Caroline was painfully aware of anxious whispers and the touch of gentle hands on her head. She felt dizzy, everything seemed to be spinning. It hurt so badly! She was afraid to open her eyes. And, though it hurt to think, she found herself trying desperately to remember. Oh, yes. Prince David had proposed. The king and queen had tried to force her to accept him. And from there on it was a blur… the horrified gasp of the court as she defied royal authority, the horror of the queen's words, the look on John's face as she fled the room…
"John!" she cried out almost deliriously. She couldn't think! What had happened? She had been riding out in the dark, the snow, the wind… she remembered falling… then she had suddenly felt warm again… she had heard his voice… where was he?
At her cry, someone had moved quickly to her side and was holding her wrist, feeling her pulse. With great effort, she opened her eyes and found a pair of kind, sympathetic grey eyes looking back at her. The man was middle-aged, somewhat portly, with strands of grey in his dark hair. And he had the kindest face she had ever seen.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
"I am the doctor, milady. Doctor Tremayne."
"The doctor?" she groaned. "What has happened?"
"I'm afraid you took a fall, milady. And you were out in the cold for some time."
"John was there… where is John…" Caroline couldn't think clearly. She tried to struggle to sit but Dr. Tremayne gently held her down, shaking his head.
"Don't try to sit up, milady. John, I believe, is the young man who found you and brought you back. I didn't speak to him, but they said that he was very concerned about you."
"He… found me?" Caroline frowned. "I thought I heard his voice… I…"
"Just try to get some rest, milady. You will feel better after you sleep." He groaned suddenly and clutched his heart, breathing heavily.
"Are you all right?" Caroline gasped, suddenly alarmed.
"Don't trouble yourself about me, milady." he smiled. "I've a weak heart. I don't really worry about it, it's just that I fear for my daughter if ever anything…" he trailed off, and shook his head. "But why should I talk of my troubles? You are the patient here, not me. And I insist that you get your rest."
oOo
The following days were dreadful ones, especially for both Caroline and John. Caroline, because she was in great pain, feverish and delirious, and John because he feared for her, although no one ever knew just how worried he was. Doctor Tremayne stayed with Caroline night and day, doing all he could in spite of the frequent pains in his heart.
Poor Queen Edith was in high dudgeon during those days, and difficult to manage. Lady Allison had her hands full trying to please the cantankerous queen and failing utterly. Queen Edith simply refused to be satisfied with anyone less than Lady Caroline. The blizzard intensified, but Prince David insisted on leaving in spite of the storm. He left the very next day, in a whirl of falling snow and howling, frigid winds.
"I can't say I'm sorry to see him go," the king remarked to his wife, which irritated her exceedingly. "He didn't seem a very pleasant fellow, though it would have been an excellent match. We shall simply have to try again, my dear."
"She'll have more sense next time, I hope." the queen remarked. "She was just overly nervous."
Caroline's brother had come to the castle as soon as he heard the news of her accident. Their father was not doing well those days and couldn't venture from home but sent his love and best wishes. And Caroline was so glad to see Charles. She knew he wasn't exactly the brightest person and greatly lacking in sense, but she doted on her older brother and was relieved when he arrived.
"My dearest sister!" Charles was genuinely alarmed when they brought him to her room and he hurried to Caroline's side, taking her hand in his. "I have been so worried, I just couldn't believe it when they told me, I simply could not. Father is most distressed, I assure you, most distressed. You simply must get well, and soon. Oh, this is just dreadful. Simply dreadful!"
"I'm all right, Charles," Caroline laughed weakly. "Don't fret so."
"But I must, dear sister! I cannot help feeling so worried, you are the only sister I have and I love you dearly, indeed, I do!"
"Dearest brother," she murmured, closing her eyes with a smile. "You are a great comfort."
"I could not help but feel upset, indeed, I was most upset, when I heard you had refused Prince David." Charles continued, not thinking.
"You too?" Caroline's eyes flew open and she looked rather hurt. "I couldn't… he was really, truly dreadful, Charles. I couldn't possibly marry him. Why must everyone insist on it?"
"I'm so sorry, sister Caroline!" Charles looked rather distressed at her words. "Indeed, I am. I shouldn't have spoken so, really, it was rather thoughtless of me. What I meant to say is that it really did seem such an excellent match, indeed it truly did."
"But it was so wrong," Caroline whispered. "So wrong."
"I do hope that you will make a good match, indeed I do, my dear sister. But I do hope that you will be happy, truly I do. I hope you will always be happy."
"I know you do," Caroline answered, relieved. "You have always been the best of brothers."