ChapterEleven
Harley preferred to carry out the wishes of his master, except of course when they were just plain wrong.Today the man was mad as a hatter.
He couldn’t drag the man to Peabody if he wouldn’t go.The lady could, but Mallet threatened to flay him alive if he so much as peeped to her.Harley knew that Mallet would never have done it.He also knew that his employer would drop of the fever unless someone did something.
The loud rap of the knocker below stairs saved Harley from coming to any conclusion.When no barrage of colorful cursing greeted the sound of the knocker on a Sabbath afternoon, Harley thought, “The man be ill all right.”
Lady Georgiana didn’t stop to sit or pause to greet him.Like a ship at full sail, she swept into the sitting room crowded with her boxes and bins and demanded, “Have you sent word to the surgeon?”
“Someone has to, but he won’t let me,” Harley answered.
Georgiana handed John Footman a sealed packet of vellum without responding.“This is to be given directly to Mr.Peabody himself, do you understand?Tonight.His premises are on the second floor of the same building we visited near Magdalene College.If you don’t find him there, search.Take the carriage.”
“But, my lady, if I take the carriage, how will you?—”
“If you value your position, don’t hesitate another moment.”How she would travel back to Helsington, if she went back, was not his concern.
Harley watched John Footman leap to the carriage and licked his mouth in satisfaction.He did like the lady’s way of getting done what needed doing.
“Now, show me upstairs.”
“Gladly, my lady.Needs someone to take charge, he does.”
* * *
“You won’t take my leg.”Andrew felt Georgiana grip his hand and hold it firmly.He wanted to bat it away, but he found himself holding on for dear life.
“The wound has festered.”Peabody, to his credit, didn’t try to coddle him.“We discussed the possibility.Another surgeon would take the leg.I’m surprised they didn’t do it in Belgium.”Andrew heard Harley, who fought the surgeons off when they tried, snort rudely.
Peabody attempted to cover concern with a jovial tone, and Harley fretted.Georgiana stood steadfast and earned Andrew’s gratitude.
“You won’t take my leg.”
“No, I won’t.”The young surgeon paused and appeared to choose words carefully.“All I can do is drain the poison and cauterize it.The process may be even more painful than actually removing it, but it should do the trick.”If I survive the process, Andrew thought.
Andrew held Georgiana’s hand more tightly.She should leave.“Georgiana, you?—”
“No.I will stay.”There was steel in her voice.
Peabody protested.“My lady, I really must insist that you leave.”
“Do you wish it?”Georgiana’s eyes searched his.
No, I don’t wish it.“You ought to go,” he said aloud.
She shook her head.
“My lady, this is no place for a woman.”Peabody’s compassionate voice was firm.
“I will stay.”
“Give it up, Peabody.”Andrew clung to her hand.“No one moves Lady Georgiana Hayden when her mind is made up.”That was his last coherent speech for several days.
* * *
“Georgiana?”Andrew heard his own voice as a distant and unfamiliar rasp, but he was sure of Georgiana.
“Andrew,” she said on a breathy whisper, “all will be well.”When she said it, he believed it.He wondered if even God could bring Himself to gainsay Lady Georgiana Hayden.
