Page 30 of The Season for Loving
Chapter Seven
The doctor had been with Georgie for thirty long minutes, doing a thorough examination after her dunking in the frigid pond. Fergus had spent the whole time pacing the hall outside the room. He’d counted the floorboards three times and had memorized the patterns on the oriental carpet runner that stretched to the top of the stairs.
It was the longest half hour of his life.
While Georgie was, according to her, just fine, no one wanted to take any risks. The moment when her bonnet had disappeared into the dark, ice-encrusted water had been a nightmare come to life.
He heard a quick tread behind him and turned to see Bertie emerge from the top of the stairs. “Anything?” Bertie asked as he hurried to join him.
“He’s still with her. Christ, it’s taking forever.”
Bertie’s face was set in tight, worried lines. “I told Dr. Field to give her a complete check. We can’t take any chances with her lungs.”
Fergus leaned against the wall by the door. “I know. It’s just that seeing her go through the ice like that…”
Bertie looked like he might be sick. “Don’t remind me. God, if anything were to happen to her, I don’t know what I’d do.”
Fergus knew, though, that Georgie was stronger than they gave her credit for. It was time he started remembering that. It was time they all started remembering that.
“She’ll be fine,” he said in a firm tone. “We got her out right away, and she didn’t inhale any water. She was in the house two minutes later.”
Bertie forced a smile. “Thanks to you. You never hesitated.”
Fergus shrugged. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d gotten a dunking in freezing water. He’d pulled more sheep out of icy Highland streams than he cared to count. “Don’t forget Lady Reese,” he said, trying to lighten things up. “She waded right in too.”
That had been a hell of a surprise. Fergus had almost dropped Georgie when he saw Lady Reese leap into the shallows to help. Though she’d been more of a hindrance than anything else, he gave her full marks for trying.
Bertie let out a reluctant laugh. “She’s intrepid, I’ll give you that. But she was waxing on rather dramatically about her delicate constitution once we got back to the house.”
Fergus snorted. “She’s as strong as an ox, that one is.”
Bertie’s smile faded as he studied Fergus with an intent expression. “Mr. Haddon, I must ask you something, and I hope you will answer me with full honesty.”
Fergus repressed a sigh. He’d been expecting a conversation like this sooner or later. “You have my word.”
“Is your—” Bertie broke off when the parlor door opened and Dr. Field emerged.
When Bertie and Fergus besieged him with questions, the doctor held up a hand. “Miss Gage is just fine. Her lungs are clear, and she shows no sign of taking a chill. Whoever pulled her out so quickly did a commendable job. I don’t think she’ll suffer any ill effects from the incident.”
Fergus let out a shaky breath. Bertie looked ready to collapse from relief.
“Thank God,” Bertie said. “May we see her now?”
“Of course, but I’ve administered a sleeping draught, so don’t keep her up too long. She’s had quite a lot of excitement for one day, and I want her to get her rest.”
“Yes, of course,” Bertie said. “I’ll see she remains in bed for the next few days.”
“That’s not necessary,” the doctor said. “She’ll be right as rain with a good night’s sleep. Now, I understand you have another patient for me?”
“Yes, Lady Reese,” Bertie said. “She took a bit of a dunking, so we thought you should check on her too, just in case.”
Bertie led the doctor down the hall to the guest apartments, firing questions about Georgie and her health. Fergus smiled, because he’d been much the same with his sister—over-protective to an absurd degree. Now he understood how crushing that sort of concern was, no matter how well intentioned.
He hesitated at the door, wanting to rush in and sweep Georgie into his arms. But what right did he have after his stupid, cruel behavior in the library? She deserved everything that was good and wonderful, and Fergus wasn’t at all sure that he fit the bill.
But wasn’t that exactly what he’d done with his sister, Donella? Refused to let her make her own decisions? He rapped on the door.
“Come in,” called Georgie’s cheery voice.
