She had no idea how much time had passed before she heard faint voices shouting. Reluctantly, she left Lucien and hurried down to the lobby, where two policemen were waiting. They identified themselves as Officers Clement and O’Connell and together they carried Lucien downstairs. Then they laid him on one of the lobby sofas just as the doctor arrived. He was an older man with curling white hair and an air of competence that set her slightly at ease.
While he saw to Lucien, Alex told the policemen as much as she could, though she couldn’t help stopping every few moments to pepper the doctor with questions.
The exasperated man finally shot her a quelling look. “Madam, I must insist you cease speaking and let me evaluate your husband!”
Alex didn’t bother to correct him. She just dutifully clamped her mouth shut.
“You say you’ve been in contact with Inspector Holland?” Officer O’Connell asked. He seemed to be the senior and had taken charge of the scene.
“Yes,” Alex said distractedly. She was unable to look away fromLucien’s still form laid out on a lobby sofa. He hadn’t regained consciousness even while they were moving him. And every minute that passed, her worry grew.
“All right,” Officer O’Connell continued. “He will be informed about this incident. In the meantime, we will have a look around the neighborhood, but chances are this fellow is long gone. Is there someone we can notify for you?”
Alex finally managed to meet the man’s eyes. “Uh, yes. My father. Though I’m not sure anyone is home at this hour.”
The officers exchanged a look. “I can see you both home safely in our vehicle, while Office Clement stays here and takes a look around.”
“Thank you,” Alex said.
The doctor then approached them. “Well, he’s certainly been knocked about, but nothing seems to be broken. I’ll wager his ribs are bruised, though. Best thing is to let him rest as much as possible.”
Alex let out a sigh of relief and nodded. “Of course.”
“And someone should watch over him tonight,” the doctor added. “On account of the blows to his head and the possibility of internal bleeding.”
“I will,” Alex croaked.
The older man frowned. “You need to rest as well, madam. This has been quite a shock. If you exert yourself anymore, I fear you will fall into a swoon.”
At any other time, she would have given the doctor a piece of her mind.
I have never once swooned and do not intend to start now.
But she didn’t possess the will to challenge his backwardassertions at the moment, so instead she managed a smile, or something close to it.
“Thank you for your concern, Doctor,” Alex said. “Your expertise is much appreciated.”
She must have sounded convincing, for the man preened a little before collecting his fee and shuffling off.
Once he was through the doors, Alex’s smile fell. She would call for the family physician as soon as they got home and confirm the diagnosis.
Then she abruptly turned to the waiting policemen. “Shall we be going?”
Officer Clement, who hadn’t said a word since he arrived, cracked a smile and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
They then loaded Lucien into the back of the police wagon before Officer Clement left to assess the scene.
“I trust this will be the only time you get to ride in one of these,” Officer O’Connell joked after Alex insisted on staying with Lucien.
“Unless I met that brute again,” she muttered with cold certainty.
The man’s eyebrows rose. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, ma’am,” he said as he touched the brim of his helmet and shut the door.
The ride home proved to be interminable, as poor Lucien let out a pitiful little moan every time they went over a large bump. He still hadn’t regained consciousness and Alex was nearly out of her mind with worry when they finally arrived at Park House.
As soon as Officer O’Connell opened the doors of the police wagon, Alex leaped to the ground and raced up the front steps. Munson must have been watching from the window, because thedoor immediately swung open. No doubt he was positively scandalized by the sight of a police wagon in front of the house.
Indeed, the venerable old butler looked rather pale. “Miss Alexandra!”
