The bed beside her dipped. “You ought to have told me you were feeling so wretched,” Oliver said. “I wouldn’t have left you alone if I’d known. And you got up to help with breakfast, too.”
“I wanted to help,” she mumbled.
“Well, you’ve helped enough. Now, I suppose, it’s my turn.” His cold hand pressed against her forehead. “Sleep. I’ll make sure everything is all right.”
She had to concentrate on the words to make them happen. “I don’t think even you can guarantee that.”
“Then we shall both discover what I’m capable of.”
In all his twenty-three years, Oliver had rarely been called upon to be the man in charge. He had gone as far as to avoid all sense of responsibility.
But here, with Emily unconscious and breathing softly beside him, what else could he do but step up? There was no one else to, and he had promised her he would make everything all right.
Once he was certain she would not wake, he went in search of Mr Chambers, finding him in his study. Papers were piled everywhere, and the sight made Oliver feel vaguely ill; even a farmer could not get by without knowledge of his letters.
“Ah, Oliver,” Mr Chambers said, an unlit pipe in his mouth. “How is she?”
“Not good. I need a physician.”
Mr Chambers removed the pipe from his mouth. “That bad?”
“She collapsed. If she’s hurt—” He couldn’t allow himself to think of it. “I can’t let anything happen to her.”
“Aye, I understand that, but you saw the roads—they’re all but impassable. You can’t get a cart down them.”
A strange desperation came over Oliver. “Then I’ll walk if I have to. Just tell me where the nearest physician is.”
“Five miles along, in the nearest village.” Mr Chambers sighed and shook his head. “I can’t go with you, son, but if need be Ican spare a horse. We’ve a carthorse that might make it through these drifts, and could probably bear another person on the way back. But there’s no guarantee Mr Winters—that’s his name—will come with you.”
Oliver would force the man if need be. All this was new to him, but when he closed his eyes, he could see Emily’s pale face and hear his own voice promising her he would show her what he was made of.
He hardly knew what that was—nothing good, he was certain. But he had to try.
“I’ll take it,” he said. “And thank you.”
“I wish you’d wait for the snow to melt.”
“I can’t. She hit her head in the carriage—and she’s so stubborn, she wouldn’t tell me she was feeling ill until now.” He dragged a hand through his hair, scraping it back off his forehead. His arm ached, but he fancied he could ride so long as someone helped him on and off.
No one had looked out for Emily in a long time, or so it seemed. It was about time someone did.
Responsibility sat strangely on his shoulders, but for once, though urgent, it wasn’t overwhelming. He could dothis.
“When can you have the horse ready?” he asked.
“I’ll get him saddled up now.” Mr Chambers clapped him on the shoulder. “God help you, lad. You’ll need it.”
Chapter Eleven
WhenEmilynextopenedher eyes, it was to see a handsome gentleman leaning over her. He had sandy curls that clung damply to his forehead, and hazel eyes that contained hints of green amongst the brown.
Could she be dreaming? No one this handsome existed in her daily life. Any second now, she would wake up in her bed with Isabella.
Pressure on her hand. Slowly, as though she moved through treacle, she glanced down to where she found his fingers wrapped around hers. He was holding her hand.
What an odd dream.
“You’re awake,” a male voice said.
