Chapter 16

I felt itchy, unclean and desperate to scream. I turned to face Doctor Farrers, fighting my constricted throat to form a protest. Suddenly a flurry of pebbles rattled sharply against the window. We both leapt up as Fitz struggled to control the two horses, purposely forcing a gap between myself and the hideous doctor.

“Excuse me Doctor, I trust I can check what on earth is occurring outside?”

“Of course Your Grace,” he stammered, hurriedly packing his items away as Fitz continued to stare into the room. His hands were gripping the reins tightly, his jaw clenched. Doctor Farrers scuttled about with his briefcase, “no problems that I can detect Your Grace, a clean bill of health.”

With a curt nod I swept out of the room, my heeled shoes clipping along the stone-flagged hallway. I inhaled deep, calming lungfuls of air as I made a show of heading outside. Doctor Farrers could possibly watching to see how I handled the situation.

“What is happening here!” I declared loudly as Fitz kept his