Although his words of confidence that he would be well were hopeful, based on how he was feeling, he knew the injury to his head was not going to make it easy. In fact, he worried that perhaps this, on top of his previous injury, was going to make it far more difficult to protect his Angel.
“You don’t appear at all well, Captain. I think it best if perhaps we get you to your own physician.”
He spoke through gritted teeth. “Yes… I believe that might be wise. I was leaving the carriage for Mr. Ford but if you could get me to Dr. Thornberry’s residence before I pass out, I would be most grateful.”
He barely got his words out of his mouth before his world began to once more spin out of control. He heard Mrs. Dove-Lyon calling for someone; it sounded as if she was a thousand miles away instead of in the same room. It was the last thing he was aware of before he passed out cold.
Chapter Sixteen
Violet sat withher hands folded in her lap as she waited in Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s private office. She had to admit that after the encounter with Major Dawkes last night, she had been reluctant to step foot again at this establishment. Patience had guaranteed her that she would be safe to meet with the Lyon’s Den owner but Violet had her doubts.
Her jaw ached. She realized she had been unknowingly clenching her teeth in her sleep and even now while waiting in this room. Every time she stopped paying attention, her jaw would throb and she’d discover she was grinding her teeth again.
She couldn’t seem to stop. She hadn’t been at all safe after she had been accosted last night and she had no idea what had happened to Sir Knight after she had left. She supposed she could ask Mrs. Dove-Lyon who the gentleman was because Violet had no idea where she would even begin to look for him. Besides, that would hardly be ladylike if she were to try to find him on her own. She would hate to have him think of her as some wanton woman instead of the lady she tried to be. She might have been independent, which was a condition her mother and cousin and pretty much everyone frowned upon in her society,but she did have her standards and she held herself to the same morals as those ladies of theton.
If she were honest with herself, Violet just wanted to forget this marriage endeavor and go home. It hadn’t been her idea to look for a husband anyway and this whole mess had been forced upon her out of a sense of duty to her cousin. Since Sir Knight had informed her he wasn’t interested in finding a wife, and he was the only one who had caused her heart to flutter like a schoolgirl’s, she doubted any other man would come along who she might feel the same way about. Violet shook her head. It was time to demand she be allowed to return home to Bracknell and forget all this foolishness. She would need to find a way to pay Patience back the money she paid to the Black Widow of Whitehall.
Her mind was made up. She’d inform Mrs. Dove-Lyon that she no longer needed to find Violet a possible groom.
Just then the office door opened. The lady herself came into the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click before moving to sit behind the mahogany desk. She wasted no time speaking her own thoughts on the subject of last night’s unfortunate incident.
“I seem to be doing a bit of apologizing to my customers today for the disturbances both inside and outside of my business. I hope you won’t think these brawls and women being accosted on their way home is in anyway a normal part of how I run my establishment. Please accept my sincere apologies for what you endured last night.”
Violet gave a crisp nod. “I appreciate you taking time to offer your kind words. You were hardly responsible for the actions of one man,” she replied softly. “You cannot be held accountable for everything bad that happens.”
“Yes… I can. I take great care in vetting my customers but somehow Major Dawkes slipped under my standards. Again, I must apologies for any offense he caused you.”
“Major Dawkes and I will hardly be traveling in the same circles,”Violet answered before continuing, “I plan to return home to Bracknell and will work out my debt to my cousin.”
The lady covered in mourning attire sat still and silently at her desk, most likely perusing her from beneath her black veil. “I highly doubt that the major won’t follow you there. He has taken an interest in you.”
“There are plenty of other women the major can and most likely will prey on. I won’t be one of them.” While her voice sounded of confidence, Violet wasn’t entirely sure she believed it. There was something about Cosmo Dawkes that gave off an underlying trait of bitterness and getting whatever he wanted. Why did he want her? It wasn’t like she was a rich heiress, although he most likely wasn’t aware of such information from their brief encounter.
“All the same, I began all of this by accepting my fee from the Countess of Rowley. It is only right that I ensure your safety to the best of my ability. I certainly wouldn’t want your reputation, or mine for that matter, to be damaged and ruined because of Major Dawkes.”
“Go on…” Violet replied as she once again nodded her head assuming the Black Widow of Whitehall would assign bodyguards to watch over her. So she wasn’t prepared for the woman’s next words.
“Your cousin informed me you are a well-trained apothecarist in Bracknell. I have a client that is in need of someone qualified to heal headaches and pain.” She took a note from her desk and slid the paper across the shiny dark surface. “This is the address of a physician who has a small practice inside his home. I assure you, that you will be safe there and in no need of a chaperone while there helping the man.”
“It’s highly improper not to have my companion with me wherever I go,” Violet voiced her concern, although today she had come to the Lyon’s Den by herself since both Arianna and Patience had been too indisposed to accompany her.
“My driver will take you to a local shop where you can get all the supplies you might need to help this poor man. I would greatlyappreciate your help in healing his pain. If you feel that you still wish to return home after you meet with him, then I will offer you a partial payment to your debt to your cousin. Call it returning a favor for a favor.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon leaned back in her chair, waiting for her answer.
Even a partial payment might be substantial and go a long way to return Patience’s kindness. “Very well. I accept your offer,” she said, wondering if she would regret such a decision.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon stood and reached across the desk, extending her gloved hand. “Shall we shake on our new deal?” she asked with a tilt of her veiled head.
Violet shook the woman’s hand, sealing her fate to whatever might come next. Escorted from the room shortly afterward, she soon found herself back in her carriage looking at the address neatly writing on the vellum:Dr. Wilbur Thornberry. She, of course, had never heard of him, but apparently her fate was now attached to whomever the good doctor was attending.
Chapter Seventeen
Gideon’s mind hazilywandered on a wave of the heavenly scent of lavender and rosemary. He hadn’t felt this relaxed in years and he knew without any doubt that he didn’t wish to wake up from the dream he was experiencing. Coolness swiped over his forehead and down his scarred face to be replaced by fingertips, gently massaging his temples. Yes… if this was heaven, then he never wished to awake.
A lock of his hair was brushed back from his forehead before a cool cloth was placed on his brow. Once more he felt a profound sense of contentment. And then he heard the sweetest of voices that surely must be that of an angel. Slowly he opened his eyes to see none other than the beautiful woman who had been filling his mind of late. His very own Angel. She was sitting at his bedside reading from a book. His movement upon the bed must have alerted her that he was now awake because she quickly closed the tome and set it on the nightside table.
“Thank goodness you’re awake, Sir Knight,” she whispered with what sounded like relief.
He tried to answer her but realized his throat was parched. “Water…” he managed to mutter.
