Marissa Day by The Seduction of Miranda Prosper Read Free Book Online

wake because she could not do anything else. The light lanced into her eyes and the fire burned through her bones, robbing her of any ability to think.
    “Oh, Perkins, thank heavens!” Mother wrapped her arms around Miranda’s shoulders. “My daughter has taken ill. Send for my carriage at once.”
    “Yes, madame. Mellon, help the lady. Lace, send for Miss Prosper’s maid.”
    Those were the last words she understood for some time. Miranda felt as if she had been removed into a private space of pain. There was no time, barely any sensation of movement, only the endless fire in her sinews and skin. She had just enough awareness to feel herself lifted into the carriage. Sometime later, she recognized rocking and jouncing as the conveyance rolled over the London streets’ ruts and cobbles.
    Miranda’s lungs began to burn, and she could not catch her breath. Other hands raised her up, supporting her. She wheezed and shivered as they helped her climb the stairs. Conversation went on around her, but she could make little sense of it.
    “Will madame wish to send for the doctor?”
    “Oh, I don’t think there will be any need at present. A warm bed, a night’s rest, and I am sure she will be right as rain.”
    “Yes, madame.”
    The door closed and Miranda shivered beneath her blankets. The silk nightgown in which she had been dressed provided no comfort. The cold gave way once more to fire, and with the fire came a vision like a flash of lightning. She saw two men staggering through the dark streets, leaning together, struggling even as she struggled.
    Miranda.
    Miranda twisted her head sideways, trying to bury her face in the pillows to shut out the visions and the voice.
    Miranda, can you hear me?
    “Stop it,” she begged. Her throat burned; her vitals burned; her very soul burned. “Please, make it stop!”
    I want to, Miranda, but I can’t find you. Say my name, Miranda. Say it!
    “Corwin,” she croaked. Corwin!
    Another vision lanced through her. She saw him, saw them, standing in the mews behind the house, staring up at her window. Darius had his arms wrapped around Corwin. Corwin dug his hand into his side, like a man trying to stop the pain of his own wound.
    “You’ll kill yourself trying to ghostwalk up there,” Darius muttered.
    Corwin shook his head hard. “There’s no other way fast enough.”
    Miranda heard other voices, these much closer.
    “Miss Prosper! Oh, do wake up, Miss Prosper!”
    “I don’t like this. She’s in a real delirium now.”
    “Should we fetch her mother?”
    “Madame Bitch? Not likely. Get round to Dr. Harrington’s. Sharp, now!”
    “Madame won’t like it.”
    “I’ll take the blame if it comes to that. Go!”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    A rough hand touched Miranda’s forehead. Miranda recognized it as belonging to Louise, her maid. But Louise was not whom Miranda needed, and Miranda tried to shake her off, but she could scarcely move. The terrible light was devouring her from the inside.
    “What on Earth!” cried Louise.
    A cold wind wafted over Miranda’s face. She shivered violently and struggled to lift her head. The burning within blurred her eyesight, but she saw two tall men being faced down by stout Louise.
    Corwin? Darius?
    Yes, Miranda. We are here.
    “Get out of here!” cried Louise. “Get out of here at once, you shameless things, or I’ll rouse the house!”
    Faintly, beyond the fire, Miranda felt a prickling across her skin that was both new and intimately familiar.
    One of the shadowed forms moved closer. “Get away from her!” snapped Louise, and she darted forward, but the other man—Darius, Miranda was now sure—blocked her path.
    “You will find the girl and tell her there’s no need for the doctor. The fever has broken, and Miss Prosper has asked to be left to rest. You will check in on her again in the morning. Go now.”
    Louise swayed on her feet. “Yes, sir,” she said, her words slurring badly.
    “You will be saving her life.