Chapter 16 #3
“Hush, love,” he said while carrying her to the house. “I know about the tunnel. I found the building plans in his chamber. Let’s get you out of those wet clothes, and then the doctor will have a look at you. He’ll take care of you first, then we’ll talk to the magistrate.”
“We are at your service, Your Grace,” the magistrate assured him, “however long it takes.”
“Thank you, Lord Farnhum.”
The magistrate and his constables, William, Carver, and the doctor all followed him to the house, the constables carrying Ernfield’s body from the marshes.
Carver’s workers also followed Alex, but he ordered them into the kitchen. “Have a cup of tea while we wait for the magistrate to finish with Ernfield. I think he will want to question all of us.”
“Aye, Your Grace,” said Dougal, who seemed to be the natural leader among these workers and often served as Carver’s second in command.
The household servants clustered around Alex as soon as he strode in through the parlor, for he’d taken the terrace steps that led directly into that room, which was the shortest route to his bedchamber.
Between ink stains and now wet, muddy boot stains, the floors would need another thorough cleaning, but this was the least of his worries just now.
Tulip’s breathing was still raspy, but each inhale and exhale seemed to be getting stronger and more even. What worried Alex most was the blow she had taken to her head, but the doctor would examine it and let him know if she required stitches.
He turned to the maids and footmen who were now gaping at him. “Have a bath sent up for my wife.” He motioned to two of the maids. “Follow me. Her Grace needs to get out of these wet clothes.”
“Oh, and I’ve spilled ink all over my gown,” Tulip said, sounding more distressed about the garment than almost dying at the hands of a fiend. Perhaps it was easier for her to think of this than dwell on the danger she had just experienced. “Alex, I don’t think this lovely muslin can be saved.”
“I’ll buy you a dozen just like it, sweetheart,” he said, his voice tight and his heart still pounding from his own fear that he had almost lost her. “All that matters is you are safe and alive.”
He would have the doctor look her over straight away to make certain the head wound was not serious. There was always the danger of a brain swell when dealing with such an injury. One might be alert and seemingly on the mend one moment, and then something in the brain ruptures and…no, not to Tulip.
He refused to entertain such a thought.
However, the doctor was also concerned with the severity of her wound and insisted on a quick, cursory examination while they were still in the parlor.
“Just a precaution, Your Grace. The magistrate will require my services, too. But your wife is the priority. Let me have a look at her scalp before the maids get her out of her wet clothes and settle her comfortably in bed.”
“Of course.” He sank onto the settee, and insisted on keeping Tulip on his lap while the doctor looked into her eyes and began to ask her questions.
It came as a great relief to Alex when the doctor declared she would recover.
“Take her upstairs and make her comfortable, Your Grace. Once she has washed up and changed into dry clothing, I’ll place a few stitches to close up the wound.
In truth, stitches might not even prove necessary.
But we’ll see. I am pleased to report that your wife is in greater danger of catching a chill than of dying from that blow on the head. ”
“Are you certain?” Alex dared not allow himself to feel any exhilaration yet.
“Yes,” the doctor said with a smile. “My decision would have been different had her eyes not appeared focused or had her speech been slurred, which it wasn’t in the least. You have leave to carry her up to her bedchamber and have the maids attend her.”
Alex now let out a breath of relief and kissed Tulip’s cheek. “Do you hear that, love? Thank you, Dr. Harding.”
“Alex, what time is it?” Tulip asked as he carried her up the stairs with two of the maids scampering behind him.
“Coming on three o’clock, I think.”
“Oh, we must get ready for our dinner party.”
He laughed. “Are you serious? You are in no condition to entertain anyone. I’ll have Carver send one of the grooms to advise all our guests. We’ll reschedule for next week or the week after, all right?”
She sighed. “What about all the food Mrs. Crabbe has prepared?”
“I think the staff deserves a feast, don’t you? We’ll dine quietly in our bedchamber, and your meal will be nothing heavier than a beef broth for the next few days.”
“I was so looking forward to the dishes Mrs. Crabbe prepared.”
“She’ll do it all over again soon, love.”
Tulip once again rested her head against his shoulder as he now strode down the hall toward the duchess bedchamber. “I love you, Alex,” she whispered. “I knew you would save me.”
He shuddered to think how close a call it was. “Always, sweetheart. Always and forever.”
He ought to have added that he loved her, but there was too much commotion swirling around them. Tulip was going to make a big thing of it when he told her, and he did not want others listening in.
He would tell her tonight when taking her in his arms because he meant to keep her securely wrapped in his embrace while she slept.
In truth, even handing her over to the maids felt like agony to him.
The maids blushed and giggled with embarrassment when he insisted on remaining in the duchess chamber to watch as Tulip was undressed and bathed.
He did not care if they thought it was improper.
He was worried that she might take a sudden turn for the worse and the maids would not understand what was happening.
For her part, Tulip must have felt the same concern.
She appeared relieved when he remained beside her, and she was not at all bashful that he watched her while she was in the tub. He would have taken over the chore of washing her, but that would have been too scandalous for these maids.
He went into his own bedchamber to quickly change into dry trousers and boots while they put Tulip in her nightgown and robe.
He returned in time to carry Tulip to his bed. “She needs watching tonight. She’ll stay with me.”
The maids grinned and giggled.
Tulip wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.
The maids grinned and giggled some more.
“Leave us now,” Alex ordered once Tulip was settled in his bed. “Send Dr. Harding up here once the magistrate has no more need of him.”
He turned to Tulip when they were alone again. “You might need a few stitches, love. I’ll be right here by your side. When that’s done, I’ll order a light broth to warm your insides. That is, if the doctor says it is all right for you to have anything just yet.”
She nodded. “You are with me, that’s all I need.”
He took her hands in his, but his heart lurched as he felt the welts and scratches on her palms. “You almost died because of me.”
“You? I do believe Ernfield was completely to blame.”
Alex took a deep breath. “I should have anticipated the threat. All those deaths…”
“They were ruled accidental by some very intelligent and experienced people.”
He shook his head. “I should have investigated on my own and left you in London while I found out for myself. I should not have married you until I was confident there was no danger to you. But I wanted you so badly, and I could not bear the thought of anyone else marrying you.”
She laughed. “There was hardly any risk of that. I was never going to marry Caruthers, even if it meant my ruination.”
“I’m sure there would have been other suitors, genuine men of good reputation. You are a gem, Tulip.”
“Well, I don’t know about that. But I married you and had no intention of allowing you to leave me behind.”
“I should have, though. Even if you objected. But I could not bear to be apart from you once we were husband and wife. Tulip, it is long past time I told you.” He raised her hands to his lips and kissed them. “I love you.”
Her eyes widened and she cast him a breathtaking smile, then she hugged him fiercely. “I hoped you would come around in time.”
He laughed in relief, for she seemed to be regaining her strength. “I did not need any time at all.”
“Alex,” she said, easing back to look at him, “I think I was already in love with you by the time you kissed me in Lady Fullerton’s garden.”
He arched an eyebrow. “And you think you were the first to fall in love because of this? Let me assure you, I fell in love with you the moment I set eyes on you when you bumped into me on Chipping Way.”
Her eyes brightened and she laughed, obviously believing he was in jest. “Are you suggesting it was love at first sight for you?”
He nodded. “Then I spent the next few months trying to convince myself that I was wrong. But every time I saw you, I fell deeper in love. I’m sorry I did not tell you sooner. I have always loved you and always will.”
She smiled at him. “No wonder I always felt safe with you. I must have sensed your affection for me, although do not give me credit for being that clever. I was so relieved when you came to my rescue that night when Lord Caruthers made such a scene.”
He kissed her on her pert nose. “Once we return to London, I think I shall send Caruthers a present to thank him for bringing us together.”
Tulip laughed. “Don’t you dare. We do not need him coming back into our lives, especially since he will not be grateful to you. He will believe you are rubbing his nose in his loss.”
Alex shrugged. “Perhaps there is a bit of that. Well, a lot of that.”
“Alex! You are not mean-spirited.”
“Yes, love. I can be when someone gets me angry enough, as Caruthers did that night. You’re the nice one, not me. I’m only nice to you.” He sighed and kissed her again. “But I shall behave myself and simply ignore the oaf when we are back in London. All right?”
She gave a slight nod. “That’s better.”
They said no more as the doctor arrived and set to work examining Tulip’s scalp.