Page 55 of A Lady's Propitious Match
He tumbled to the ground in a heap. Nothing like the stoic powerful man that Christopher had always known him to be.
“Oh my! Lord Belmont…”
Without a second thought, Christopher raced across the misty field to where Reginald had crumpled, his fury replaced by asurge of concern. Elliott, swift and decisive, joined him at Lord Belmont’s side.
The once formidable Earl lay pallid, his labored breathing a stark contrast to the tension that had marked their confrontation moments ago. The weight of societal expectations and the impending duel now seemed trivial in the face of this sudden medical crisis.
Elliott, ever pragmatic, assessed the situation with a keen eye. “Christopher, this seems more than a consequence of the duel. The Earl is in the midst of a serious medical crisis.”
Christopher nodded, the urgency of the situation propelling them into swift action. Reginald’s pallor spoke volumes, and the gravity of the moment demanded immediate attention.
“Support him,” Christopher instructed, his voice edged with urgency. With Elliott’s help, they cradled Reginald between them. The once formidable adversary now leaned heavily on their combined strength, his breathing shallow and labored. “Let us get him to the carriages.”
The servants, waiting at a distance, moved swiftly to fulfill his command. As the carriages arrived, Christopher and Elliott carefully maneuvered Reginald in to one of them before taking him to his home where they could finally summon a physician to take care of him.
“Do you think he will be alright?” Elliot asked Christopher quietly, but Christopher did not have the strength, or the answer, to give his friend what he wanted.
His father had not made it, but that did not mean everyone would meet the same fate…
Or so he hoped.
The corridors of Reginald’s home felt like a silent echo chamber as Christopher paced anxiously. The misty dawn had given way to the subdued light filtering through the windows, casting shadows on the walls.
The physician arrived with a quiet urgency, and Christopher stood in the hallway, a silent sentinel awaiting news. The closed doors felt like a barrier between him and the answers he sought.Elliott, equally apprehensive, stood beside him as they shared the weight of uncertainty.
Neither of them dared to say a word because they were both so anxious.
Time seemed to stretch as Christopher strained to hear any indication of the examination within. The hushed murmurs and shuffling sounds beyond the door only fueled his anxiety.
At long last, the door creaked open, and the physician emerged, his expression grave. Christopher’s heart skipped a beat as he awaited the verdict that could alter the course of lives forever.
“The Earl has suffered a serious heart attack,” the physician began, his tone measured and somber. Christopher felt the gravity of the words settle over him like a heavy cloak. “Rushing him home before things progressed likely saved his life.”
Relief and disbelief warred within Christopher. The fragility of life, the thin thread that separated the living from the departed, had suddenly become starkly evident. Reginald, the formidable Earl, had faced a perilous precipice, and the choices made in the misty dawn had become a decisive factor in the continuation of his life.
The news of Reginald’s condition struck like a thunder clap, echoing through the grand halls of the estate. Lady Estelle Belmont, overcome by the weight of the revelation, dissolved into hysterical tears. Christopher stood in the midst of the emotional storm, his mind a whirlwind of gratitude and disbelief.
Amidst the commotion, Clara rushed from the room, her usually composed demeanor shattered by the news of her father’s serious condition. Christopher felt the urgent need to be near her, to share in the relief that their swift actions had brought a reprieve from tragedy.
In the hallway, Clara’s eyes, glistening with a mix of emotions, met Christopher’s. Without a word, she threw herself into his arms, and he held her tightly.
“Thank you so much,” she muttered quietly to him. “You have saved my father, even after everything that he has done to you. I will always be grateful to you for that. You have no idea.”
