“Greeves, summon Dr. Farthingale, too,” Julius commanded, setting her down but a moment to assist her out of her cloak and remove her hat. He handed them over to the butler, and then scooped her into his arms again. “The doctor is to be summoned without delay.”
“I do not need a doctor,” Gory protested. “You are insufferably overbearing.”
“And you are insufferably delusional if you think that blow to the head you received was not serious.”
“I know it was. But I also know my own body. All I need is a few minutes of rest. The doctor will be stopping by later. There is no need to bother him now.”
“No need? You almost fainted in the carriage from the pain shooting through your head.” He turned to Greeves. “Send for him right away.”
“Yes, my lord.” Greeves motioned to a nearby footman and sent him off on the errand.
Satisfied, Julius turned his gaze back on her. “As for you…clothes off. Bed.”
“Gad, you dolt!” she cried as he started to march up the stairs with her still in his arms. “I am going to kick your shin raw if you do not stop this outrageous behavior at once. Poor Greeves is having an apoplexy.” Which he was because the poor butler had turned red as a beet and was emitting strangled coughs.
Julius did not seem to care what anyone thought of his actions.
But she did. Was she not in enough of a fix? Injured, left for dead, and still considered a suspect. Not to mention the real killer had to be plotting to silence her before she could remember who he was. “Put me down, this instant, Julius!”
“No. Stop squirming or we will both tumble down the stairs.”
He continued the march to his bedchamber without a care for what anyone on the Thorne staff thought of his beastly behavior. He was still behaving like a great ape when he shoved open his bedroom door that had been left ajar while his valet was putting his belongings in order. “Robbins, get out. I need to put Lady Gregoria in my bed.”
“Gad, Julius!”
“No argument, Gory. You are to stay in my bed.”
“Stop calling it your bed. For this purpose it is just a bed. A bed. Anyone’s bed. Not possessively yours.”
He cast her a melting smile. “But it is my bed…and you are going in it.”
“You are such a dolt.” Her head was once again aching quite badly, and if she were less stubborn, she would not have put up any fuss at all. In truth, she could hardly see straight, not to mention she was feeling nauseated again. “In fact, stop talking altogether. I am going to kick you if you say another word.”
“And I will kiss you if you say another word.”
His valet gasped.
“Ignore him, Robbins. He is insane and highly irritating,” Gory grumbled, seeking to assure the man whose face had also turned crimson.
Was Julius on a mission to embarrass his entire staff?
“Summon Adela’s maid,” Julius insisted, settling her on the bed. “Lady Gregoria is getting undressed whether she likes it or not.”
Gory did not know what had gotten into Julius.
His gentlemanly reserve was gone and all that was left was this brutishly protective beast.
She did not like his behavior at all.
Well, she might not have minded so much if he intended to join her. But that was a lost cause, wasn’t it? She was so desperately in love and aching for him that she had even dreamed he’d kissed her and proposed to her last night.
Truly pathetic.
And now her head felt ready to explode.
To admit she was in pain meant she would be removed from the investigation.
This was so frustrating and galling.
