At last the fellow moved, racing upthe steps into the hotel.
Moments later, she and Cathleenfollowed two of the hotel staff as they carried the inert Harry tohis room. “We’ve sent for the guard,” the manager said. “And Dr.O’Dowd is on his way.”
The servants laid Harry on the bed.Frightened by how still he was, Erina leaned over him and untiedhis cravat. He was bleeding heavily. She wanted to stop the flow ofblood with her hands, but knew it was a foolish wish. Sheunbuttoned his ruined waistcoat and the top buttons of his shirtand tucked his folded handkerchief firmly inside against the woundon his shoulder. “Harry,” she whispered. “Please don’tdie.”
Harry’s lashes fluttered. His usuallyalert chocolate brown eyes looked blank and confused. “Whathappened?”
She gasped and held his limp hand.“Oh, Harry! Gormley shot you. A doctor’s coming.”
“He was trying to shoot me,Mr. Feather,” Cathleen said. With a hiccup, she swiped at the tearsdripping off her chin. “I amsosorry.”
“Gormley didn’t like memuch,” Harry said his voice sounding far away. “Snake. Didn’t St. Patrick drive thesnakes from Ireland? He clearly missed one.”
Erina forced a watery smile. “Youhaven’t lost your sense of humor then.”
The door opened, and Dr. O’Dowd strodeinto the room. “Well, what do we have here?”
“He’s been shot, doctor,”Erina said in a broken voice.
“You can help me take offhis coat, young lady,” he said to Erina. “And you,” he nodded toCathleen, “fetch hot water. Hot I say. Not tepid.” He placed hisbag on the table and opened it.
“I don’t believe inbloodletting doctor.” Erina had seen the results of it when one oftheir neighbors died after such treatment. “Mr. Feather has lostenough blood already.”
“Well that’s something wecan agree upon.” Dr. O’Dowd took up a pair of scissors. “Gentlemanwear their coats too tight in my opinion.” As Erina watched he cutaway Harry’s coat. “Don’t just stand there like a stunnedgoose.”
Erina tugged at a sleeve.
Harry groaned.
She dropped her hands. “I hurtyou.”
“Never mind that,” Harrymuttered. “Can’t help, sorry.”
She and the doctor swiftly removed thecoat. Soon Harry’s shirt followed. Although lean, Harry wassurprisingly well built and had smooth olive-toned skin. Sheaverted her gaze from the sprinkle of brown hair on his sculpturedchest and the wound near his shoulder, which seepedincessantly.
“Not too much damage done.That’s good news, at least.” The doctor nodded as Cathleen and aservant brought in the pitcher of hot water. He poured the waterinto a bowl, added vinegar from a bottle, then dipped in a cloth.He wrung it out and handed it to Erina. “Wipe away theblood.”
As she took it, the middle-aged doctoreyed her. “You won’t faint over the patient, will you?” He measuredout a dose of laudanum and raising Harry’s head slipped the spoonbetween his lips.
Erina gritted her teeth and dabbed atthe blood. It seemed a hopeless task.
Harry’s eyes closed, and his headdrooped.
“Oh! He’s not…”
“No. That’s good enough,girl.” The doctor gently nudged her aside.
As he worked, Erina stood with Harry’scoat in her hands. When she folded it a slip of paper fell to thefloor. She scooped it up. Not wishing to pry, she couldn’t helpglancing at the document in her hands. She caught her breath. Itwas a Special License from the Archbishop of Canterbury in Doctor’sCommons in London, made out in their names and signed on the daybefore they left London.
“Good thing, he’s out ofit.” The doctor held up a sharp instrument. “Have to dig this ballout of him.”
“But hewillbe all right, DoctorO’Dowd?”
“He’s a strong young man.Depends on good fortune and tender care.”
She drew in a large breath of airtinged with the tangy smell of blood. “I’ll do anything I can tohelp.”
“Don’t move him too soonand keep the wound clean. Hopefully, it will remain free frominfection. Then he’ll recover. Especially if he has a pretty youngwoman looking after him.”
