Tulip was cold and began to tremble in his arms.“Let me get you upstairs, love.We’ll have you warm and comfortable soon.Blessed saints.Thank goodness you’re alive.”
“I fought him as hard as I could,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.Her voice had a pronounced croak to it, but Alex did not think he had ever heard anything sweeter.“I wasn’t strong enough.I kicked him and punched him with all my might.I tried to scream but he had his hand over my mouth and held it there while dragging me through a tunnel.I–”
“Hush, love,” he said while carrying her to the house.“I know about the tunnel.I found the building plans in his chamber.Let’s get you out of those wet clothes, and then the doctor will have a look at you.He’ll take care of you first, then we’ll talk to the magistrate.”
“We are at your service, Your Grace,” the magistrate assured him, “however long it takes.”
“Thank you, Lord Farnhum.”
The magistrate and his constables, William, Carver, and the doctor all followed him to the house, the constables carrying Ernfield’s body from the marshes.
Carver’s workers also followed Alex, but he ordered them into the kitchen.“Have a cup of tea while we wait for the magistrate to finish with Ernfield.I think he will want to question all of us.”
“Aye, Your Grace,” said Dougal, who seemed to be the natural leader among these workers and often served as Carver’s second in command.
The household servants clustered around Alex as soon as he strode in through the parlor, for he’d taken the terrace steps that led directly into that room, which was the shortest route to his bedchamber.
Between ink stains and now wet, muddy boot stains, the floors would need another thorough cleaning, but this was the least of his worries just now.
Tulip’s breathing was still raspy, but each inhale and exhale seemed to be getting stronger and more even.What worried Alex most was the blow she had taken to her head, but the doctor would examine it and let him know if she required stitches.
He turned to the maids and footmen who were now gaping at him.“Have a bath sent up for my wife.”He motioned to two of the maids.“Follow me.Her Grace needs to get out of these wet clothes.”
“Oh, and I’ve spilled ink all over my gown,” Tulip said, sounding more distressed about the garment than almost dying at the hands of a fiend.Perhaps it was easier for her to think of this than dwell on the danger she had just experienced.“Alex, I don’t think this lovely muslin can be saved.”
“I’ll buy you a dozen just like it, sweetheart,” he said, his voice tight and his heart still pounding from his own fear that he had almost lost her.“All that matters is you are safe and alive.”
He would have the doctor look her over straight away to make certain the head wound was not serious.There was always the danger of a brain swell when dealing with such an injury.One might be alert and seemingly on the mend one moment, and then something in the brain ruptures and…no, not to Tulip.
He refused to entertain such a thought.
However, the doctor was also concerned with the severity of her wound and insisted on a quick, cursory examination while they were still in the parlor.“Just a precaution, Your Grace.The magistrate will require my services, too.But your wife is the priority.Let me have a look at her scalp before the maids get her out of her wet clothes and settle her comfortably in bed.”
“Of course.”He sank onto the settee, and insisted on keeping Tulip on his lap while the doctor looked into her eyes and began to ask her questions.
It came as a great relief to Alex when the doctor declared she would recover.“Take her upstairs and make her comfortable, Your Grace.Once she has washed up and changed into dry clothing, I’ll place a few stitches to close up the wound.In truth, stitches might not even prove necessary.But we’ll see.I am pleased to report that your wife is in greater danger of catching a chill than of dying from that blow on the head.”
“Are you certain?”Alex dared not allow himself to feel any exhilaration yet.
“Yes,” the doctor said with a smile.“My decision would have been different had her eyes not appeared focused or had her speech been slurred, which it wasn’t in the least.You have leave to carry her up to her bedchamber and have the maids attend her.”
Alex now let out a breath of relief and kissed Tulip’s cheek.“Do you hear that, love?Thank you, Dr.Harding.”
“Alex, what time is it?”Tulip asked as he carried her up the stairs with two of the maids scampering behind him.
“Coming on three o’clock, I think.”
“Oh, we must get ready for our dinner party.”
He laughed.“Are you serious?You are in no condition to entertain anyone.I’ll have Carver send one of the grooms to advise all our guests.We’ll reschedule for next week or the week after, all right?”
She sighed.“What about all the food Mrs.Crabbe has prepared?”
“I think the staff deserves a feast, don’t you?We’ll dine quietly in our bedchamber, and your meal will be nothing heavier than a beef broth for the next few days.”
“I was so looking forward to the dishes Mrs.Crabbe prepared.”
“She’ll do it all over again soon, love.”
