Page 13 of Drowned in the Pleasure of a Devilish Baron
Is she breathing?
He held his own breath while he waiting and then let it out in a relieved whoosh when he felt the soft brush of her breath against his hand.
What next?
With steady movements, he picked the shards of glass from her hair, brushing them from her gown as well. His hands hovered over her. Had she broken her neck?
Unsure if what he was doing was helping or capable of hurting, he placed light fingers along her neck, feeling for something broken or sharp. It seemed fine, but what did he know about broken bones?
With just a finger, he slapped her cheek lightly, hoping it would wake her. She didn’t even stir.
Where is the physician?
Full of nervous energy, he swept clean the broken glass and wiped up the spilled tea, taking the crockery to the kitchen, frequently returning to the drawing room to check on Mrs. Clay. The cook wouldn’t be back the rest of the day; he was entirely alone in the house aside from his housekeeper.
The entire day had passed without Mrs. Clay waking and without his coachman returning with the physician and night had fallen. His housekeeper was still breathing, but her breath sounded labored, and he worried she was worsening without real attention.
At one point in the afternoon, her eyes had fluttered and opened briefly, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling above her, but they had closed again and she hadn’t responded to Felix at all.
He was leaning on his hand at the window, where he was well-placed to keep an eye on her while looking out at the drive for the physician. His eyes were growing heavy, it had been a very long, very stressful day; he closed them for just a moment.
And awoke to the sound of voices in the front drive. He jerked awake and sat up quickly. There—the physician was striding up, looking harried and disheveled, holding a bag.
Felix ran to the door and threw it open. “In here.”
“What happened?” the physician asked, passing him without a glance and going directly to Mrs. Clay.
“She fell down the stairs,” he said. “She hasn’t woken up since except to open her eyes only once. She wouldn’t wake no matter what I did.”
“You can wait in the dining room. I’ll come get you after I’ve finished examining her.”
Relieved to be thus excused, Felix went to the dining room, sitting heavily in one of the chairs and dropping his head into his hands.
What a day.
The physician wasn’t long in coming to speak with him.
“She’s broken a rib, possibly two, and bumped her head quite hard. I can’t say for certain whether she will wake, but I believe she will. Call for me when she does and I’ll look in on her then,” he said, already moving to the door.
“Wait.” Felix leapt up. “What do I do until then? How do I care for her?”
“Try and spoon a little water through her lips. Is there a lady of the house? They tend to excel at this sort of task,” he answered, pulling on his hat. “No food.”
At the blasé manner of the physician, rushing out already, Felix’s temper rose. “How can you be in such a rush after it took you so long to get here?” he asked. “I waited for you all day.”
The physician put a hand on Felix’s shoulder. “My arriving sooner would not have made a difference. But I do apologize. There was a carriage accident. I was needed to tend to some terrible injuries. I came as soon as I could.”
“I am sorry,” Felix said, chastened. “I didn’t know.”
“You couldn’t have known.” he moved again to leave, paused and looked back. “I’ll be by tomorrow morning, as soon as I’ve seen to the others I tended today,” he said kindly.
Feeling dazed, Felix walked slowly back into his home, wondering what to do with himself now.
Is there a lady of the house?The physician had asked.I hope there will be soon. This task needs a lady’s touch.
His head jerked up.Lady of the house. Sarah. My God.
He had completely forgotten about going to see Sarah. Felix moved quickly back into the yard, thinking to mount Acorn and go there directly. He would explain, she would understand. Sarah had the kindest heart of anyone he knew, barring perhaps his sister.
