Page 54 of A Duke in the Rough

Dr. Marbry looked toward Andrew and raised a questioning brow.

“Oh, for goodness’ sakes.” Honoria’s patience had worn thin. “Now is not the time to worry about propriety. Mr. Merrick is the besthorseman here. If anyone can get Anne safely back to Hartridge House without further injury, it is he.”

“Not only that,” Burwood added, “there is no man here I would trust more with a woman’s virtue than Mr. Merrick. I personally vouch for him.”

Honoria glanced over at her father who stood next to Lord Harcourt. He opened his mouth as if to protest Burwood’s accolades, but under the circumstances must have thought better of it and remained silent.

“Very well,” Mr. Weatherby said.

Drake climbed over the fallen trees to the other side while Mr. Weatherby gathered Anne in his arms. After much back and forth transferring poor Anne’s body, which still did not rouse her, Drake mounted Simon’s horse and had Anne settled on his lap. Anne’s head rested against his chest while he supported her, one arm wrapped around her waist.

As Honoria watched him ride off, she was certain of one thing. Drake’s sense of honor and responsibility would steer his course—away from her. And if Anne didn’t survive—well, he would shut himself off emotionally to everyone. Whatever the outcome—good or bad—Anne’s fall had changed everything.

CHAPTER 16

Drake stood in the corner of Anne’s bedroom as Ashton examined her. Andrew paced the floor around the bed. Alice Weatherby tried to comfort her husband. Drake wanted to meld into the wall and disappear, but he refused to leave Anne’s side.

All my fault.

Had his careless words led Anne to believe he had genuine interest in her?

He’d recognized the look of infatuation in Anne’s eyes as they rode toward the hunt. Had she tried to impress him? To win him over by exhibiting her prowess on horseback?

Or was bravado more of a masculine thing? Drake was too unschooled in the ways of women to know.

When he had cradled her against his chest on the ride back—trying desperately not to jostle her too badly—he stared into her face. With her eyes closed, if he focused on her hair alone, he could almost imagine she was Honoria.

If only she would wake up!

The duke straightened and turned toward Andrew. “There’s nothing to do but wait. Her breathing seems normal, and her pulse is strong and steady.” He put a hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “Good signs,Andrew. Her brain is more than likely repairing itself from the trauma, and to do so, it shuts down.” Ashton placed his stethoscope back into his medical bag. “I recommend someone stay with her at all times to alert either me or Dr. Marbry when she wakes. We shall know more then.”

“When? Not if?” Andrew asked, his voice conveying the hope they all felt.

Ashton nodded. “When. Let us remain positive for Anne’s sake.”

Weariness lined Andrew’s face, the slump of his shoulders supporting the effect.

“We must trust Harry, Andrew. Go rest, I’ll sit with her,” Alice said. She, too, looked as if a slight breeze might blow her over.

Drake stepped away from the wall. “I’ll stay with her. You should both get some rest.”

Ashton canted his head, understanding shining in his eyes. “It might be best for a woman to sit with her.”

Drake’s ears burned. “Of course. For propriety. I wasn’t thinking. I just want to dosomething.”

“My mother should be notified. In case . . .” Andrew didn’t need to finish the statement. “I live in Kent, but my mother is visiting a friend in Lyme for the summer. If someone could fetch her . . .”

Alice wrapped an arm around her husband’s waist.

“I’ll go,” Drake said. At least he would have a mission, something to occupy his mind. “As for someone to sit with Miss Weatherby, I trust no one more than Lady Honoria. She has a level head and a calm manner.”

“She does indeed,” Ashton said. “An excellent suggestion.”

Andrew wrote a brief message to his mother and gave it to Drake with her location and friend’s name.

Grateful he saw no blame in Andrew’s eyes, Drake assured him he would make haste. “Let me fetch Lady Honoria so you may rest. Then I’ll be on my way immediately.”

Drake didn’t have to go far to find Honoria. She had gathered several doors away with Lady Charlotte and Lady Miranda. With solemn faces, they turned toward him.

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