While Robbins was off on the errand, she continued to check for any fragments that might have lodged in his flesh. “Your arm will require stitching.”
“I gathered as much. How are you holding up, Gory?”
“Me?” She laughed softly. “I should be asking this of you.”
“No, I’m fine.”
She let out a breath and set aside the bloodied cloth. “Now, it is just a matter of waiting for the doctor to arrive.”
“Give me another hug, love.”
“Oh, because I hurt you? I’m so sorry, Julius. I tried to be as gentle as I could.”
“You were. I am feeling no pain. I just want to hold you in my arms.”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I wished so hard to be in your arms. You have no idea how badly I ached for this.”
Dr. Farthingale arrived within the hour to tend to Julius.
Gory insisted on remaining with him, something no other doctor would have permitted since she and Julius were not even betrothed. But Dr. Farthingale was never one to judge, so if Ambrose had no objections to her presence beside Julius, he had none either. Besides, he knew she was not the sort to be squeamish. “You did a fine job, Gory. I’ll stitch him up now. Are you sure you want to watch?”
She nodded.
Julius regarded her thoughtfully. “Give me your hand, Gory. It won’t feel as painful if I hold onto you while the doctor works on me.”
He was thinking of her pain, not his.
She nodded and held out her hand.
He entwined his fingers in hers, his grip light, yet solid and comforting.
It was a powerful gesture.
All these years on her own and never having been shown love had left her scarred. But Julius was determined to heal her, to let her know that he would always be her anchor, her protector throughout their lives.
She watched the doctor work on him, hardly breathing as he applied needle and thread to Julius’s damaged flesh.
“Done,” Dr. Farthingale said a few minutes later.
“Gory, you can breathe again,” Julius remarked, casting her an indulgent smile.
She laughed. “You noticed.”
“Hard to miss.” He gave her hand a light squeeze. “Thank you for staying by my side.”
She cleared her throat, hoping she would not turn into a watering pot again. Julius was being so kind and caring, she felt overwhelmed.
No one had ever shown her this amount of love or consideration.
How could she ever, ever have accepted to marry anyone but him?
Later that evening, Mr. Barrow called on them as their subdued group was having an early supper together. Gory had been frustrated by today’s events, bursting to know what else Julius had noticed during their visit to Allendale this afternoon, and now eager to know what Mr. Barrow was about to tell them.
Between the turmoil of the carriage attack, the intruder chased away from the townhouse, and Julius being injured, her mind had gone numb and she had not given Allendale or her aunt or the investigation more than passing thought. “What news, Mr. Barrow?”
“We’ve gotten a break in the case.”
Everyone leaped to their feet.
