Chapter 5

Everyone's blood froze. The enormous cupboard meant sure death to the petite girl if it hit her. Not the hunter, nor the mechanist was in a position to stop it from falling. Suddenly, Giovanni pushed Charlotte away, and both of them fell to the ground, the cupboard landing next to them, spreading stones and minerals in every direction. One of the stones hit Charlotte's head and she passed out. Richard was at her side in a moment.

"She's fainted. A head injury. Hopefully not serious. We must lie her down." He stated after a short examination, and not waiting for any disagreement picked her up in his arms and carried her to her bedroom, leaving the others behind in the lab.

"My collection! The disorder! I´ll never finish my inventions! Marguerite..."

"Calm down, George, a few hours and we will have it all reorganized. There's no reason for panic. Go and see Charlotte, she has been hurt! Giovanni, are you

all right?" She asked as she helped him to stand up.

"I am fine, and also flattered that such a beautiful woman is interested in my health," Giovanni thanked her with a charming smile.

"Marguerite, we're late! Ned and Veronica..." interrupted Roxton, but Marguerite didn't give him time to finish his sentence.

"Richard will go with you." She stated and started to pick up the stones from the floor. "And now, be so kind, and let me work!"

Meanwhile in Charlotte's room, Richard had laid the young woman on her bed. But he only calmed down a bit when Challenger also said she wasn't seriously hurt. In spite of that, he considered it better if he stayed with her. He sat next to her on the bed and held her hand as he watched her sleep. Soon his thoughts wandered to his and Charlottes relationship. He felt regret and wanted to make things better between them. He wanted her to wake up so he could speak with her.

"Richard!" Roxton called as he entered the room. "We have to go!"

"Go? Go where?" Richard asked keeping his eyes on the sleeping girl.

"To the village. Marguerite insists that she stay here to help Challenger organize his pebbles."

"But Charlotte..." He turned to him.

"She is all right, or will be."

Giovanni suddenly appeared.

"I´ll gladly escort you. I know, I'm not in the best shape, but seeing the senorita and Mr. Redgrave´s relationship..."

"What are you talking about?" snapped Richard.

"Scuzi. Maybe I didn't express myself correctly or misunderstood something..."

"I'm sure of it, " Richard interrupted. "We can leave immediately," and with that Richard started to walk out of the room, but before he could leave, Giovanni said:

"I´ll take care of her, I promise."

But strangely, the calming words produced the opposite effect on Richard. ..

Because everybody was busy in the treehouse, Marguerite started to clean up the damage alone. The thought of organizing the mess of rocks was giving her a headache. On top of that the cupboard drawers, along with the cupboard itself was really to heavy for her to lift.

"Can I help you?" Asked Giovanni appearing seemingly from nowhere.

"Thank you." Accepted Marguerite with a smile.

"It's a pleasure for me to help you, bella donna." He smiled back and lightly caught her hand. "These hands weren't made for hard work," and lifting one hand to his lips gently kissed it. Marguerite was surprised for a moment, but she didn´t have time to respond, because of a theatrical cough which signaled that they weren´t alone.

"Oh John!" She jumped up, pulling her hand from the compromising hold. "Are you ready to leave?"

"Yes." Roxton answered with a suspicious glance toward the foreigner. "But I´m not sure if it´s a wise decision..."

"Oh, Come on John! We´ll be alright! You can´t leave Veronica and Ned to the danger of thinking we are in trouble and searching for us. They may be already sick with worry."

"Well, I..."

"I will check to make sure Richard packed everything well. If you both will excuse me." And with that, the black haired beauty disappeared.
After a few moments of awkward silence the Italian started to go too, but Roxton stepped in his way.

"Juts to remind you" He began in a not so friendly fashion. "The lady is under MY protection. In every sense of the word."

Giovanni only nodded and went on his way, but he felt for a long time the burning stare of a jealous man on his back, but he was accustomed to that feeling...