The bone would have to be set. It seemed a clean break to Charles. Properly treated, he should be up and about on it in a short time, with a pair of crutches. He would stay to watch the procedure. Too many were crippled by bad doctoring.
At least the doctor wasted no time getting here. Jacobs had taken over Chapman’s practice, but Charles knew nothing about him. He only hoped the man wasn’t a wretched saw bone, and Charles wouldn’t have to fight for Percy to keep his leg.
Jacobs examined Percy and made a similar pronouncement as Percy finally came around.
“What happened?” he muttered, a hand to his head.
“You fell off your roof, you foolish fellow,” Jacobs said cheerfully. “You have a broken femur, which I’ll have to set. A knock on the head, too, but as you’re back with us and remember who you are, that’s not too serious. All in all, a lucky man.” He turned to Charles. “Now, Your Grace, if I can ask for your help? I’m afraid this will be uncomfortable, Hanbury.”
The man fainted as his boot was removed. Charles held him steady while the doctor straightened the bone. He went about his work efficiently, impressing Charles.
After it was done, and they left the patient to the care of his wife, Charles praised his methods. “Where did you learn your skills?” he asked.
“The navy,” Dr. Jacobs said. “You have to tackle all sorts of wounds on the sea. And it’s necessary to learn fast while under pressure.”
Charles nodded. “Thank you for coming so swiftly,” he said as the doctor prepared to leap into the trap. “Forward any bills to me.”
With a cheery farewell, the doctor slapped the reins, and the trap clattered off down the rocky road.
Charles went back inside.
“I’ll send over a farmhand to help you until Percy is back on his feet,” he told the worried woman.
She fell into a low curtsey. “Oh, Your Grace. Thank you. You are so very good to us.”
“Send word to me if there is any problem, Mrs. Hanbury.” Charles patted their young boy’s snowy head and left.
He rode back to the house, wondering what his son might be like. If Nellie has a daughter, he hoped she would be like her mother. A man could ask for nothing more.
Arriving home, he found he’d missed the start of the hunt. He anticipated as much and turned Thor’s head to ride out after them. Crossing the meadow, the distant sound of baying hounds led him on.
He took Thor over two fences and rode on.
A rider galloped toward him. William Faulkner reined in, his face red. He whipped off his hat. “It’s the duchess, Your Grace. She’s taken a fall.”
“Her Grace? She was not to ride today.” Charles controlled Thor, who had scented his distress and danced about.
“She took part in it, Your Grace. A young dog spooked her horse.”
“Dear God! Lead me to her, man.”
Charles nudged Thor into a gallop, his heart beating hard in his throat. They climbed the hill in minutes, and from the top, he saw the horses clustered around the fallen rider.Nellie!
Charles could hardly breathe as he rode down to them.
He jumped down, tossed Thor’s reins to one of the men, and fell on his knees beside her. She was alive! But she was unconscious. Her face so white, it scared him. What the devil was she doing riding?
“Nellie!” When she didn’t open her eyes, he patted her hand. “Her Grace was not to ride today,” he uttered savagely, staring around at the concerned faces. “Who changed her mind?” His gaze fell on Frances. “Was it you, Aunt?”
Frances twisted the crop in her hands. “Nellie was not to be there at the kill. She was riding away toward those trees when one of the young hounds got under Coventry’s hooves.”
“Coventry?” he asked as he examined Nellie for any signs of injury. There was a bruise forming on her forehead. “Why was she riding that feckless animal?”
“Her horse had a loose shoe,” Aunt Frances said. “Can I do something to help?”
“Call off the hunt. There will be no fox caught today.” Charles hefted Nellie up. His heart attempted to beat its way out of his chest as he carried her limp body in his arms. Her head lolled back against his shoulder, her eyes still closed. For one terrifying moment, he feared he had lost her, but her chest rose and fell. He suffered a surge of relief so strong his feet faltered. He took a stronger hold of her. “You’ll be all right, my love,” he murmured.
“Bring Thor over here and assist me. Don’t just stand there like a statue,” he thundered at his hapless groom.
