Julian tossed the blanket aside and sat up in bed, noting a tightness in his knee, which he ignored. However, as soon as he turned and placed his feet on the floor and attempted to stand, pain shot through his knee and up his leg with such burning intensity that he dropped back down. His knee was swollen and nearly twice the size of the other one. With a groan, he fell back, irritated with himself for falling and annoyed for being injured again.
Except, he couldn’t remain in bed all day hoping that his knee would magically heal, and as much as he hated to do so, Julian would need to send for the doctor.
Pulling himself up, Julian rose from the bed and hobbled to the bellpull and gave it three good tugs before he limped back to sit on the bed. He then grabbed a dressing gown and shrugged it on and waited.
At the scratch on the door, he called for them to enter, and hoped that it was a footman and not a maid because his legs were exposed.
“How may I be of service, Mr. Ashford.”
“Could you send for the doctor please?”
The footman frowned. “Is it a headache or dizziness?”
Julian shook his head and pointed to his knee. The footman came around and looked.
“Oh dear. It appears quite swollen.”
Julian said nothing about stating the obvious. “I fell on it yesterday and I thought it would be better today, except it is worse.”
“I will send for the doctor and ask the maid to bring you a breakfast tray.”
“Please do not tell Norbright.” He’d rather none of his friends knew that he had suffered yet another injury and truly hoped that the doctor would have something that would bring the swelling down and rid him of this pain.
The footman frowned again. “My employer will notice and have questions when the doctor does arrive at Harrington Manor.”
The footman was correct. “Would you please ask Norbright to come see me. I would go to him, but I do not trust navigating the stairs.”
“Of course.”
Julian leaned back and waited and in but a few moments Norbright burst in, not bothering to knock.
“What is this about you needing the doctor?”
“It is my knee.” Julian exposed it to his friend. “I can’t put any bloody weight on it.”
“How did you hurt your knee in your sleep, unless you snuck out to see Miss Doyle again and hurt yourself coming back in the dark.”
Julian glared at him. “I did not, nor will you ever mention again what you witnessed. I will not have her reputation called into question.”
Norbright’s eyebrows rose. “Ah, you care for her.”
“I barely know her.”
Norbright snorted. “You appeared to know each other very well last night.”
Julian glared at him again.
Norbright put up his hands in defense. “I will say nothing further. Instead, tell me how you injured your knee.”
Julian explained his foot slipping on the stairs.
“Depending on the injury, this may keep you here longer than you intended.”
“A few days ago, that would have brought further irritation.”
“Not now?” his friend asked with a grin.
“I will not share with you why I am no longer in such a hurry to leave.”
