Chapter Three
Georgina blinked. Itsounded as if Teddy did not recognize her. But that made no sense. She was the same height, the same weight, give or take a pound, her hair was every bit as plain, chocolate brown and untamable as when he’d left. In short, she had not magically blossomed into an ethereal beauty worthy of his notice.
But still, he ought to recognize her.
“Madam, how do you do. My name is Dr. Penhurst.” The doctor spoke with infinite calm, as if they were meeting over a tea table in a formal setting, not in an asylum flanked by orderlies.
“Good afternoon,” she said, glancing between him, Teddy, and the porter, who, she noted, no longer smiled his genial smile.
“My porter tells me he asked for you to await me in the parlor.”
“I…er…heard a disturbance and thought to investigate. It appears one of your staff assaulted Lord Arlington.”
Teddy snorted and sent one of the men restraining him a feral grin. Only then did Georgina notice the man bore an identical bruise.
The smile the doctor sent her was patently disingenuous. “Very considerate, madam. As you can see, the disturbance is now under control. Regarding the supposed assault, you are mistaken. I’m afraidLord Arlington suffered a small accident yesterday when Mr. Yancy, here, attempted to administer his evening medicine.
“Unfortunately, and as you can no doubt see, Lord Arlington is not up to receiving visitors at this time. If you wouldn’t mind…” He broke off to gesture toward the corridor. In another moment, he would escort her out, and she would be forced to leave Teddy here—where he would be manhandled into submission—whether or not for his own good, she could not say with any certainty.
The facility itself seemed nice enough, lushly appointed with expansive grounds. There were no bars on the windows. No raving patients roaming the carpeted corridors. But Teddy himself…She regarded him, her heart squeezing in her chest.
She needed to make a decision. What was in his best interest? To leave him here, or proffer the one argument that would allow him to part—with her? She’d anticipated discussing the option with him, but that was clearly not possible.
Teddy met her gaze, his expression proud, defiant, and utterly miserable.
Her eyes locked with his, words spilled from her mouth. “I beg your pardon, Dr. Penhurst. I seem to have failed to make my identity clear.”
“I fail to see how that—”
“I am Lady Georgina Arlington. Teddy’s wife.”
A moment of stunned silence greeted her pronouncement.
Then Teddy spoke, or more aptly, scoffed. “My wife?” Apparently, he found the notion of being wed to her unfathomable.
She glared at him. Perhaps she was not the sort of woman he would actually marry, but that was beside the point at the moment. She was trying to help him escape this place.
“If that’s so, where have you been these last several weeks?” he demanded, suspicion lacing every word. “The people claiming to be my parents said nothing of me having a wife.”
“The people claiming…” she echoed softly, then broke off, her thoughts spinning. He had not recognized her, and now this.Dear God.If she understood him correctly, and she was not at all sure she did…
“A very good question,” the doctor seconded Teddy, crossing his arms over his chest.
One of the orderlies cleared his throat. “Sir, should we…?”
Dr. Penhurst gazed toward the ceiling as if seeking divine intervention. Then he pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand, while snapping his fingers with the other and gesturing toward the open door.
The two orderlies released Teddy, who sneered at them, tugging at his cuffs with swift yanks as they made haste to exit the chamber.
The porter stepped aside, allowing them to pass, his intention plain: He did not intend to go anywhere.
The doctor glanced down at the overturned furniture and stained carpet as if seeing it for the first time, then he stalked to the doorway and leaned into the corridor. “Send someone to clean up this mess,” he called. He straightened, huffed, and leaned out again. “All of you, back in your chambers, or they’ll be no after-dinner port or tarts this evening.”
Several thumps reverberated through the walls as, evidently, the curiosity of the residents waned.
Dr. Penhurst slid Georgina a considering look.
Rather than await his inquisition, she decided to lead with a question of her own. “Dr. Penhurst, am I to understand my husband has amnesia?”
