The Lady Nun Vows Revenge by Caroline Rowland

The Silent 261

Chapter 261

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The moment Nolan mentioned a headache, Eliza didn't even have time to react to how intimate he'd just sounded calling her by name. Her expression changed instantly as she asked with urgency, "A headache? What kind of pain? Does it come in waves, or is it constant and sharp?"

Nolan replied, "It comes and goes... like there are dozens of voices shouting inside my head. It's loud. It hurts."

He stared straight at her. The man who was always poised and untouchable now looked like a wounded wolf-lost, fragile, trying to bare his pain to the only human he trusted.

Eliza had never seen Nolan like this.

Even that first time by the stream on the back hill, when she'd witnessed one of his episodes, he'd still kept some degree of clarity. But now? It was like he'd peeled off every layer of defense, exposing his most vulnerable side completely to her.

Her heart ached. She reached out to check his forehead, then gently took his pulse. "Shh, it's okay. I'll read scripture for you -just sit quietly and listen. The pain will go away soon."

But Nolan, apparently struck by a rebellious streak, suddenly caught her wrist just as she was pulling her hand back. His voice was low and rough.

"Eliza... I don't want scripture."

"Then what do you want?" she asked, slightly thrown.

Of course, when someone's ill, they get to make the call.

But halfway through that question, she realized something was off. "Wait... did you just call me Eliza?"

Hadn't he always called her Serenity?

Across from her in the carriage, Nolan sat still, eyes dark and unreadable.

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, after a long pause, he said again, "My head... it hurts..."

She didn't know if it was part of the illness or just him pretending to be dazed, but he kept murmuring the same thing, like a broken record.

thought-maybe it was

"If you don't want scripture... do you want

voice turned soft again, pleading. "My head hurts. No medicine... not enough. "That

it out now? Was it

weren't ready. And

hidden in her pocket farm... if she

"my head

Eliza froze.

"What?"

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Chapter 261

Was he testing her? Since when did touching

of an actual episode, she'd have sworn he was just faking it

Still, she didn't answer.

slumped his head low and murmured, "You won't

She didn't respond.

scalp. Her fingers threaded carefully through his soft silver hair as she asked, "Is this okay? Too much pressure? Am

perfect... not too much... you didn't pull. It hurts just a little-but when you touch

gave a faint

remembered the pressure points Mary had taught her. Combining that with a bit of massage technique actually seemed

fingers along his scalp, carefully seeking

Even with the rattling wheels outside, the soft sound of Nolan's steady breathing

looked up-he was

sure he was soundly resting,

at the tension that lingered on his brow, she hesitated for a moment, then quietly reached into her pocket farm and pulled

and carefully held it

defenseless. When she lightly tapped the bottle to his mouth, his lips

wiped the edge of his lips with

the stillness-soft and low, as

worry," she said gently. "Your

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