Free Shaken to the Core by Jae Page B

see.” Miss Kate looked at the books that had fallen on top of Giuliana when she must have grabbed them on her way down, trying to hold on to something. A tiny smile quirked her lips. “It seems the books didn’t appreciate your attempt to dust them. Did they attack you?”
    Despite her embarrassment and the pain in her ankle, Giuliana couldn ’t help returning the smile. “Yes. They jumped on me when I did not look.”
    Miss Kate chuckled. “I knew it—you have a sense of humor after all.”
    Giuliana bit her lip. At home, she’d been known for her sense of humor, but lately, there hadn’t been much reason for laughter—or anyone to share it with.
    “You are hurt,” Miss Kate said, obviously misinterpreting the cause of Giuliana’s pained expression. “Let me see.”
    “I am good. No need to—”
    “Let me see,” Miss Kate repeated.
    So she could sound like her strict mother if she wanted. Giuliana dropped her hands from around her ankle.
    Carefully, Miss Kate reached out and pushed the hem of Giuliana’s dress up a little. “Can you…um…” She cleared her throat. “…take off your stocking so I can see the ankle?” A reddish color stained her normally fair face.
    They were both women, so there was no reason to blush. At least that was what Giuliana told herself as she reached beneath her dress, undid the garter that held her left stocking in place, and rolled down the cotton garment. But she could feel the heat creeping up her neck anyway.
    Neither looked at the other. Instead, they both kept their gazes fixed on Giuliana’s ankle.
    “That doesn’t look good,” Miss Kate said, sounding a little hoarse, as if she were regarding a mortal wound. “It’s starting to swell. Let me get you some ice from the ice box.”
    When she wanted to get up, Giuliana clutched her arm. Then, suddenly aware of how inappropriate grabbing a lady’s arm was for a maid, she let go. “No please. I do not want your parents to know.”
    “But you need—”
    “The leg is all good. See?” Giuliana pushed herself to her feet and took a wobbly step. Pain shot up her leg, but she ignored it.
    “You call that good? You’re limping. You need to be seen by a doctor.”
    Giuliana wildly shook her head. She had enough of doctors for the time being. Besides, she didn’t want to waste her hard-earned money. “It is not so bad. I rest it all day tomorrow. By Monday morning, I will be like new.” She tried to limp to the door, but as soon as she put her full weight on her left leg, it buckled.
    Only Miss Kate’s quick reaction saved her from falling a second time. A surprisingly strong arm grabbed hold of Giuliana and kept her upright.
    Breathless, Giuliana peered at her from just inches away. “Thank you. I…”
    “You need a doctor,” Miss Kate said. “Don’t worry. I’ll pay for it. It happened during your work hours, after all, so the law says it’s my family’s responsibility.”
    Giuliana had never heard of such a law, but then again, she had also never before been employed. Her ankle throbbed in rhythm with the rapid beat of her heart. “But if a doctor comes here, your parents know I fell.”
    “I won’t call a doctor,” Miss Kate said with a glint in her eyes. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
    The hospital…The place where Turi had died. A shiver went through Giuliana. But Turi would have wanted her to take good care of herself, so she finally nodded. “All right.”
    “Um, your stocking.” Miss Kate pointed down to where the black stocking pooled around Giuliana’s left ankle.
    Her cheeks once again warming, Giuliana bent, pulled up the stocking over her knee, and fastened it to the garter strap. She put her right shoe back on and tried to wrestle her injured foot into the left one but quickly gave up. The foot was too swollen and didn’t fit, so she would have to carry her other shoe.
    “Ready?” Miss Kate had waited with her back to Giuliana to give her