her after blinking his eyes to get rid of the daze.

"Sweetheart?" he exhaled exuberantly and sat up "Oh thank God," he gasped, leaning forward and clasping her face between gentle hands. "I thought you were gone." He kissed her thoroughly and released her, striding over to the door and opening and hollering out in the hallway. "Sophie! Francesca! James! She's awake!" He was back to her side within two strides.

Soon the entire room was filled with concerned gazes. James was at the door with Precious looking solemn and worried, even the cat looked ruffled the wrong way. Sophie, her usually relaxed demeanor stiff and silent, but tears streaming down her cheeks, as she clutched her apron. Francesca, bursting into tears, as well as Laura and Mary holding each other's hands in relief.

"What on earth is going on?" Charlotte asked. “Who died?”
Wrong thing to say
everyone went stalk still “Oops…sorry.”

"You've been unconscious for two weeks…" Alexander choked out.

Francesca and Sophie nodded "Sophie had to purge you of the poison." Francesca whispered.

"Poison?" Charlotte gasped.
 

"Yes, the pie you ate, the one I made." Sophie shook her head. "I tasted it and but it was after you had some. I didn't know it was poisoned. It tasted off so I spat it out…and now I know why. I don't know what happened!" She burst into tears.

“Sophie it's not your fault." Alexander comforted her with a pat on the arm. 

"So, who poisoned me?" Charlotte asked softly.

"We don't know." Mary and Laura chimed in. "We were so worried Charlotte!" Mary gasped "You looked like...like...Death," she whispered the last word and everyone collectively shuddered.

Alexander watched her tired eyes slide closed. "I am so very sleepy." He nearly wanted to yell at her not to go to sleep again. Never to close her eyes again and frighten him in such a way.

"I thought you were gone," he whispered brokenly to her hair as he held her close.

“I'm here,” she whispered. "I'm here."

I'm here Alexander
his mother had said- right before she had died.

His family was poisoned…it just made it all the more terrible the more he thought of it, his poor mother-
but she had also been sick…so was it just to quicken her death?
Alexander knew these questions would have to wait.