Chapter 5
Before Katherine could answer, he caught her by the wrist and started leading her toward the carriage.
“Come on.”
She gave one light pull, then stopped resisting.
Samantha was already seated inside. The moment she saw Katherine, a strange smile flashed across her face.
“Katherine, you’re coming too? Hurry up. It’s freezing outside.”
Katherine didn’t answer. She simply lifted her skirt and prepared to step up.
Then Samantha suddenly gasped.
“Oh my God… Katherine, is that blood?”
Katherine stilled for half a second, then understood.
Her period had come early. She had spent too long walking through the plum grove and hadn’t noticed.
Nicholas saw it too. Immediately, he removed his dark wool cloak and draped it over her shoulders.
“Get in first,” he said. “It’s warm inside. Don’t catch a chill.”
The cloak still carried his body heat and the faint scent of cedar. The gesture was considerate, intimate even.
Katherine only lowered her eyes.
Then Samantha’s face turned pale. She swayed and collapsed softly against Nicholas.
“Nicholas… I feel dizzy…”
He caught her at once. “What’s wrong?”
“I… I’ve always been bad with blood,” Samantha whispered weakly, pressing one hand to her chest. “The sight of it makes me faint. My heart starts racing. I can’t breathe…”
She leaned into him, eyes red, voice trembling.
“She has blood on her clothes,” Samantha said. “If I have to sit with her all the way back, I’m afraid I won’t be able to handle it.”
Nicholas’s body stiffened.
For a moment he was silent.