I caught a glimpse of shining steel as Gladys’s blade caught in the sunlight before descending and slicing through Baltar’s neck, then my vision diminished to little more than shifting shapes and dark shadows. In truth, I felt like little more than a shadow myself.
Strong hands reached for me: Hugo. He wrapped his arms around me, picked me up and cradled me against his chest.
I dug as deep as I could, summoning up the last of my energy. I had to speak; our lives counted on my words. ‘Wait,’ I whispered. ‘Baltar…’
‘I took care of him,’ Rose said.
‘No. He’ll … he’ll … come back. He’s not … dead.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Hugo hushed. ‘We have time to get away before he reanimates. It’s fine. It’s all fine.’
‘Will she be okay?’ I heard Lady Rose whisper.
Hugo’s response was curt. ‘Yes, but we need to get her to hospital. Help me lift her to the car.’
I felt myself being moved, heard a door open and registered the flutter of soft wings as Hester and Otis hovered anxiously over my face.
‘I’m driving,’ Hugo snapped. ‘Everyone get in and fasten your seatbelts.’
‘Hang on a minute,’ Lord Pemberville began.
‘Just fucking get in, Dad!’
A strange dreaminess overtook me. Nothing mattered any more. It was all fine. Hunky dory.
‘Wait!’ Lady Pemberville’s sharp cry made me jerk.
‘Look! That’s the doctor’s car – he’s on his way. He can help Gertrude – or Daisy – or whoever she is.’
Hugo’s answer sounded as if it were coming from a great distance. ‘Fuck.Fuck.The back road – is it clear, Rose? Can we get out of your estate that way?’
I tried to listen to her answer but a strange caterwauling was ringing in my ears, high-pitched and annoying. It sounded like a small angry cat.
And that was the last thought I had before darkness descended.
Even before Iopened my eyes, I knew I felt different. It was difficult to put the sensation into words. There was a calmness deep within me that I’d not felt for a very, very long time. I was … centred.
Or I was until I remembered what had happened before I blacked out.
I sat bolt upright. ‘Athair,’ I said aloud, as a surge of panic overtook me.
‘It’s alright.’ Hugo was holding my hand. ‘We got away. We took a back road and drove off before he reached us. We’re safe, Daisy.’
I blinked rapidly and gazed into his velvet-blue eyes, which were shining with a heartening mixture of warmth and relief. I reached for him and pulled him close, and he wrapped his arms tightly around me. ‘We should add falling unconscious to the list of things you should never ever do,’ he said in my ear,
I smiled into his shoulder – then I made the mistake of breathing in. Whoa. ‘You, Hugo Pemberville, are very smelly.’ Usually he exuded a spicy aroma that made me slightly weak at the knees but right now he reeked of acrid sweat and dirt.
‘Is that your way of saying I should let you go?’ he murmured.
‘Never,’ I whispered.
He grunted. ‘Just as well.’ His arms tightened a fraction.
There were several sharp jabs on the back of my head. ‘You’re awake!’ More jabs. ‘I’m so happy.’ Several more jabs. ‘Can I have a hug, too?’
I reluctantly released my hold on Hugo and smiled atHester. She hovered in front of my face for a few seconds then flew to my collarbone and burrowed against my skin. ‘I’m so glad you’re okay, Daisy. You’ve been out for a whole day.’
Otis piped up from the corner of the bedstead. ‘We were really worried.’
