Page 35 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“Come now, sir, let us get you indoors,” Phillip added, leading the physician indoors before he got his answer.
“By the gods, where did that storm come from?” Mr Lewis said, shaking his coat, soaked from the heavy downpour. “I’m here for Lady Beatrice, of course.”
“The children?” Phillip questioned, unravelling himself from his heavy outdoor coat too. “I had no idea … why … who sent for you?”
“Ah, that would be the young Miss Alice,” Mr Lewis replied, handing his dripping coat over to William, who’d arrived to greet them in the large hallway.
“I see, then we had better get up to the children’s bedchamber at once,” Phillip said, leading the way. “She will no doubt be in there.”
“Oh, I doubt that, Lord Phillip,” Mr Lewis told him, following him up the stairway. “She’ll still be out in that storm, I imagine.”
“What? William!” he called out halfway up the stairs. “Is the governess returned yet?”
“I find it unlikely, my boy,” Mr Lewis intervened. “Miss Alice insisted that she would take her time with the mare. Ran it to the ground to get me, you see. Pair of them were all but collapsed.”
The physician’s words alarmed Phillip because the brewing storm was a bad one. He continued up the stairs, leading Mr Lewis to the children’s room. When they entered, Nanny was in the room, sitting by Lady Beatrice’s bedside.
“Betsy, will you please inform Mr Lewis of what has been happening with Beatrice?” Phillip asked, looking down at the feverish child.
Betsy nodded and began to speak with the doctor in a hushed voice.
“Can I leave you to it, Mr Lewis?” Phillip queried before he left the room.
“Yes, yes, my boy.” The physician nodded, taking off his hat. “All is in hand.”
Phillip dashed out of the room and back down the stairway, only to be met by Lady Davina.
“Ah, Phillip, what is all the noise? And where are you dashing off to in such a hurry?” she asked.
Phillip didn’t reply immediately as he went to retrieve his wet coat from the hanger.
“Good God! You cannot be going outside in that storm?” Lady Davina called out.
“I am going out to look for Miss Alice,” he replied, not even bothering to look at her. “She is out there in that storm.” As he said the words, he could feel his anxiety increasing at the thought of Miss Alice alone in the storm.
“Do not be such a fool!” Lady Davina snapped. “You cannot go risking life and limb to rescue a servant from a little rain.”
“Have you looked through the window, Davina?” he snapped back at her, only wanting her to get out of his way. “It is a tad more than a little rain.”
“But the woman chose to go out against my advice. She should have sent one of the stable boys, and you should do the same,” she suggested, grabbing his arm to stop him.
He shook her off, glaring down at her. “Unhand me! I do not require your advice in this matter,” he growled, his eyes narrowing as if to threaten her.
“I will go and find Eli. He will talk some sense into you,” she squealed, backing away from him.
“Every person in this house who works under me is my responsibility,” he told her, his senses numbed with worry. “I would do the same for any of them.”
With his last word, he dashed out the door, only to be battered by a howling gale. The storm had picked up, but he ignored it, making his way through the lashing rain and heading for the stables.
“Lord Phillip? What are you doing?” a voice called out as he entered and dashed to saddle up his horse.
“I am going to search for Miss Alice. She is still out there,” he replied, not stopping what he was doing because he wanted nothing but speed.
“Let me organise a search party. You cannot be going out there, Lord Phillip!” one of his stable hands begged him.
Phillip turned to see who was trying to delay him, only to find himself confronted by a large man. It was Finnegan, his head groom.
“You can send anyone who wishes to join me, but I am leaving now. They can follow on behind,” Phillip told him, continuing to mount his horse. “I have no time to waste. There is a lady out there, alone in this storm. I must find her.”
