He gave her a faintly disapproving look. “Should you be here alone with him, Miss Weatherby? A single young woman like yourself? Shouldn’t you have the earl send one of the servants down to look after his brother?”
Daisy’s face burned with anger and embarrassment that the old man could even think to insinuate that there was something improper going on between them when Flynn was so ill. But the last thing she wanted was for Dr. Drake to start spreading rumors about her, so she managed to nod. “Oh, of course! I was just the one who found him in the garden, and I was so worried. I couldn’t leave him alone. My brother-in-law was here with us for most of the time we were waiting but he became incensed that it was taking so long and went to find you.”There, let him stew on the earl’s wrath!
“I came as quickly as I could,” the doctor blustered. “It takes a bit of time to get all the way out here from town.”
“I’m certain it does,” she said with a nod, glad that she’d managed to distract him. “You’ll have to remind him of that when he arrives.”
“Well, I’ll wait here until the earl gets back. Best you run along home,” Dr. Drake said sagely, though her words seemed to have rattled him a bit. “I’ll make sure the earl sends someone down to sit with the young man.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, even though she had no intention of actually leaving Flynn. She knew she’d only make things worse if she fought him on this though. Gathering up her things, she made a show of leaving the cottage and heading back up to the manor.
As soon as she entered the great hall, Violet rushed up to her, grabbing her arm. “How is he? Is he all right? I’ve been terribly worried.”
Daisy shrugged her sister off, wondering if she really cared at all for Flynn. As usual, she feared that all her sister truly cared about was how this might impact her own comfortable life. “The doctor says he’ll be fine. He just needs some rest.”
Violet looked relieved. “I’m sure that Heath will insist that we send a servant down to watch over him, whether he likes it or not. It’s not good for him to be down there all alone in his condition.”
With a sigh, Daisy trudged into the sitting room, taking a chair near the fire. Though it was technically spring, she’d become chilled to the bone on the short walk up from the cottage, and she shivered to think of poor Flynn, out all night in this weather. He must have known he needed help but had been too weak to make it all the way up to the house. She chastised herself once more for not having seen that someone stayed with him last night after realizing he was feverish.
“You still care for him, don’t you?” Violet asked, taking the chair across from her. “I thought you’d given up on him long ago.”
Daisy glared at her but did not dignify that with an answer. Her sister would only mock her for it, and she couldn’t bear any more today. Her emotions were still ragged from finding Flynn in such a state. She feared she’d never get that image out of her head.
“Do you think it’s wise?” Violet continued, the consoling tone of her voice so very at odds with what she was saying. “He’s obviously still in love with me, Daisy. He’ll always think of you as my little sister, as a step down from what he truly wanted.”
Hurt and shock ripped through Daisy, along with a sickening realization that her sister’s words were probably true. Blinking back tears, she surged to her feet once again. “Perhaps you’re right,” she whispered. “But it is very cruel of you to say so.”
“I’m just trying to prepare you for the inevitable disappointment,” Violet called after her as she stormed from the room. “I don’t want him to hurt you!”
Not bothering to dignify that with an answer, Daisy left the manor, stepping out into the cold once again. She gave one longing glance down at the cottage, then squared her shoulders and prepared herself for the long walk home. As much as she wanted to be there for Flynn, to watch over him and make sure he did everything the doctor instructed, she knew she had no right to do so. Perhaps the doctor and her sister were right. Why should she ruin her reputation over a man who thought himself in love with Violet?
Her heart still cried out yes, but for once, she listened to her mind, which emphatically said no.
Chapter Six
Flynn spent the nextfew days in bed, finally allowing his body to heal from the grievous injury he’d been dealt. The doctor had told him in no uncertain terms that he was lucky to be alive and that if he did not quit pushing himself, that luck would end. So, much to his dismay, he allowed himself to be coddled and ministered to by the series of housemaids who had been sent down to watch over him.
