Page 5 of Once Upon a Midnight Dream

His senses told him dawn drew near.

They also screamed he was not alone.

Alarm throttled through his veins.

A soft sound beside his bed made him bolt upright, ready to defend himself once more.

An agonized gasp rushed past his dry lips as searing, molten fire speared his skull straight into his brain while scorching rapiers impaled his ribs.

Holy Mother of God!

Breath hissed from between clenched teeth as another groan ripped from his throat while he clutched his throbbing head, fighting to stay conscious.

He barely registered the bandages circling his head, ribs, and hands.

Nausea ripped through his stomach and throttled up his throat as a wave of excruciating pain threatened to cleave his head from his neck.

By God, he would welcome decapitation if it meant an end to the agony.

Desperate to tamp down the bile tapping against his teeth, he made a strangled noise in the back of his throat.

I am going to be sick.

In the dim pre-dawn light, a form in flowing white swiftly rose from beside his bed, sending a cloud of feminine fragrance wafting past his face.

Oh, God.

His tormented stomach could not stand anymore.

He gagged. Then gagged again.

“Oh, dear.” She touched his shoulder, the pressure gentle and comforting. “You poor thing. I shall fetch a basin.”

Even with the pain-induced haze assaulting him, he registered several details in the muted half-light.

Woman.

Average height.

English.

Middle to late thirties.

Educated speech.

A moment later, she produced a porcelain washbasin, and to his utter humiliation, he heaved his guts out as she held it before him. Not that there was much in his empty-as-a-miser’s-charity-box stomach.

When he finally stopped retching, he collapsed back onto the pillows, mortified and weak.

The pale pinks, oranges, and purples peeking through the lace curtains announced dawn’s imminent arrival.

“Queasiness is to be expected with a head wound, especially when one has a concussion.” She spoke matter-of-factly, her tone low and modulated, kind but not patronizing. “It shall pass in time, although I know at present that is not much comfort to you.”

Bloody right.

It is not.

The stranger turned from him and after placing the basin on a nearby commode, slipped on her wrapper, tying it at her waist. With practiced efficiency, she set about lighting a lamp.