A/n: We get a flash from the past in this chapter! Wonder who it could be… Hmm… Find out in this great new chapter!

Chapter 25

Flora's POV

I started to come around, a terrible ache in my head. As I continued waking up, I noticed that my body also ached. My eyes fluttered open, but I shut them when the bright light from the window caused the pain in my head to increase. A groan escaped my lips, not enjoying the state I was in and realizing the trouble I would be in. Louis would not be happy. Not a bit. I knew he would demand a full explanation. An explanation that would sentence me to never leaving the manor ever again.

By a miracle, I remembered all that happened. I remembered my anger with Louis for leaving me behind. I remembered taking off on Annabelle, knowing that no one could stop me from doing so. I remembered the feeling of freedom as Annabelle and I flew down the road. I also remembered flying through the air when I had to keep from running into a carriage. After hitting the ground and getting knocked unconscious, I couldn't recall anything. I hoped that the carriage and its passengers were alright. Annabelle's safety was also another thing I hoped for.

The door creaked open and I hoped it was Maribelle coming to take care of me. How long had I been out? "Maribelle, is that you?" I questioned.

"No, miss." I sat up suddenly, regretting the move since it caused my stomach to turn sour. Laying back down, I wondered where I was and who the girl was. The voice that answered was not one I had ever heard before. It was a girl far younger than Maribelle. Her voice was soft and had a musical lilt to it. "I am Ivette. My brother brought you to our home after you were thrown from your horse. You have hit your head quite hard. Can I get you anything?"

"Could you close the curtains?" Her footsteps were soft on the hardwood flooring, but I followed the sound of them as she walked to the window. I listened for the whoosh of the curtains before I opened my eyes. The room was a little blurry and I had trouble discerning everything within it. I could tell that there was an armoire in the corner of the room next to the window. The large, dark colored wood stood out against the white walls. Ivette's form stood next to the window still, and I squinted at her hoping it would help my vision.

"Sorry." she said softly, although she hadn't done anything wrong. Ivette moved closer to the bed and I could see her a little better. Her hair was a brownish blonde and curly. She was thin and shorter than me. If I could see the details of her face, I could probably tell how old she was. "Brother said that you might have blurred or loss of vision when you awoke. He's a doctor. Do you remember your name? Brother also said you might not remember things from before hitting your head."

"I am Flora Ashby." I answered. I was lucky that the carriage I nearly crashed into belonged to a doctor. Why his sister was here instead of him confused me. "I remember everything from before I hit my head."

"Oh. That's good to hear." Ivette said. She was definitely timid. I could hear it in her voice and by the way she didn't get too close to the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"My head hurts and my body hurts, but other than that I feel fine." Just as I finished talking, my stomach growled and I blushed. "I guess I am hungry as well."

"Lunch has passed, but I am sure I can find something for you in the kitchen." Ivette said, walking back to the door. "It is nearly tea time. Perhaps I can bring some tea and pastries." Ivette pulled the door open and gasped. "Jacques! You scared me! Flora is awake now." Jacques? Where did I remember that name from?

"I see." Ivette's brother said, walking into the room. His voice was familiar, but I couldn't seem to put my finger on where I knew it from. "Thank you for checking up on her for me. When you didn't return, I assumed she was awake and you were keeping her company."

"I'll be back up in a little bit with tea and pastries." Ivette said excitedly. "Maybe you could join Flora and I, Jacques. You've been working so hard and..."

"Of course I will join you." Jacques interrupted. I smiled at hearing the love in his voice. Ivette left the doorway, allowing her brother to enter the room before she went to get the tea and pastries. My vision was starting to clear up and I could see Jacques clearer than his sister. He had similar colored hair to his sister, but a tad lighter. It was neatly pulled back and the low ponytail hung over his shoulder. "It has been quite a while, Flora. If you hadn't stopped in time, it would have made it the second time I ran into you." Suddenly, it clicked in my mind where I knew him from.

"Jacques Bonhomme." I said, remembering how he had run into me outside the general store the day I made it to Rouen. "Excuse me. Doctor Jacques Bonhomme."

Jacques chuckled as he walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Jacques is just fine. How are you feeling? Any dizziness, nausea, or fatigue?"

"My head and body hurt. When I sat up a little bit ago I felt a nauseous." I answered.

"You may have a minor concussion from hitting your head. I assessed your body while you were still unconscious and you didn't have any broken bones. You will probably get some nasty bruising, but other than that you are fine." Jacques scooted closer and I could see his spectacles on his prominent, masculine nose. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to check your head for swelling where you hit it."

"I don't mind at all." Jacques nodded and reached his hands up to behind my head. His fingers probed around the area that had hit the ground. He was quiet as he felt around the back of my head. I found myself watching his face that was no close enough to see in detail. The light brown eyes behind the thin wire framed spectacles were concentrated. His lips pressed into a line, but would part moments later. It was strange, yet I found myself drawn to his expressions. They were so... intense. I gasped as his fingers pressed a little too hard against my bump. "Sorry. I'm so sorry."

"No." I said quietly. "It is alright. Is the swelling bad?"

"Not as bad as I thought it would be. You are very lucky." Jacques said, standing up and readjusting his spectacles. "I've seen memory loss and serious cases of amnesia with patients that hit their heads as hard as you did."

"Thank you." I reached up and felt the back of my head, feeling the bump there. I looked over at Jacques from the bed. My vision had cleared up entirely and I watched as he wrote in a folder of the parchment he had dropped when we first met. He looked over his shoulder at me and smiled before continuing to write.

Ivette walked in with a tray of lovely smelling pastries and piping hot tea. "Hope you like Earl Gray, because that is all Jacques will drink." Ivette said, setting the tray down on the nightstand next to the bed. "How do you like your tea?"

"One sugar, please." I answered. Jacques joined us a minute later. We sat and talked about anything that was brought up. From the nice spring weather to the best books. According to Jacques, Annabelle was unharmed and was safe in his stable. Ivette opened up a lot more than I expected, but it seemed that Jacques presence brought that out in her. Jacques held a lot of surprises as well. I learned that his favorite book was one of my own personal favorites: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Jacques had also, at one point, wanted to be a sailor.

As the afternoon passed and the tea grew cold, I started to feel tired. Jacques was quick to notice this and wrapped up the socializing, shooing Ivette out of the room. "Do I need to let someone know where you are? I feel that it would be a good idea for you to stay until I am sure you are getting better." Jacques asked, standing in the door way. I thought for a moment, knowing that I probably should. Louis wouldn't be home for at least three days. Jacques would not keep me here like Louis. This place seemed safe enough and I couldn't bring myself to return to the manor. Not when this opportunity to be away from the manor had landed in my outstretched hands.

"No. I will be fine."

"Alright. If you need anything, Ivette's room is down the hall and she will hear if you call." Jacques smiled and pulled the door shut behind him. Closing my eyes, I let sleep wash over me.

A/n: Hope you guys liked this chapter. Leave some love for me in a review!