Felicia Read Online Free Page A

frightened, my dear,” the doctor said softly. “You are quite safe now.”
    “But you do not seem to understand,” Felicia broke in, her voice trembling. “I cannot remember who I am.” She shook her head as though to clear it and winced as a sharp pain stabbed behind her eye. She saw a gleam of interest light the doctor’s face. Not understanding, she felt a panic deep within her. “What am I going to do?” she cried out.
    Oblivious to her appeal, the doctor scrutinized her carefully. “That is very interesting,” he murmured, “very interesting. You are fortunate, young lady, that I am here to tend you.” He paused, as though conscious of his own importance. “Dr. Ross is my name. Dr. Paul Ross.” He rocked slowly back and forth from his heels to his toes, his fingers tucked into the lapels of his ill-fitting old-fashioned jacket.
    Felicia struggled to control her sobs. The doctor’s voice was reassuring. “But…but…I do not understand what has happened to me,” she whispered.
    “Nothing that rest and a little treatment won’t cure,” Dr. Ross responded in kindly tones. “The stagecoach you were in crashed, and you were thrown about a bit. Must have hit your head on something sharp, for you have a nasty cut over your eye.”
    Felicia shook her head slowly and said with a slight shrug, “I do not recall anything. Who…who am I?”
    “That is an easy one,” Dr. Ross smiled. “See here, I found this letter in your reticule. It is a letter of introduction to a Mrs. Barton, in Manchester.” He paused to see if there was any response to the name, then continued when Felicia shook her head. “And it seems that you are Felicia Richards, on your way to being governess to Mrs. Barton’s two children.”
    “How strange that sounds,” Felicia said with misgiving. “It means absolutely nothing to me. Oh! Dr. Ross, whatever am I going to do? I do not even know where I am.”
    Dr. Ross looked down at his patient and was impressed with the intelligence he saw in her face. The clear-cut features were a refreshing change from the aging, cantankerous patients he normally had to deal with. There was a freshness and innocence about her that he liked, and he was not immune to her blond loveliness.
    He sat down on an uncomfortable, straight-backed chair that stood by the side of the bed. The sparsely furnished room was typical of a servant’s room.
    Felicia eyed him nervously, not liking the lengthy silence that had developed. “Please, please tell me what happened,” she begged. “And where am I? There must be someone I should thank for helping me.”
    “My dear young lady,” Dr. Ross said thoughtfully. “I will not deny that you are in a peculiar position.” He held up his hand as Felicia started to say something. “No, wait a while for me to explain matters. You are at Alverston, Lord Umber’s country seat.”
    “Lord Umber?” Felicia queried.
    “To be more precise, the Earl of Alverston and Umber.” He paused, allowing Felicia time to absorb this information, but seeing the puzzled expression still on her face he added, “Umber is the senior peerage. Be that as it may, he came upon the scene of the accident moments after it had happened and was responsible for pulling you and your traveling companion to safety.” Dr. Ross smiled briefly to himself. He could well understand Lord Umber’s impulsive offer to help Felicia, for it was well known that he could never resist a pretty face.
    “I was traveling with someone?” Felicia asked hopefully.
    “No, no, just sharing the inside of the coach. It was a mistake Lord Umber made, but the other lady soon put him to rights.”
    An unhappy sigh escaped Felicia as she realized there would be no help from that quarter.
    “As you were unconscious,” Dr. Ross continued, “Lord Umber decided to bring you here, knowing I was in residence and could possibly be of assistance.” He looked away, as though in modesty at this seeming self-praise.
    “You