Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“You must walk,” I whispered to Clementina, trying my best to pull her forward. However, she did not budge, her body sinking and taking me with her when, all of a sudden, I felt hands at my back, stilling me.
“Stay calm,” a deep voice uttered directly behind me. “The maid shall help.”
I did not understand what he meant until I realized Clementina did not feel as heavy; there was now support on the other side.
“Continue forward,” the man ordered, and I did. It was not as though I had much choice, thanks to Hathor.
We made it from the ballroom into the hall without further incident, and there I saw two footmen as well as another maid at the ready; quickly they came to take her from me.
“Take her to her rooms and have the lady of the house notified immediately of my presence. I will need a basin of fresh water and towels.”
With Clementina in their care, I finally turned, so surprised by who was before me, I stared at him in stunned silence. Dr. Darrington, dressed in a simple black tailcoat and white necktie, his skin a deep warm brown, hazel eyes, and short curly hair, stood a whole head and part of his shoulders taller than I.
“Lady Verity,” he acknowledged me and then followed Clementina and the maids up the stairs.
It was only when he moved away from me that I realized I had been holding my breath.
Why had I not been able to speak?
I stood stunned at all that had transpired, unsure what to do next, when the duchess came out of the ballroom huffing angrily.
“I swear, that girl! It is as though she purposely chooses the most inopportune times to be an encumbrance! I—Lady Verity?” She stepped back, surprised at the sight of me.
I curtsied before her. “Your Grace.”
Immediately, the expression on her face changed to one of politeness. “What in the good name are you doing out here, my dear?”
“Lady Verity helped the young miss out into the hall,” the maid beside her whispered loudly. For a second, and only because I was observing the duchess’s face, I was able to see her eyes widen in panic before relaxing.
“How nice of you, but Clementina is making far too much of a little cold. You need not worry about her. Luckily, Sir Grisham is attending to her—”
“It is another doctor,” the maid whispered again, making the duchess whip her head to her.
“Another doctor! Who?”
“Dr. Darrington,” I answered for her, finally able to speak his name. “I believe his name is Dr. Theodore Darrington, Your Grace. You need not worry. He’s been in the service of my brother and…and the Earl of Montagu. He’s quite skilled, I am told, as well as discreet. I am sure she is feeling much better already.”
I was not sure if Dr. Darrington had ever treated Damon, but I could not simply give my brother as an only reference to the duchess, especially as he was not here. At the very least, Damon would be able to account for his presence when he had last come to our home.
“Oh.” She calmed marginally. “Well, you should return inside, I would not wish for Deanna to wonder where you have disappeared to.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” I curtsied once more before doing as she asked.
As I reentered, hearing the pianist’s hands glide upon the keys, I found myself reaching to touch my back where his hands had touched me.
Why were his hands so warm that I still felt heat there?
How strange.
4
Verity
I looked to the ballroom’s door expectantly throughout the concert, waiting to see if he, the duchess, or Clementina would return. However, by the time the pianist finished his last concerto to a round of applause, none of them had reentered. And no one seemed to be the least bit aware of it.
The night continued as though all was well.
“Tell me now if you have lost your mind so I can make sure not to lose my own,” the marchioness said to Hathor as we watched a few couples take to the dance floor now that the band had begun to entertain us for the rest of the evening. A place Hathor would much rather have been than held captive at her mother’s side to be lectured. “Must you faint at every gathering?”
“That is a significant exaggeration, Mama. We had a massive gathering of our own just last night, and my legs did not even wobble as Father’s did with all that wine.” She giggled, causing her father to almost cough into his current glass of wine. Immediately, the marchioness’s ire was on him, but before she could speak, another woman called her attention.
“You have thrown me to the wolf, your own father?” the marquess whispered to Hathor.
She smiled, nodding. “I must live to fight another day.”