Gory cast him a hardheaded look. “But I must. However, I shall limit my activities to those that are vitally necessary.”
Julius cleared his throat. “By this she means going to the morgue to examine her uncle’s body. Then going to her home to walk through the scene of the crime in the hope something jolts her memory. Then she intends to call upon her aunt who is settled at the Wallingford Arms.”
The doctor’s frown deepened to mark his disapproval. “Is that all? Perhaps you might also fit in a tour of the London art galleries and theater afterward.”
Gory pursed her lips in response to his sarcasm, but did not relent. “Lord Thorne has agreed to remain by my side throughout the day. He is worse than a mothering hen and will not let me overdo it.”
Julius groaned. “Just letting you out of your sickbed is overdoing it.”
“No, it isn’t,” she insisted. “I’ll need one of the household maids to help me prepare for the day. Why did you let me sleep so late? We have already wasted half the morning.”
“Stay put, Gory. I wasn’t going to agree to any of your plans without Dr. Farthingale’s permission.”
“I cannot allow it, Lady Gregoria,” Dr. Farthingale said, his manner quite serious.
“Why not? You said my eyes were clear and you know the trace of blood at my ear was nothing more than a loosened stitch. With all due respect, doctor…I am going to ignore your advice. So why not approach this more helpfully? Tell me what I must do if I start to feel dizzy or weak, and your advice had better be something other than advising me to go back to bed because that is something I will ignore. My life is at stake. I cannot remain here and do nothing.”
The doctor glanced at Julius in dismay.
Julius was equally distressed, for he had no magical words that would make Gory see reason. “Gad, you are a bossy bit of goods.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“Here’s what I propose,” Julius said, not pleased that he was so easily giving in. “Get out of bed on your own and walk across the room toward me in a straight line.”
“And if I do this?” Her hand was already on the coverlet, preparing to toss it off.
“I will take you around to the morgue and your home. We’ll see how you are feeling afterward. I’ll go alone to your aunt if you are too fatigued.”
She snorted. “I’ll be just fine.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “I doubt it. The only reason I am asking you to walk across the room to me is to prove to you that you are too weak to manage it.”
“Is that so, Lord Thorne. I am about to prove to you that I am perfectly adept.” She tossed off the bed covers and cautiously stood up.
Julius wanted to rush forward, but he held his ground and waited for her to walk the length of the room toward him. In truth, she looked much better than she had last night. Her cheeks were pink and her general coloring was no longer ashen.
Her eyes appeared clear, just as Dr. Farthingale had indicated.
Julius was glad spending the night on his lap with his arms wrapped around her had helped. She had been so cold and miserable, not even the fire blazing in the hearth or the warmth of his body pressed to hers had done much to help, at first.
She looked like a stubborn fairy princess walking toward him.
Her hair was unbound and those lovely chestnut locks fell in waves upon her shoulders. Her lips were nicely pink and soft enough to kiss again. Of course, he was not about to do so while the doctor was standing there.
Nor would he dare until he and Gory had the chance to speak alone.
Blessed saints, he ached to kiss her.
There was something incredibly appealing about Gory bundled in her nightclothes and making her way toward him in her stockinged feet.
Warmth shot through him.
She reached his side and smiled up at him with loving defiance. “Well? Have I passed your test?”
Julius did not like this one bit, but he had set the task and she had accomplished it. She would never behave and stay in bed now. “You’ve passed,” he admitted with a grunt, silently kicking himself for not setting a higher bar. “I’ll have Mrs. Quinn summon one of the maids to attend you.”
She let out a soft breath. “Thank you, Julius.”
