“I suppose it will give us the chance to talk about what happened last night,” he muttered. “We can do so while riding in the carriage.”
She had been smiling up at him, but her smile now faltered ever so slightly. “What happened last night?”
His heart shot into his throat.
Had she not remembered any of it? Not his kiss? Or his declaration of love?
Dr. Farthingale, who had been watching Gory and listening in on their exchange, must have realized something was wrong and frowned.
Julius silently warned him not to ask more questions in Gory’s presence.
After leaving Gory to ready herself with the assistance of one of the maids, Julius led the doctor downstairs to the study and shut the door behind them for privacy.
“What has you so troubled, Lord Thorne?” the doctor asked, settling in one of chairs beside the desk.
Julius was too tense and remained standing. “She does not remember any of our conversation last night.”
“Was it memorable?”
“Yes.” Julius wasn’t certain how much to tell him, although George Farthingale was one of the smartest men he knew and might figure out what was said even if Julius revealed nothing more. “Nor does she remember how difficult a night it was for her. I think she was suffering the effects of laudanum, and shivering so badly, I had to carry her over to the fire and cover her in blankets to keep her warm. I put her back in bed shortly before you arrived.”
“And this is what concerns you?”
Julius nodded. “That and…we had a conversation that seems to have eluded her. It was not something I expected her to forget.”
“Important, was it?”
“Very.” Julius nodded again.
“All right.” Dr. Farthingale raked a hand through his hair. “I will not deny my concern over her loss of memory. Obviously, it is worrisome. But not necessarily something that affects her physical well being. The mind and the body will not necessarily heal at the same pace. She walked across your bedchamber with surprising ease. I will admit, not even I thought she was capable of it yet.”
“Nor did I, or I would have devised a more difficult task,” Julius admitted with a wincing grin. “She’s just so stubborn, I ought to have realized it was too easy. I’m glad she appears physically fit, but her memory has not recovered at all.”
“Some of those memories are scary and painful. This is why she is suppressing them. Her stubbornness and determination are working to have her up and walking again, but they are also having the opposite effect on her recollections. She is unable to deal with them just yet, so she is suppressing everything that oversets her. My best advice to you is to keep close to her today.”
“I intend to. Believe me, I do not need the reminder. I am so worried about her,” Julius admitted, his emotions raw.
“I know, my lord. She is fortunate to be in your care. You are a good friend to her. Although, I expect your feelings run far deeper than that.” He held up a hand. “The comment does not require a response unless it is medically relevant to Lady Gregoria’s health.”
Julius let out a breath. “It is relevant. As I mentioned, we spoke of something very important and she does not seem to recall any of it. The exact conversation is not one I would care to reveal to you just now, but it was one that ought to have been very meaningful to her.”
“And she has blocked it from her mind,” the doctor muttered. “Probably because it was too meaningful and she could not handle it just yet. Give her time and she will come around.”
How much time?
There was only a week left until her wedding.
A few short days, seven of them, to be precise. Unless she chose to postpone it or call it off.
Last night, she had decided to call it off.
But what of this morning?
Dr. Farthingale left him a vial of laudanum to carry with him on the chance Gory might suddenly need it while they were out. “I’ll look in on her again this evening on my way home. But summon me sooner if she takes an unexpected turn for the worse. I should be in my surgery for the rest of the day.”
“I will, sir. Thank you for everything.”
Dr. Farthingale smiled. “You Thornes certainly know how to find trouble.”
