The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 61

Lucia Beaumont currently presented a picture of tragic beauty.

Her face was stunning, yet she was painfully thin. A bandage wrapped around her head, and her gown was clearly ill-fitting.

But when Lady Forrester looked into her eyes, she saw the clarity and stillness of an autumn lake.

It was a gaze that made it impossible to dislike her.

"Are you calling for me, my lady?" Lady Forrester asked.

Lucia nodded. "My lady, I am of House Beaumont. I have urgent business at the castle gates. Could you grant me a boon and offer me a ride?"

Bonnie's eyes went wide.

Was her lady really trying to borrow a carriage from a stranger?

The older woman was unfamiliar, likely not the wife of a high-ranking noble. Otherwise, perhaps dropping Prince Jareth's name might have worked.

Surely this stranger would refuse.

Lady Forrester was equally taken aback.

She had never encountered such a bold request and opened her mouth, unsure of how to politely decline.

The girl looked pitiful enough, but one did not simply invite strangers into their carriage.

Lucia met her gaze and added, "There is sickness in your household, is there not? A stubborn illness that has filled you with worry."

Lady Forrester paled.

"How could you possibly know that?"

"Will you give me a ride?" Lucia asked. "I can explain everything on the way."

Lady Forrester gritted her teeth. "Please, step inside."

"Thank you, my lady."

Lucia extended a hand toward Bonnie, who jolted from her daze and quickly helped her mistress into the carriage.

Had that actually worked?

"Of course I know Physician Finch," Lady Forrester said, her eyes brightening. "I went to his estate just days ago, but they told me he had grown too old to go out to tend to others."

She had pleaded with the Finch household for hours, but they had remained steadfast, politely yet firmly asking her to leave.

"Return to his estate tomorrow, and Physician Finch will agree to see you. Consider it my repayment for this carriage ride."

Lucia felt no guilt whatsoever using the old physician as currency.

After all, her entire purpose for venturing out today was to save his grandson, Corin Finch.

Lady Forrester's eyes widened in shock. Her hands instinctively tightened around her handkerchief, her voice trembling. "Truly? You know the physician?"

Lucia nodded.

Seeing her lingering doubt, Lucia pressed on. "The patient is your daughter, is she not? You have been tending to her yourself these past few days. Did she not vomit upon you just this morning?"

"You..." Had they not been in a moving carriage, Lady Forrester would have leapt to her feet.

Even if the girl had investigated her family, how could she know such intimate details? How could she know what had happened in her private chambers only hours ago?