“Yes, Your Grace,” Roman replied.
“Dr Frederick, let’s not waste any more of our time. I was told you were not at home when our steward got to your house. You need your rest,” the Duchess said.
I do.
Dr Frederick nodded. He bowed to the Duke and Duchess and walked to the door. When he got to the door, he looked back.
“I would advise that you rest very well, Your Grace. What I did was not a permanent solution. It just managed that situation. We need to avoid that sort of attack.”
The Duke nodded. Dr Frederick nodded back and walked out of the room. Roman was carrying a brown envelope.
“I’ll take it to your carriage for you, Dr Frederick. Follow me,” Roman said.
“Thank you, Roman,” Dr Frederick replied.
Chapter 26
Finish What We Started.
Dr Frederick rode carefully. It was evening, and he was tired. He just wanted to get home and sleep. The past few days had been draining. Dr Frederick saw someone standing by the entrance door from a distance.
A woman, who is ill?
Most times, men were sent to call for him. Anytime a woman made the trip, it was always a dire situation. Dr Frederick wasn’t sure he had the strength to leave his home again. As he got closer, he realised it wasn’t just any woman.
It is Helena.
She was wearing a black scarf that she hung from her hair down her neck in a cover-up that covered her face. Her gown was grey and looking old, not something that Dr Frederick had ever expected someone like her to wear. If it was another woman, he might not have recognised her, but Helena, he would know her if she dressed with stars. Something was wrong that made her disguise herself this way.
“Helena,” he said when he got to his house, “what bad turn of events has made you dress in such a way?”
Miss Helena dropped the scarf so her face showed properly.
“I thought you would not recognise me, no one did,” she replied.
Dr Frederick laughed.
“It’ll take more than a long scarf and a faded gown for me not to know you anymore,” Dr Frederick said.
He dismounted, tied his horse to the balcony, and went to his door.
“I have knocked incessantly, thinking you were in. No one replied,” Helena said.
Dr Frederick walked to the door and knocked again.
“Frank, it’s Dr Frederick.”
After waiting a short while with no answer, Dr Frederick went around the back and picked up the spare key under the empty flower vase. He came back around and opened the door. He entered and looked outside. Miss Helena still stood outside, awaiting his invitation.
“You can come in, Helena.”
She nodded and walked inside slowly. Dr Frederick locked the door behind her.
“You can sit, Helena. Please spare me a few moments.”
Dr Frederick went in and dropped his tool box. He went to his sink and washed his face before coming back to the sitting room and met Miss Helena sitting on the cushion. Dr Frederick contemplated sitting beside her but decided against it.
“I’m surprised you are here, Helena. I wasn’t expecting you.”