Page 54
Eighteen
Still at the hunting lodge
NEAR DAWN THE FOLLOWING MORNING
One hand planted on his hip and the other cupping his nape, Cassius stood beside the improvised bed that Beatrice lay upon, four feet from the sooty hearth. Concern tightened his throat and worry made him press his mouth into a severe line.
If he didn’t fear discovery, and if the grimy chimney weren’t in such poor condition, he would have risked a fire, just for the much-needed light.
Beatrice hadn’t stirred after fainting.
Not even when he’d settled her on the two horse blankets Layton had hurriedly laid upon the wooden floor, untied her cloak, unbuttoned the top five buttons of her gown, and removed her stockings and shoes.
Both dogs lay next to her, their worried gazes trained on her wan face. Every few minutes, Teddy whimpered and looked to Cassius or Layton, asking them to help his mistress.
Cassius shared the dogs’ dismay.
Beatrice burned with fever and, other than wiping her with cool water from the stream behind the cabin, there was naught he could do. He glanced to the side to where his brother leaned against the stone hearth, arms folded, a look of consternation creasing his expression.
“She’s too weak to travel on horseback, Layton.”
Layton nodded but remained silent.
Cassius closed his eyes.
They could contrive some sort of litter to drag behind a horse, but that would slow them down and possibly make them sitting ducks for Highbury’s thugs.
If Beatrice had contracted the same illness as Millborn, she might worsen even more. His gut told him she needed medical attention, and she sure as blazes couldn’t get it in a run-down cabin in the woods.
Facing his brother, Cassius sighed. “You’ll have to go for help.”
“Aye.” Layton gave a solemn nod.
There was nothing else to do.
Cassius would remain here and care for Beatrice as best he could.
If Layton rode hard and nothing unforeseen caused a delay, he could arrive at Hefferwickshire by mid-morning. It might take an hour or two to get a coach ready, reach a physician, and round up men to accompany him back to the woods.
The return trip to this God-forsaken glen would be slower, but if all went well, and if the Good Lord smiled down upon them, help could be here by late tonight.
“I’ll leave now.” Layton straightened. “I’ll try to hurry.”
Cassius nodded, taking in their primitive surroundings.
The lone candle he’d located last night wouldn’t last more than an hour or two. Thank God Beatrice wasn’t aware of the spiderwebs, scampering little feet, or the bat that had darted around the small enclosure until Layton had shooed the terrified creature out the open door.
Layton crossed the room and grasped Cassius’s shoulder. “I don’t know what Miss Fairfax means to you, and it’s none of my business, little brother. But you plainly care for her, or you would never have agreed to this madcap scheme.”
Madcap, indeed.
“It doesn’t matter.” Cassius shook his head. “As soon as I’ve delivered Beatrice Fairfax to Hefferwickshire House, I’m washing my hands of the responsibility. You know I vowed to never become emotionally entangled again.”
Beatrice moaned and tossed her head back and forth before quieting.
“I know, and I understand.” Layton well should after Virginia had left him for another officer and tried to kill him to boot.
A few years back, he’d spoken of adopting a child but hadn’t mentioned it again, so perhaps he intended to live out his life alone, as did Cassius.
