Page 15 of Only a Lyon Will Do
Asher let out a laugh. “Of course, a pretty face would cheer you. Tell me of her.”
Gideon gave a heavy sigh. “She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
“There are plenty of beautiful women in the world, brother. I’m not certain a nurse is who would be best for you. They have a reputation—”
“She’s not like that. Don’t you dare speak ill of her since you know nothing about her,” Gideon said firmly with a clenched fist.
“You are right. My apologies,” Asher declared trying to pacify his brother.
“Dr. Thornberry thinks very highly of the nurses he hires. He prides himself on providing the best of care, and he would not expose his patients to anyone disreputable. I’m certain you already know how much you’ve had to pay for all he is providing,” Gideon said as he ran his fingers through his sandy colored hair.
Asher nodded. “I will have to take your word for it since I have not met the lady.”
“She has been kind to me, Ash,” Gideon began, “not even flinching when she saw the scar left on my face. I won’t even discuss the limp the war has left me with.”
“I hate what your time serving our country has done to my carefree sibling.”
“Those days of me being carefree are long past gone, Asher,” Gideon replied turning to look at him. “What woman would have me as I am now?”
“Any of them would be lucky to have you,” he proclaimed.
A heavy sigh left his brother. “No woman in her right mind would be able to look past this scar.”
Asher reached over to take Gideon’s forearm. “The right woman won’t even notice it. Personally, I’m more concerned with the mental wounds you continue to deal with.”
A sob left his brother. “Two years of my life, Ash!” he moaned in frustration. “Do you know what’s it’s like to have no memory of your existence for so long?”
“If I could take away that pain, you know I would. I’m just thankful my brother still lives,” Asher replied wishing there was more he could do for him. He went to the bell cord and gave it a tug. If his nurse would brighten up Gideon’s mood, then so be it. A servant entered shortly thereafter. “Please send for my brother’s nurse. Now… let’s get you dressed.”
“I don’t want to get dressed,” Gideon complained turning his head away from his brother.
“Mother will be here soon with her carriage. As I said, it’s a lovely day and the weather is holding. Maybe we can convince her to take you for a short ride to get you out of here for a while until Dr. Thornberry feels comfortable enough to allow you to come home.”
“It’s all I want, Ash. I just want to go home,” Gideon said as he sat up and began to dress.
“Soon, Gideon. Soon, you’ll be back where you belong,” Asher answered letting Gideon dress himself. The more he did without any assistance, the faster Asher could take him home. Now, they just waited for his brother’s nurse. Hopefully, this woman would once again put a smile on Gideon’s face.
Chapter Eleven
Patience finished tyingthe bandage around the woman’s shoulder to keep her broken arm in place. Her gaze went to the doctor who watched her from the other side of the bed, and he nodded his approval. The lady had been recovering from a recent illness and the plan had been to allow her to finally return home. That was until she slipped and fell. With a broken arm, Lady Kennedy had moaned about her fate of not being allowed to go home now that she was injured again.
“Good job, Mrs. Moore. I couldn’t have prepared that sling any better,” Dr. Thornberry said taking off his spectacles and nodding to his patient. “Keep this on to help your arm stay immobile, Lady Kennedy.”
“I just want to go home, Dr. Thornberry,” Lady Kennedy complained.
The doctor nodded. “I see no reason why your son and daughter can’t take you home. They’re already waiting downstairs. I’ll come over to your townhouse in two weeks’ time to examine the bone to see how it’s mending. There’s no need to return here. I believe your stay at my convalescent home is at an end.”
“Thank you, Dr. Thornberry. I’m so very thankful for the care you’ve given me but I must admit, I’m looking forward to finally returning home,” the lady said as Patience assisted her to stand.
“Would you be so good as to see Lady Kennedy to the front door before you make the rest of your rounds, Mrs. Moore?” the doctor asked.
“It would be my pleasure,” Patience answered before she began to walk with the woman. The lady began to prattle on about her adult children and all the things she planned to do once her arm healed and she could resume her normal duties in her own household.
“You’ve been a dear, Mrs. Moore,” the lady declared.
“Please be careful when you get home and don’t overdo things, Lady Kennedy. You will still need time to rest and heal,” Patience said before the butler opened the door for the woman to leave while her son and daughter each took care to help her outside.
The lady waved her good arm in a farewell as another carriage pulled to the front of the townhouse. Patience returned the gesture as she waited inside the door. Captain Tyler’s mother alit from the conveyance and entered the foyer.
