Page 22 of Lord Trafford's Folly
Stuff! Audrey was the second female he was allowing into his circle of valued chums in a handful of weeks. Fraternal bonds were reserved for … well … brothers. But after what the new baroness had done for his chum, Brendan, destroying her reputation to save him from the gallows, she had earned a place in his loyalties. Now Audrey had claimed her place, too, with her courageous intervention in his street battle yesterday morning before providing earnest care at his bedside. Julius was … feeling things … on her behalf.
Egad! Is this … compassion?
But how could he not feel for her? The young woman had lost her only parent, and was challenging societal conventions to secure her father’s legacy. It was laudable. And, if she succeeded in her quest, Audrey should be more than happy to be his estranged bride living at the Stirling estate.
This would be an excellent outcome because he had no wish to mature into a humorless adult, and certainly he had no wish to follow in the footsteps of his parents and their miserable marital situation.
How happy they had all been as a family in his youth, but when his father had become more and more encumbered with his dealings on behalf of the Crown, the happiness Julius shared with his kin had withered to ashes. He had not seen his little sister in years, his brother Pierce did not bother cominghome from Oxford, and his mother’s face was becoming a hazy memory. A fact that still filled him with a sense of desolate rage.
His thoughts were interrupted when Audrey crossed the room to ring the bell that summoned the servants, freeing Julius of the obligation to respond to Audrey’s tale of her frustrating crusade.
Audrey rangthe bell to order breakfast, reflecting that it had been pleasant to confess her hopes and dreams to someone. Julius had not been at all condescending to her plans, despite her being a woman, and he was respectful of her skills in medicine. He had obeyed her instructions, had he not? And, this morning, he had acknowledged her role in his recovery.
She had not been able to freely discuss her wishes since Papa’s death. Most members of polite society would have scoffed in horror at the notion of engaging in work, not to mention a female doing so. Somehow, she had guessed that Julius was not one of those members, perhaps because he had followed her directions without complaint. Yesterday he had asked questions about her treatment, but not resisted except expressing worry about her reputation.
It was … nice.
She felt seen for the first time since arriving in London. For the first time since Papa had died.
For a brief instant, tears threatened at the memory of her late parent discussing her future with her over tea in his study. She missed Papa with a fierce longing for days gone by, happier times when the future had been full of possibilities.
Mourning him while remaining idle in London had been the worst of options, one she herself would have advised herpatients against. But she had been biding her time and taking advantage of her proximity to the guild until she received her inheritance.
Perhaps she should inform Lord Stirling of her wishes?
Perhaps Julius or the earl would write a letter of recommendation on her behalf, if she needed to reapply?
It had been a while since she had considered her situation with optimism, but after treating Julius successfully and admitting her vision of the future, Audrey’s spirits were uplifted.
She tidied the tea tray and collected the swabs from the table by the patient’s bed. She hummed as she carried out the chores, feeling quite cheerful about her patient’s healing while he lay dozing.
Retrieving a fresh bandage and her jar of honey, Audrey roused him to sit up with her help, then unwound his bandage before lowering him back down. She scrutinized the sutured laceration and was satisfied with what she found. Julius was healing.
Audrey swabbed the injury and had reapplied the dressing when Patrick and Rose both arrived at the door. Both servants looked pleased to find Julius awake. She requested fresh sheets and the breakfast they both required. The servants departed the room, but as soon as the door shut behind them, Audrey recollected that she needed her gown and underthings. She could hardly remain in men’s garments now that her patient was awake!
She raced across the room to fling the door open, hoping to catch Patrick or Rose before they disappeared down the servants’ stairs. Finding the two of them embracing in the hall startled the wits out of her!
The couple leapt apart, nonplussed to have been discovered. Rose’s eyes were moist, as if she had been weeping, and Audrey realized Patrick had been comforting her.
All three of them stood in awkward silence, casting their eyes about while they considered what to say. After several ticking seconds, Audrey cleared her throat.
“Patrick, do you have my dry things?”
The servant swallowed hard, appearing relieved that Audrey was to pretend nothing had happened.
“Aye, Miss Gideon. I shall collect them along with the sheets.”
“All right … Thank you.” She nodded her head and hurried back into the chamber, shutting the door behind her with a decisive click.
Julius was watching her from the bed, having plumped his pillows to raise himself and stretched out his long, lean limbs. A huge grin split his face, and he was holding back laughter. His shoulders shook with the force of it, and Audrey had to fight back the urge to explore the muscular expanse with her eyes. It had been easier to treat such a handsome patient when he had been unconscious, and she was not so aware of his virility. Julius was a potent man when he was awake and his customary humor restored. To her dismay, she felt a blush creeping up her neck as she contemplated their respective half-dressed states and realized she was all alone with an eligible gentleman.
Julius found his voice, having seized control over the threatening laughter.
“You are pondering the nature of Patrick and Rose’s relationship?”
“Are they …” Audrey made clumsy gestures, her palms connecting in a suggestive manner.
“They have been married for at least twenty years.”
