Page 19 of To Win a Viscount's Heart
Connery tossed a sandwich to Joshua giving him a wink.
“Thank you, sir,” the boy said, grinning as he turned to complete his other chores.
Azure gave a soft snort and shook his mane. Gerald reached out and patted the horse, who seemed clearly agitated.
“Azure has the most unique eyes I’ve ever seen on a horse. He is well-named,” Connery said.
“They look like Selena’s eyes,” Gerald blurted. “Where could her father have found such a horse?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to check around. I have a feeling Azure is descended from a strong line. Might be worth having.” Connery chuckled. “Well, that is…might be worth having another one around. I keep forgetting she’s your betrothed.”
“She’s nothing like I remember. She’s…”
“Beautiful,” Connery finished.
“Yes, she is,” Gerald said as he fed Azure an apple.
“Aye, and no matter what she’s been through, she’s a resilient lass.”
“Yes, she is that too.”
The sound of a throat clearing drew their attention. Gerald turned and saw the doctor approaching, a grave expression on his face. “Doctor Baker, I was going to head to my study to await you.”
“Your footman told me you were out here, and I wanted to tell you as soon as I could.” The older man took a deep breath. “I must apologize, Lord Lawrence. It seems that when I initially cleaned Miss Bowles’ head wound, I thought I had removed all the dirt and debris. But her fever indicates an infection has set in. I reopened the wound and found a small bit of gravel that I had missed.” He shook his head. “I think it may have caused the problem.” He paused. “That may be why I had not spotted that gravel that had gotten lodged in the wound. But I am so sorry that I missed it.”
Gerald listened and then, nodded. “Her hair was so matted with rain and mud that night. And there was so much blood, I can imagine that made it more difficult to treat the wound.”
“But I do have hopeful news. Her fever has already begun to come down. She is a strong young lady, and although it willtake time, I have every reason to believe she will recover. She will require a great deal of care and attention in the meantime.”
“She won’t lack for that,” Gerald promised.
“Prior to her fever, did you notice any change in her memory?”
“Nothing concrete, but possibly disturbing. This morning, she was crying in her sleep…” Gerald explained what Selena had said in her feverish state.
The doctor regarded him. “I agree. Her statements are alarming.”
“Yes. And it was by chance that I heard it. We both fell asleep talking…mostly about what I knew about her family and telling her about mine. Somewhere in that, I nodded off in the chair. I woke with her crying about her father’s heir hurting her, and her mother being lost. I can only imagine what horror she’s gone through.” Gerald felt a fresh wave of anger wash over him. And he vowed to get to the bottom of who Percival was. His father would know more. At the moment, he could do nothing but wait for his parents to arrive.
“We thought seeing her horse might spark her memory,” Connery added. “Her father named the horse and had its reins embossed with a message from him and the horse’s name. I thought it could provide some sentimental leverage that could help with her memory.”
“That is an excellent idea. Once the fever has abated, in a few days, it would be good for Miss Bowles to see her horse again. In the meantime, I’ll be back later this afternoon to check on her. I know an apothecary who might have something that could prove useful to battle the infection. I’ll bring it with me when I return.”
“Thank you, Doctor Baker,” Gerald said, shaking the older man’s hand.
“Send for me immediately should anything happen. And I cannot overemphasize that she should not be left alone, given her condition,” the doctor added before taking his leave.
~*~
“Miss Selena, there just a few more sips of broth. Doctor Baker said it’s most important that you drink it,” Anna said.
“I can’t…I think I’ve had enough,” rasped Selena, leaning back against the pillow. “I feel like I’ve been punched in the head.”
“It’s the effects of the fever, Miss. The doctor missed a small fragment that had burrowed into the skin,” the maid replied.
“Did he reopen the wound?” Selena asked.
“Yes, Miss Selena,” Anna said. “Doctor Baker will return later to see you again.”” That was why her head hurt so much. What she wanted was company—specifically, she craved the viscount’s company. She leaned back against the pillow. “Well, let us hope, I’ll be awake next time the good doctor is here, so I can turn the tables and pick his brain,” she chuckled. “Oh, it hurts to laugh.”
