His Lady Peregrine by Ruth J. Hartman

note more details of what had transpired. Perhaps if he had,
she might not have been so shocked when she saw and heard that
atrocious witch pawing at him and insisting he tell her he loved
her.
    What a mess this all had
become. Since in good conscience for the time being he could not
leave the house, Percy was determined to send another note, this
one telling her everything so she’d understand what was going on.
She had to! While it was true he’d only just met her, something in
his heart told him she was different. Special. The one woman for
him who could make all his dreams of true love come
true.
    Hurrying, and hoping to be
able to write his letter before being found out and screeched at by
the dowager for leaving her presence, Percy made his way along a
back hall to his room to retrieve some more foolscap. He would have
gone there sooner but knew the footman could have easily found him.
He did pity the footman somewhat. The dowager had made him her
personal servant.
    Still, it had to be better
than having the wretched woman call him darling. He shuddered, nearly unable
to hold the quill to compose his letter. He’d do whatever it took
to convince Georgiana of the truth. Guilt scratched at him,
reminded him of the physician’s warning about saying anything to
anyone about the situation for fear word of it might get back to
Miriam and upset her. He must do it, though. There was no other
way.
    Would it really be so bad
if Percy just slipped out of the house? Went to see Georgiana and
left the dowager to the care of her family and the
physician?
    Dr. Hervey had piled on
the guilt. Made it quite clear that if Percy did anything to upset
the dowager, her condition might worsen. Percy clenched his jaws
together.
    Leave it to me to develop a conscience now
of all times!
    He closed his door, hoping
for a few uninterrupted moments, and tried to summon the right
words for the note. Now that he was there with quill and paper, the
words he needed to write seemed like a farce. Would he be able to
make Georgiana believe that the strange happenings were
true?
    He must try.
    My dear Lady Peregrine,
    Let me start by saying how sorry I am that
you witnessed what you did in our parlor. Not because I’m ashamed
of being caught at something. No. Because what you saw was a
lie.
    In my previous note, I
told you of the dowager’s accident here in the house. What I
neglected to say was what took place after her injury. For some odd
reason of which I cannot fathom, the strange woman has the notion
that I am someone I’m not.
    Believe me when I tell you
that I was shocked and appalled. But to make matters much worse,
the physician has cautioned me that were I to do anything to upset
the dowager at this point, he couldn’t say how it would affect her
recovery. In his estimation, it would not be positive in the
least.
    So, while everything in me
longs to come and see you, I can’t. Guilt has taken a hold of me.
Every time I’m ready to sneak away and see you, I have a sudden
remorseful premonition that the woman might get worse or even die.
I can’t have that on my conscience.
    I am much aggrieved that
this has happened, especially since I have developed such an
incredible fondness for you, my dear. Examine your heart, remember
my softly spoken words and our embraces. Then you will know the
truth.
    Yours most affectionately,
    Percy
    He read over what he’d
written again. Would Georgiana believe his words? What else could
he do, aside from actually leaving the house and dying of guilt? At
first, he’d hoped that when Barrington and Cecilia returned home he
might gain a respite. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Even with them and the
Loftons present, the blasted woman only wanted Percy. Why was this
happening? He barely knew her. She wasn’t in her right mind because
of the injury, of course, but to mistake him for her long lost
husband?
    Perhaps it was as simple
as she had loved the man so much and her injured mind latched onto
the first man she