“Forgive us, my lord, but my sister has suddenly become ill.”
He touched Priscilla’s clammy hand. “Would you like to lie down in a room?”
Priscilla’s black ringlets bounced when she nodded. “If it’s not… too much… trouble.”
Her voice was faint and weak. Adrian knew the girl needed to lie down immediately. He glanced toward the open door of the sitting room. “Gilbert. Come here, quickly.”
The shuffling of feet on the tile in the corridor was heard before the white-haired butler entered the room and bowed. “Yes, my lord?”
“We need to get Miss Priscilla to a room, posthaste. Please inform Mrs. Wendel to ready a room for her.”
“As you wish, my lord.” The butler hurried out.
Adrian turned back to Priscilla. “You look too weak to walk. Can you put your arm around my neck so I can carry you?”
The younger woman nodded and slipped her arm around his shoulders. He lifted her, and Bridget assisted. His gaze met the panicked eyes of the older sister.
“Should we call for a physician?” he asked.
Bridget’s attention jumped between him and her sister. The poor girl’s face grew paler by the second, but her cheeks were bright red.
“Yes, I think we should.” Bridget touched his shoulder and whispered, “Thank you.”
He answered with a nod and proceeded to carry the sick sister up the stairs. Gilbert was just leaving one of the guest rooms, and he motioned toward it. As Adrian passed the butler, he instructed him, “Summon the physician immediately.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Mrs. Wendel and Bridget took Priscilla from his arms and helped her to the bed. He stood back, not knowing what to do next. He should leave, but seeing the worry on Bridget’s face made him anxious to know if the younger sister would be all right.
The housekeeper poured water from a pitcher into the basin before soaking a washcloth and wringing it out. She took it to Priscilla and dabbed the cloth on her head. The older woman glanced across the bed at Bridget and frowned. “She has a high fever.”
Priscilla groaned and turned her head on the pillow. Her body shook with chills. Mrs. Wendel pulled back the quilt and covered the girl. Bridget sat on the edge of the bed, holding her sister’s hand.
“You’re going to be all right,” she said sweetly. “Lord William has sent for the physician.”
Helplessness swept over him. He wanted to help in some way, but he didn’t know what was proper. Being in the room with them was probablynotproper at all. Yet he didn’t want to leave.
He stepped closer to Bridget and touched her shoulder. Her big blue eyes flicked up to meet his. “What can I do?”
She gave him a sweet smile. “You have done enough by bringing her up here and sending for the doctor. I… don’t know how to repay you for your kindness.”
His heart leapt at her tender expression. He couldn’t stop himself this time, and he caressed her soft cheek. “I do not require payment, my sweet Bridget. Getting your sister to feel better and having your gratitude is payment enough.”
She reached up and removed his hand from her cheek, holding on to his fingers longer than necessary. She squeezed them affectionately before finally pulling away.
He met Mrs. Wendel’s curious stare. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, my lord. I have it in hand, I assure you.”
That was his cue to leave. Grudgingly, he stepped toward the door, hoping that Bridget would call him back. But she didn’t. Her attention was on her sickly sister.
Adrian left, closing the door behind him. He stopped at the railing on the stairs and hooked his fingers around the edge. He listened for sounds of his brother, but all he heard was the murmuring of voices between Mrs. Wendel and Bridget.
His heart softened as he recalled how her pretty eyes had shone with appreciation just now. Although he felt helpless because he had no idea what to do for Priscilla, happiness leapt inside him. Bridget was slowly forgiving him.
He hadn’t thought of any other woman since the adorable Hartwell sister had entered his life. As much as he felt he knew her well enough, he still wanted to learn more. He wanted to make friends with her father and other sisters, and he wanted to know what Bridget did every second of the day. He especially wanted to know if he was on her mind too, or if she still aspired to become the Countess of Hanover.
The click of the door closing behind him made him swing around to see who had come out. Bridget walked toward him. The tender look in her eyes made his pulse quicken.
