Page 37 of A Gentleman's Reckoning
John ran through the settling dust and caught a glimpse of both orphans. They appeared to be clear of the pile of debris, but Gabriel was lying on the ground groaning, his arm at a funny angle. Timothy stood by him.
“I’m sorry, but I had to move you,” Timothy said, glancing up at John as though for reassurance. It was the first time the orphan had dropped his swagger and appeared afraid.
Though he did not yet fully understand what had happened, he set his hand on the boy’s shoulder to reassure him.
“You did very well, Timothy.” He got to one knee beside Gabriel. “You are uncomfortable now, but it looks like Timothy here saved your life.”
“Thank you,” Gabriel said, his eyes closed in pain.
“Never mind that.” Timothy bent down and patted Gabriel’s other shoulder, causing him to wince.
“Let’s leave him be for a moment.” John stood and turned to tell Geny to keep her distance, but she was gone. In her place was the boy he presumed to be her brother. “Where has your sister gone? Did she go for help?”
“She went to get Mr. Dowling,” the boy replied.
“Very good. Stay back, my lord.” He gestured to Timothy. “And you, too. It is unlikely for there to be more danger, but it is better to be safe.”
John put his hands on his hips and surveyed the pile of stones, then looked at the remainder of the wall, which now had a large opening in the middle. He surmised that any stones that were likely to fall had already done so. Through the hole, they had full view of the chapel. What appeared to be a heavy wooden sculpture of a saint lay at the top of the stones that had fallen into the stable. The wooden cross was still standing on the table inside the chapel, but the reredos had fallen into the stable and splintered to pieces. A smooth slab of stone was visible, leaning against the base of the table. Figuring there was nothing else he could do, he knelt back down again.
Gabriel’s eyes were filled with pain, and John held his uninjured hand, instinctively knowing that physical touch would help the boy to be less afraid. “Lady Eugenia has gone to get help. You need not worry about anything.”
John glanced behind him again, and still did not see Mr. Dowling. He had expected for him to have come running. The earl’s son had gone back to stand at the stable entrance, and he called out to him, “Do you see them yet?”
“My sister is returning, but Mr. Dowling is not beside her,” he called back.
“Go fetch for me one of the saddle blankets,” John said, forgetting for the moment that he was addressing a peer of the realm. The boy did so without hesitation and ran over to John carrying one, which John then placed over Gabriel. “It’s a bit uncomfortable now, but you will soon be as right as a trivet.”
Lady Geny arrived, looking pale. “Gabriel broke his arm?”
“I believe so, but were it not for Timothy, it could have been worse. Where is Mr. Dowling?”
Her face flashed in anger. “Missing. He had said he had an urgent correspondence to write, but he is not at his desk and Icould not find him anywhere. I will fetch the surgeon myself. I know where to find him.”
John hesitated. He should be the one going on such an errand, but he did not know where the surgeon lived and they needed to move quickly. He turned to her brother.
“My lord, you will accompany your sister.” It was not a question and not quite a command, but the boy went with her without comment.
Minutes after Geny had gone, Mr. Dowling finally made his appearance and stopped to stare at the gaping hole in the wall that revealed the humble benches inside the chapel. He stepped up to the blanket covering Gabriel. “I have just heard what happened. Lift the blanket so I might see.”
John did as the man asked without comment.
“It looks broken. I will go and fetch the surgeon.”
“You are late for that,” John said dryly. “Lady Eugenia has already gone with her brother to fetch him.”
“Why didn’t you stop her?” Mr. Dowling asked, turning on him. “The daughter to an earl should not be traipsing about the streets in search of a doctor.”
John raised his eyes to Mr. Dowling. “I believe Lady Eugenia’s compassion is too great to allow for any loss of time when it comes to an orphan who is suffering. I did not know where to find the doctor. Had you been on hand, I am certain she would happily have left the errand in your care.”
“Are you accusing me of something?” Mr. Dowling asked.
John looked down at Gabriel who was watching the exchange with dull eyes. “Of course not.”
For something to do, he laid his hand on the boy’s forehead, feeling for a fever, though he did not think one could get a fever from breaking one’s arm. The boy did feel hot. Dowling hesitated briefly then left, and John relaxed slightly.
Timothy was kicking at one of the stones, and he came over to them. “Why’d you go and poke at the wall, Gabe?”
John held up a hand. “That is something we will go into later when Gabriel has been taken care of by the doctor.”
