Chapter Seventeen
Diana
Diana wasn’t surewhere she was. Her head hurt a little. All she knew was that she wanted Graham. Where was Graham?
“I’m here, sweetheart.” She felt movement on the bed next to her, and then she could see him. Well, mostly. Her vision was still fuzzy.
Diana gave him a weak smile. “Graham, what happened?”
The sound of her husband’s rich baritone might have made her swoon if she had been standing. “You fell from your horse, sweetheart. Please lie still. I must send for the doctor.”
Graham must have reached for the bell pull, because Mitchell entered the room. She could hear Graham’s instruction. “Send for the doctor immediately. Alert Lord Snowdon that her ladyship is awake.”
Papa?How long had she been asleep? Graham leaned to where she could see him. “My papa is here?”
“No, darling. Your brother. He stayed here last night. He sat with you for a while with Lydia.”
After a few minutes, her eyesight returned to normal, and she could see Graham clearly now. She saw an awful bruising on Graham’s cheek. She touched it gently with the tips of her fingers. “What happened to your face, Graham? Who hurt you?”
“I will tell you everything after the doctor has seen you, my love, I promise.”
Memories of the events before her accident came flooding back toher. She cringed and tears formed in her eyes. “Elias hit you, didn’t he?”
Graham wiped away a single tear from her eye with his thumb. “You have my word that all will be explained. But first, we need to confirm that you are all right.”
Elias burst into the room. “Diana? You are awake?” Lydia was on his heels.
“I’m fine, brother. Just a bit of a headache.”
Lydia clasped her hand. “You gave us quite the scare, dearest.”
“If I recall correctly, I must decide if I’m to hear my husband out. If my brother can keep his fists under control.” She gave a pointed stare to Elias.
Elias spoke next in the most apologetic tone. “I believe we may better understand each other. I hope you will give him a chance to explain.”
Diana couldn’t believe her ears when she heard her brother’s forgiving response.
“I already told her that the explanation can wait until after the doctor visits.” Graham still held onto her other hand. She needed to feel his touch. It was what was grounding her and keeping her calm. Because she loved him. And he was the one person that she had come to need more than anyone.
Mitchell entered the room, with the doctor behind him. “I hear her ladyship is awake. Can everyone step back for a moment so I can complete my exam? I’ll allow you to stay if you can remain quiet.”
Everyone nodded and lined up together against the wall, watching and waiting. The doctor talked to Diana, asking her questions to test her memory. He checked her hearing and her eyes. He examined her again for any bruising or areas hurt from the impact of the fall.
The doctor closed his bag and smiled at Diana. “You are a most fortunate lady. You have a large bruise that formed on your shoulder, but your range of motion is good. I don’t think there will be a lastinginjury. Her cognition appears normal and no concern for her memory. Her eyesight and hearing are normal. I will give directions to your maid for what to include in your tisane to help with the headache. Otherwise, you should be just fine.”
He shifted his focus to Graham. “I want her to rest in bed for a few days and then she can ease into her usual activities.”
Graham leaped forward and hugged the man. “Thank you so much.”
“You are quite welcome. I’ll meet with her maid now and have her bring up the tisane. Send for me if you need me, but I think she will recover nicely.”
Elias patted the man on the back, and the doctor departed.
Graham sat on the bed beside Diana, taking her hand again. “I was so afraid that I had lost you. Thank you for coming back to me.” She could see the tears forming in his sparkling green eyes, and she longed to soothe his pain.
Diana looked at Elias and Lydia. “Might I have a moment alone with my husband?”
The couple nodded in understanding. “Of course, sister. We will ensure you are not disturbed.” They left and shut the door behind them.
