Always Mine Read Online Free PDF

hearing a hungry cat’s meow.
    Elise hurtled into the room. “Brianna, I found—eeps!” She squeaked and skidded to a stop, then made a wide detour around him.
    An elegant woman followed Elise, carrying a candle and shielding its flame. Whatever he was about to say he kept to himself.
    “Come!” Grasping Galan’s shoulder, the man left the room with him.
    “I brought Mother.” Elise pointed over her shoulder at the woman. “’Tis your Aunt Maud, in case you forgot her name, too.”
    “Dear, do not shout so. I am sure the fall did no damage to Brianna’s ears.” Lady Maud’s eyes twinkled with amusement. She handed the candle to Elise and brushed back the hair from Lydia’s forehead. Gentle fingers examined the cut and swollen area there. “You will have a colorful brow for several days, but ’tis easily hid if your hair is done in the proper way, Brianna.”
    ALWAYS MINE
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    “My name isn’t Brianna. It’s Lydia.” She began to wonder if these people didn’t understand her, for they stubbornly continued to call her Brianna. And they acted familiarly. As if they really believed they were related to her.
    “Does your head hurt less this day?” Lady Maud motioned Elise to move the candle closer while she studied Lydia’s eyes.
    Fireworks flashed through Lydia’s head again. She couldn’t remember ever having a headache in a dream. Another urgent problem made itself known, and she squirmed. “I have to use a bathroom. Would you please tell me where it is?”
    “Bathroom?” Lady Maud’s brow lifted, but when Lydia shifted from one foot to the other, her eyes lit with understanding. “Of course, dear.” After patting Lydia on the shoulder, she motioned toward the screen and quietly left the room.
    “A chamber pot? I can’t believe it.” Lydia shook her head, mindful not to cause the pounding to increase. This room was too fine to be in a cheap hotel. “Surely you have a modern bathroom somewhere close by?” When Elise still looked puzzled, Lydia added, “Garderobe?” Seeing her blank expression, she added, “A place to pass water?”
    “Oh, that? ’Tis but a tiny alcove with an open seat over-hanging the wall. Blessed heaven! You should be glad not to use it this day.”
    Elise’s words rose as Lydia ducked behind the screen. “’Tis wet and windy. You always say you hate the cold air swirling up on your behind.”
    “Why don’t you open the door and announce it to the world?
    Some of the hotel guests might not have heard you.” Great, now she was grumpy. Why couldn’t she have modern conveniences in her dream? “Humpf, I don’t understand. I bet I’ll wake up to find this dream’s a nightmare and I’ve wet the damned bed.”
    “Oh, nay! Do not tell me you wet the bed,” Elise wailed.
    Lydia peeked around the screen and saw her scramble and
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    Sophia Johnson
    search over the bed for wet spots. When she found none, she plunked down at the foot and waited.
    Hearing someone scratch at the door, Lydia ducked back behind the screen. She wasn’t about to parade around in front of anyone else.
    Two men carried in a wooden tub, followed by servants with buckets of water. After filling the tub, they placed the rest of the water beside a brazier of hot coals. When they left, she went over to stare at the tub.
    Well, hell and damn. They really don’t have a bathroom.
    “What is the matter? Come. Soak away that foul salve so I can wash your hair. Mother had broth made for you. She says hot broths make a person sleep. You need lots of sleep so you will remember you are Brianna.” Eyeing Lydia, she frowned. “Lots and lots of sleep,” she repeated and nodded for emphasis.
    “I’m not going back to bed. What is that sweet smell?” She stilled, realizing she had never dreamed a smell before.
    “Truly, Brianna, your memory worsens. ’Tis your favorite rose-scented soap, of course.”
    When Lydia got into the tub, the soothing hot water came up to cover her breasts. She reached