We ran.The grandfather moved faster than his cane should have allowed, and I kept pace beside him, my heart hammering from the garden conversation and now this, the staff member led us through the side entrance into the main hall, where a small crowd had already gathered outside Helena’s study.“What happened?” the grandfather demanded.“She collapsed, sir. One of the maids found her on the floor.”I pushed through the doorway before I could think better of it Helena lay on the chaise near her desk, pale, one hand pressed to her chest, Gregory already kneeling beside her, his face tight with something I hadn’t seen on him before, fear.“Mother, can you hear me?”“I’m fine,” Helena rasped, though her voice shook. “Stop hovering.”“You collapsed.”“I got dizzy.” She tried to sit up, and Gregory’s hand pressed gently against her shoulder, holding her still.“Someone call the doctor,” he snapped, not looking away from her.“Already on the way,” a staff member answered from the doorway.
Last Updated : 2026-07-08 Read more