“I’ll ask Adela’s maid to bring me a nightgown and robe from Adela’s wardrobe,” Gory said as he set her back in his bed.
His heart tightened upon noticing a small patch of blood on the pillow from when Dr. Farthingale had stitched her wound. Julius had remained by her side while the doctor worked on her, holding her hand and caressing her cheek every time she winced in pain.
“You do that, love,” he said, the endearment slipping out again.
He tucked the coverlet around her shoulders and then moved away to grab his jacket. “I won’t be gone long. Just a few hours. I’ll tell Greeves to permit no visitors. Not that anyone would know you are here.”
“Servants talk. I would not be surprised if Lady Dayne and Lady Withnall showed up here within the hour. Marigold and Leo, too.”
Julius grinned. “That’s true. I’ll leave word that they are allowed to see you, but no one else will be permitted. All right, Gory?”
She nodded. “I have no one else who would care to see me. Those two dowagers are like grandmothers to me. Adela, Syd, and Marigold are the sisters I never had. Now Syd and Octavian are settled in Scotland while he oversees building of the navy’s new ships. And Adela and Ambrose are constantly running between Devon and London on their fossil hunts. Their lives are so much busier now.”
“Marigold is still in London.”
“And kept busy with fossil hunts, as well. Not to mention her wifely duties being married to a marquess.” She shook her head. “I am not complaining. All of you comprise my lovely new family. I am so fortunate to have found you.”
He liked that she had included him among those she considered family, and hoped their friendship would soon become something more.
He wanted to be her husband.
There was no way he would lose her to Allendale.
Once more, he shook out of the thought.
Gory had just narrowly escaped being murdered, and her uncle had not been so fortunate. Nothing mattered more than keeping her safe while they searched for his killer. Confessing his feelings might have to wait until the villain was apprehended.
“Julius, please send word to Allendale. He must be told that I am all right and recuperating or he will be mad with worry.”
He clenched his jaw and nodded. “I’ll send a messenger off to him now and also call on him as soon as I’ve finished at the Easton townhouse. But the townhouse must take priority. I want to make certain Mr. Barrow and the constables have overlooked no important clues.”
“Take notes. It is easy to forget details when there are so many that will be swirling in your head. And do not forget about my aunt. She’ll arrive sometime before supper and will be quite distraught. I’m sure I will be up and about by the afternoon and you can take me to–”
He growled. “You are not getting out of bed today.”
“But–”
“No,” he said with a lordly authority that might have sounded commanding to others, but he knew Gory would ignore him if she had a mind to disobey. And she did have a mind to do just that because being forced to lie idle while others were working on solving this mystery was the most frustrating thing imaginable to her. “Please, Gory. Trust me to take care of matters just for this one day.”
She closed her eyes. “This is so irritating, Julius.”
His manner softened. “I know, love. But you’ll be of no use to anyone if you do not take proper care of yourself. That blow to your head was quite serious. You’re fortunate it did not kill you. Promise me you’ll stay in bed. I cannot be worrying about you while I am trying my best to save you.”
She sighed. “I promise.”
He studied her, surprised by her easy surrender.
“My head’s in a spin,” she admitted. “I could not even walk back here on my own. If you hadn’t carried me back to bed, I would have fallen in the hallway. My body is also yelling at me and insisting I rest. It has more sense than I do, I suppose.”
He donned his jacket and then strode forward to kiss her lightly on the forehead. “Thank goodness you’re alive, Gory. Try to stay that way.”
He marched out of his bedchamber and sought out Greeves to give his butler instructions. These included the limited list of people permitted to see Gory. “Lord Allendale, too. But have Mrs. Quinn,” he said, referring to the capable Thorne family housekeeper, “remain in my bedchamber with them for the duration of Lord Allendale’s visit. She is not to leave, even if Allendale orders her out. Mrs. Quinn must stand her ground and has my full authority to have him tossed out if he gives her any trouble.”
Greeves nodded. “Very good, my lord.”
“Mrs. Quinn also has my permission to lock Lady Gregoria in my bedchamber if the blasted girl attempts to sneak out of bed.”
The butler’s lips quivered at the corners in the hint of a smile. “Of course, my lord.”
