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Victoria could easily wake up at any moment.”
    “Possibly, but I’ve no idea how extensive the brain damage—”
    “I want to see her.” Nick’s demand made the other man nod.
    “Of course, but first we need to sew up that gash on your leg and cheek. The cut on your face isn’t too bad…” Dr. Bertram frowned. “But that leg definitely needs attention now. I’m surprised one of the nurses didn’t shuttle you off to one of the trauma bays.”
    “It can wait.”
    “No, Mr. Barrows, it can’t. When we’ve fixed your wounds, I’ll make sure you see your fiancée.”
    “Fine.” Reluctantly, Nick agreed to the doctor’s inflexible command with a sharp nod. “And I’ll need something to sleep on. I intend to stay with her.”
    “Is that wise, Nick?” His sister’s brow was creased with worry. “What good does it do if you stay with her?”
    “I want to be there when she wakes up.”
    “Mr. Barrows, even if she does wake up, it could be days, weeks, even longer before she does so.” The doctor’s protest only reinforced the conviction taking root inside him and growing stronger by the second.
    “Have you ever had a medical case surprise you, Dr. Bertram?”
    “On occasion, but your fiancée—”
    “My fiancée is going to surprise you. Victoria is going to surprise everyone, except me. Now get me sewn up so I can see her.”

Chapter 4

    October 1897
    N icholas ushered Vickie out of Goodman Cottage. His wife looked presentable despite the mud-stained gown she wore. He also noted there was a significant amount of blood on the shoulder of her dress. More than one might expect from the size of the cut on her forehead. That fact didn’t just puzzle him, he found it disturbing.
    Usually it was easy to see through Vickie’s deceptions, and it irritated him that he’d failed to catch her in an outright lie yet. But that was about to change. Nicholas walked to where Zeus was tethered and quickly mounted the stallion. Pawing the ground, the restless animal danced about as Vickie drew near. Without any visible effort, he brought the animal under control.
    “You’ll have to ride pillion, madam.”
    He smiled coldly at her as he offered his hand to her. If there was one thing Vickie was afraid of, it was horses. She never rode, and even riding behind him would probably terrify the hell out of her.
    “Don’t you have another horse?”
    “Another horse?” Nicholas murmured with satisfaction as he waited for Vickie to demand he return home and send a carriage for her.
    “Yes. One for me to ride.” Her response was so unexpected all he could do was stare at her in amazement. It wasn’t a pleasant sensation to be at a loss for words where Vickie was concerned.
    “Why the devil would I bring a horse for you when you don’t ride?” he snapped as he gestured for her to step forward.
    “Because I’ve been riding since I was a kid,” she said with obvious exasperation.
    Without blinking an eye, she boldly and fearlessly walked up to Zeus. The stallion turned his head in her directions, and she stroked the bridge of his nose as if it were something she’d done a thousand times before. Stunned, Nicholas remained silent as his wife hitched up her skirts, accepted his hand, and jumped up behind him. The instant his hand touched hers a bolt of electricity vibrated through him. It was the same sensation he’d experienced every time he’d touched her today.
    She wiggled into a comfortable position behind him then wrapped her arms about his waist. The heat of her pressing into his back made him go rigid. Christ Jesus , what the hell was wrong with him reacting to her like this. This was Vickie. A woman who enjoyed humiliating him whenever the opportunity presented itself.
    With a nudge of his heel, he urged Zeus forward, guiding them into the trees behind the cottage. The trail they followed opened up onto a large green expanse of pasture land sprinkled with patches of melting snow. As they rode out into