cozy, pretty bedroom in her new home.
"Monsieur the Marquis?"
The girl instinctively pulled her hand back, feeling that she should be afraid of the man before her. But why? She racked her brain trying to recall what had happened before she arrived here, but it was like a fog veiled her memories, blocking her gaze into the past. Her head throbbed, so she gave up trying to think further.
"What has happened to me?" she asked the Marquis de Sèvremont.
"You fell ill, my daughter. When the nun woke the students this morning, she found you lying still in bed. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that you had a high fever. To make it easier to take care of you, I immediately brought you back home," the Marquis replied smoothly and naturally.
"So, I was found in bed?" Fiona murmured softly, sensing that something was amiss but unable to pinpoint why.
The maid, Mother Susan, approached and gently changed the cloth on Fiona''s forehead.
The little girl felt hot, instinctively wanting to throw off the heavy-scented silk coverlet d□□d over her.
"You need to sweat, dear Miss Fiona," Mother Susan said, pressing down on her hand, smiling and shaking her head.
"But I feel so hot," Fiona sighed irritably.
"Let me blow on you, soon you won''t feel hot anymore," the Marquis, sitting by the bedside, bent down and earnestly breathed onto her petite forehead, causing a few stray strands of hair to flutter, tickling her face.
"Am I some kind of hot sweet cookie?" Fiona laughed at this playful side of her usually dignified father.
"You are my little sweetheart, exclusively mine, Fiona." The Marquis''s expression was serious, yet his gaze upon her eyes was filled with a smile.
She reached out and touched his large hand. "Stay and talk with me, Father," the girl cooed with her melting voice.
"Of course, little princess. I''ll be here for as long as you want. As for the school, I''