Lord Clayton immediately turned toward the door as if he intended to do exactly that when the doctor’s confused voice stopped him. “Home? My, lady, you cannot go home.”
Clayton stopped and swung around to face the doctor, his brows snapping together over his eyes, a thunderous look on his face.
Thea’s eyes widened and she gulped. “What do you mean?” Surely, she’d misheard the doctor.
The doctor shook his head. “That is an extremely nasty break. It’s not clear through the bone, but it’s far worse than a mere fracture. Moving the leg any more than is necessary is entirely out of the question.”
“What are you saying?” Thea managed to whisper, but her throat was closing, and it seemed as if the room was beginning to spin again.
“I mean you cannot move such a great distance, my lady. And certainly not via coach. Until your leg heals sufficiently, you must stay right here.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The sun had barely peeked over the meadow the next morning as Ewan paced outside the bedchamber he’d carried Lady Theodora to last night after Dr. Blanchard’s departure. In addition to James, the discreet footman, Ewan had chosen his most trusted maid, Rosalie, and his housekeeper, Mrs. Cotswold. The three servants were responsible for seeing to Lady Theodora. If Ewan kept the knowledge of her visit to the servants who already were aware, including Humbolt, perhaps the story of her being there would not get out.
Ewan rubbed the back of his neck and paced some more. Should he visit her? Should he leave her entirely alone? They hadn’t had much of a chance to speak about the situation last night. After Dr. Blanchard left, Lady Theodora had fallen immediately to sleep. Ewan had made the decision to carry her upstairs himself where he’d chosen the nicest and most feminine bedchamber for her. He’d summoned Mrs. Cotswold and Rosalie to tuck Lady Theodora in and he’d made it clear that no one outside of himself and the servants who were already privy, should know of Lady Theodora’s presence in the house.
She wouldn’t be happy when she awoke. That was for certain. The look on her face when Dr. Blanchard had informed her that she wouldn’t be able to go home could only be described as somewhere between horrified and aghast.
Ewan couldn’t blame her. He’d been feeling quite similar emotions. How in the world would they be able to stay under the same roof for weeks? Not only were they essentially complete strangers, the two times they had met most recently, they had been at each other’s throats. And now she was expected to be his house guest for weeks? The chit was nothing but trouble as she’d proved time and time again. Granted, now she was trouble with a broken leg, but trouble just the same.
Add to that, the very real danger that if anyone found out she was here, there could be a scandal. One that might affect his political career, let alone his future marriage. What if Lady Lydia and her father found out?
Ewan wasn’t entirely blameless, however. A flash of guilt shot through him. If he hadn’t frightened her in the stables and made her tumble from the windowsill, she wouldn’t have broken her leg. However, he mustn’t forget thatshehad been the one sneaking intohisstables. And now he was stuck with the chit for an entire month.
First thing was first, however. Ewan had had the unfortunate task of having to send a missive to Lord Blackstone in the wee hours of the morning explaining the situation the best he could. He was expecting the earl’s arrival at any moment.
“Are you going to pace out there all morning or come in?” came Lady Theodora’s disgruntled voice from inside the bedchamber.
Ewan stopped pacing. He had to smile. What other type of greeting did he expect from the chit? Last night she’d been in pain. Today the doctor had left her some medicine to alleviate it, but she still sounded grumpy. He recalled how she’d scolded him for not understanding the irony of Alabaster’s name last night. Not only was she determined, she was brash, and bordering on rude. One never knew what would come out of her mouth next. Apparently, a broken leg hadn’t changed that.
Forcing his face to remain completely blank, Ewan pushed open the door with one hand and peeked inside. “How did you know I was out there?”
“Who else would be wearing a hole in the floor?” she shot back.
“Are you decent?” he ventured.
A long sigh ensued. “I’m wearing a nightrail whose owner is a mystery to me and have the blankets pulled up to my armpits. I’m as decent as possible given the circumstances.”
That was good enough for Ewan. He stepped inside the large white room filled with hints of light blue. His mother had always favored this room of all the guest rooms. It was the largest and the most lavishly decorated. That’s why he had chosen it for Lady Theodora.
She was sitting in the middle of the enormous bed, with a nightgown pulled to her chin and blankets atop that. He could only see her head. He smothered a laugh. She was more covered than she’d been last night for certain. Her long dark hair was down around her shoulders and Rosalie must have brushed it because it was certainly not in the disarray it had been last night after he’d pulled off her cap. She looked young, and pretty, despite the slight dark smudges under her eyes. She was paler than he remembered her, no doubt due to the pain in her leg. He could almost feel sorry for her. Almost.
Ewan shook off the sympathetic thoughts. “The nightgown belongs to one of the maids. I’ve ensured the utmost discretion,” he offered, coming to stand at the end of the bed facing her.
Lady Theodora nodded. “Is it the maid who came to check on me earlier? “I’ll have to thank her myself.”
“Yes, her name is Rosalie.”
Lady Theodora gave him a wary stare. “You ... aren’t the one who dressed me, are you?”
He arched a brow. “Of course not. What sort of blackguard do you take me for? I carried you up here and handed over your care to Rosalie and Mrs. Cotswold.”
Was it his imagination or did she blush? He hadn’t thought she was capable of blushing.
“Thank you for that, then,” Lady Theodora replied, pulling up the covers even higher as if that were possible.
“It’s highly inappropriate for me to be in your bedchamber, of course,” Ewan continued, “but I suppose we’ve thrown convention aside long ago. How are you feeling this morning?”
