He helped her up and got her inside. “Harley Street,” he said to the driver.
“Sir.” The driver nodded, casting a curious glance at them.
Perry massaged his aching forehead, groaning in pain.
“Headache?” she asked.
“Always after a seizure, but it should go away after a good night’s sleep.”
She frowned. “I hope the cause of the seizure wasn’t me. I know you have questions about my behaviour,” she said after a pause.
“Yes, I do.”
She avoided his gaze. “You told me to think more about having fun and less about books. Well…I followed your advice, and I’m happy I did.”
“You seem far from happy.”
“Sometimes it’s difficult to be happy,” she whispered. “And studying didn’t make me happy anymore.”
He was confused. “You talk as if you’d stopped studying altogether. But you’re a doctor now. You must have worked really hard to achieve that goal. You haven’t abandoned your dream. That’s wonderful.”
Her demeanour changed instantly. She slouched, shrinking away from him as much as the confined space allowed.
“I said something wrong.” He touched her hand gently; it was cold.
“No, you didn’t.” She choked on the words.
He rubbed his neck where the muscles remained stiff after the seizure. He didn’t know what to say. Years ago, he’d wanted nothing but to have fun. The incident had cured the hedonism out of him—extirpated it from him without anaesthesia was more like it—and before that, he hadn’t appreciated his brother trying to tell him that life was more than a wild party. But Edith was different. She didn’t lose herself in pleasure, did she?
The cab came to a stop in front of Edith’s townhouse, breaking his confused musing.
“Are you going to tell your parents about what happened tonight?” he asked, worried again. “About your moment of panic?”
She hunched her shoulders. “I’m not going to say anything. They wouldn’t care anyway.”
“Bollocks. Your parents are nothing but proud of you.” He tilted his head to stare at her face, but she avoided his gaze. “Edith.” He took her chin gently and stroked the curve of her jaw with his thumb. “I hope you didn’t argue with your parents and that they didn’t expect more from you. You’re a brilliant, amazing woman who will achieve great things. Think about all the people you’ll save by being a surgeon. Your wonderful path has just started.”
She turned her scared, teary eyes to him. Her bottom lip quivered. “Thank you for the cab, Perry. Good night.”
“Edith. Wait.”
She jumped out of the cab like a hare and ran towards her home, leaving him worried.
She’d proved to have the courage to graduate and overcome the trauma of thePrincess Alicetragedy. Her parents had to be incredibly proud of her. Hell, he was proud of her and a little envious as well. He hadn’t achieved anything as successful as her medical degree.
He found excuses whenever Oliver urged him to do his duty and be the next Earl of Ravenscroft, while Edith had rolled up her sleeves and worked hard to accomplish a great result. She was an example to follow and made him regret some of his choices.
Whatever bothered her, it couldn’t be that serious.
