“We are not at all suited. Every time I walk close to her, she attempts to blend in with the wall. Or she hides behind a potted plant. She is shy and ought to marry a man as quiet as she is.”
Lily wasn’t so certain. Evangeline was indeed a wallflower, but beneath her shyness was a strong woman. “I thought you were friends at one point.”
“I am not going to discuss this with you. Suffice it to say, it is best if we go our separate ways.” A troubled look crossed her brother’s face, but she didn’t press him.
She pushed her plate away, and when the footman came to clear away their dishes, he added, “Dr. Fraser, er, that is, Lord Falsham has come to call.”
“Excellent. Please send him in,” Lily said.
The footman started to put away the food, but Lily stopped him. “No, leave it for now.” Matthew had not yet eaten. She stood from the desk and waited for the doctor to come into James’s study. Her nerves tightened, and she hoped she had tended the dog properly.
When Dr. Fraser walked inside, she smiled at him. “I am very glad you could come.”
“It was no trouble at all.” To James, he nodded, “Penford, it’s good to see you again.”
“And you,” her brother answered. “Forgive my sister’s summons. She was quite upset when this dog was injured last night. She felt it necessary to send for you.”
Dr. Fraser shrugged it away. “He’s one of God’s creatures, is he no’? We’ll have a look and see. I suppose this is the animal, aye?” he guessed, kneeling down by the hearth. Sebastian’s tail thumped, but he didn’t rise. “There’s a good lad.”
Lily moved toward the animal and knelt beside the doctor. “He is. I think his leg is broken, and he has many cuts. I tried to clean them with water, and I put some salve on them.”
The doctor knelt down beside Sebastian and examined him. “You were right. His leg is broken. But Lady Lily, I must be telling you that ’tis rare that a dog can heal from a break such as this. Most veterinary surgeons would be killing it.”
She was horrified at the very idea. “It’s only a broken leg. Why should he die from that?”
Dr. Fraser stood up. “Many of the surgeons believe that ’tis no’ worth tryin’ to heal a pup, especially if he could have rabies. Some might take the leg off.”
“He deserves to live as much as a sheep or a cow.” Lily stroked Sebastian’s fur and the dog turned to lick her hand. “And I’ll not allow you to amputate his leg.”
Dr. Fraser smiled. “I didna say that I would be doing such a thing, Lady Lily. Only to warn you that other surgeons might act differently.”
Her shoulders lowered with relief. “Thank goodness.” She took a breath and asked, “Did I set his leg properly?”
He reached down to feel the leg again, and the dog whimpered. “Just a little pinch, lad. Naught t’be worried about.” Dr. Fraser made a slight adjustment to the limb, and the dog let out a short yelp. “There now, that’s better.” He wrapped the bandage around the dog’s leg tightly and secured the end. “You nearly had it right, lass.”
But it bothered her to think that she had set the dog’s leg in an improper position. Had she not summoned the doctor, the bone might have healed wrong and crippled the animal for the rest of his life. She wished she knew more about healing, even with only a book to help her learn.
Dr. Fraser stood and asked, “Will you attend the Worthingstone ball this evening? Juliette and I would be glad to see both of you there.”
“Yes, I will come. And so will James,” Lily asserted.
The doctor nodded. “Then I’ll be seeing you there.” He leaned down to rub the dog’s ears before he left.
Matthew entered the room at that moment, wearing her brother’s trousers. “Lord Falsham,” he greeted the doctor. “I know Lily was glad to have you look in on the dog.”
“Ah, lad, you can be calling me Dr. Fraser. I was that long before I inherited the title of viscount. It feels as if you’re speaking to someone else,” the man remarked. “I didn’t realize you had come to call.”
“I was here earlier when the dog decided to relieve himself on my leg. James was kind enough to loan me a pair of trousers.”
The doctor barked out a laugh and shook his head. “Animals have their own ways, do they no’?” Then his gaze sharpened upon him. “You’re looking better than the last time I saw you.”
“A little,” Matthew agreed. But Lily noticed that there were traces of weariness still there.
“He’s sleeping with dogs now,” James said, clapping him on the back. “It agrees with him.”
There were times when she wanted to strangle her brother. “Matthew offered to watch over Sebastian the first night. I was grateful for it.” To end James’s teasing, she offered, “Perhapsyouwould like to sleep with the dog this evening?”
“Not at all. I prefer more pleasant company.”
