Page 75 of A Duke Under Her Spell
“And glad of it I am,” Felix answered, offering his hand in friendship and gratitude to both brothers. “Thank you.”
“She is not out of danger yet. Such wounds are susceptible to sepsis. She will have a long time of healing to get through,” Alexander warned, suddenly looking very tired.
The sound of more horses fell upon their ears and Ewan arose to look out of the window. “’Tis the men we took captive for the magistrate.”
“Lock them up in the stables until the magistrate arrives,” Felix instructed. He was not willing to leave Marybeth’s side and held her close, laying his cheek against the side of her head in hopes of offering some comfort. Ewan nodded and went out to inform his brothers.
They did not have to wait very long before Thomas returned with both the magistrate and a physician. Marybeth’s brothers acted as makeshift constables and aided the magistrate in getting the men back to town. Alexander and Thomas were the only ones who remained behind. The doctor inspected Marybeth’s wound and did his best to treat it. “It appears that you gentlemen have saved this young lady’s life. That is, if she does not develop the fever. She will need to be kept a close eye on.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Felix replied in relief. “Would you mind looking in on my mother?” Felix explained what had happened and the precautions he had taken.
“Do not thank me, Your Grace. There is still a chance that she could die,” the doctor warned. “She will need to be kept under close observation. She will need someone to sit with her night and day. At any sign of fever, you send for me immediately. For now, keep caring for her as you are, and I will leave instructions for her care with your manservant. Your Grace, My Lord,” the doctor bowed to each of them in turn then left the room to see to the Dowager Duchess’s care.
Felix slid out from behind Marybeth. “I must go and hear what the doctor has to say about Mother’s condition.”
“I will stay here with Marybeth. I will send for you if her condition worsens,” Alexander promised.
“I will return momentarily. I will not be above stairs for very long.” Felix left the library and climbed the stairs to his mother’s bedchamber.
The doctor administered his own curatives for the Dowager Duchess as best he could, but there was not much that he could do that Felix had not already done. “You have a precarious situation on your hands, Your Grace,” the doctor warned.
“Are you telling me that both of the women I love in this world could die?”
“Yes, it is quite possible that you will lose them both, but do not lose hope, Your Grace.”
Felix nodded at the doctor’s reply, took notes on methods of treatment for both women, then showed the doctor to the door. “I will return upon the morrow to ensure that all are recovering as they should,” the doctor promised, doffing his hat, then he was gone.
Felix returned to the library to check on Marybeth, having left the Dowager Duchess in the care of Mrs. Taylor. “Mr. Wheatly, it would be best if Mrs. Snow’s body was removed from the Dowager Duchess’s room immediately.”
“Yes, of course, Your Grace. I will have it seen to right away.” Mr. Wheatly scurried from the room to do as bidden.
Felix looked over to where the Earl had sat before the magistrate had taken him, and his mind turned to Lord Enfield. As if he could read Felix’s thoughts, Alexander stepped forward and said, “We must go and find our father. He must answer for what he had done.”
Felix nodded his head. “Yes, he must. I cannot leave Arkley Hall with Marybeth and my mother as they are.”
Alexander shook his head. “This is a family matter. You do not want to be present for what is going to happen. Stay here. Care for your mother and our sister. We will return as soon as is possible.”
Felix nodded his head and shook hands with both men. “Will you all be going?”
“Yes, we have made arrangements to meet our other brothers upon the road once they have finished with the magistrate.”
“I wish you good fortune in your hunt.”
“Take care of our sister. We have grown quite fond of her,” Thomas instructed shaking the Felix’s hand.
“I will.”
Nodding, both brothers kissed Marybeth on the top of the head and then rode off down the drive. Felix had no doubt that by the end of the day Lord Enfield would have drawn his last breath.
Chapter 34
Felix sat by Marybeth’s side all the rest of the day and night, interwoven with frequent trips above stairs to look in on his mother. Both women struggled for life. Felix attempted to remember everything that Marybeth had taught him about medicinal herbs and instructed Mrs. Taylor on how to make his mother’s treatments. Oliver lay sleeping on the settee in the library, waking up at intervals to sit with Marybeth so that Felix could provide care for his mother. Felix’s world felt as if it were crashing down around him.
Despite Felix’s best efforts, Marybeth developed a fever in the night. Felix did his best to replicate the recipe for the garlic and honey poultice that she had used on Oliver’s head wound. He smeared the foul smelling concoction onto the bullet wound. He made willow bark tea with honey and did his best to get it into her. Upon his request, some of the maids came in with bathing supplies and a clean nightdress. Felix and Oliver stepped out of the room, allowing for some privacy.
The act of bathing was twofold. The cool water helped to bring her temperature down and a clean body was less likely to become infected. Marybeth looked like a new woman once the blood had been washed from her, showing her pale skin that had been hidden beneath the crimson stain. Once her bath was complete, Felix and Oliver returned to the library to stand guard by her side. Oliver fell back to sleep on the settee. Felix slept in the chair beside Marybeth.
As Felix slept, he dreamed of all the horrors that had been visited upon them by the Earl of Bredon’s greed. As he roused himself from the nightmare, he awoke to find Lord Enfield standing across from him staring down at Marybeth, a knife in one hand and pistol in the other. Felix jumped up in surprised horror. “Get away from her!” he demanded.
