Priscilla pacedat the foot of her mother’s bed as the doctor leaned over her, listening to her lungs and gingerly touching various spots on her rib cage.
He finally straightened and Priscilla stopped pacing, her hands clasping in front of her.
Eugene was absent from the doctor’s visit, a development for which Priscilla was most grateful.She assumed it was his guilt keeping him away, but she focused on the doctor and her mother for the time being.
Honestly, she was shocked he’d called for a physician at all, but she reckoned even Eugene had a few decent tendencies.
“Well,” the doctor said, frowning as he looked at Priscilla.“The news isn’t good.”
Her heart stopped.“What is it?”
“She’s got a few cracked ribs.”
One of her hands came to cover her mouth.“Mama,” she said, her other hand reaching for her mother’s.
The doctor shifted.“You said she caught her foot on the rug and fell back?”
The lie sat sour on Priscilla’s tongue as she glanced over to her mother’s closed eyes.Her chin moved up and down the tiniest bit and Priscilla knew she was to continue the falsehood.“That’s right.”
“Then why are the ribs damaged in the front and not the back?”
Pricilla was in danger of becoming a watering pot as more tears filled her eyes.She was done covering for Eugene.Done attempting to make the situation better by placating him.“The earl has a?—”
She stopped as the doctor’s mouth pressed together.“Say no more.Is there anywhere besides here that she might recover?”
“Move her?”Priscilla asked, her eyes growing wide as she looked down at her mother’s pale face.She did not wish to stay here, but how could she take her mother anywhere else?And what would Eugene do if she did?
She should have taken advantage of Wyatt’s offer to elope yesterday.If she had…
The thought of him made her insides tremble.She’d written to Ralph, thanks to the card she had with his address.In the hastily scribbled note, she’d asked him to bring Wyatt right away.
“Not too far.”The doctor shifted closer.“But surely, someone else can take you in here in town.Ensure she can recover without further harm?”
Priscilla looked to the door with a nod.“There are only the legal considerations.The earl is my guardian and while my mother is free to leave, I—” She’d have to write Brax.She’d need his help now.
The doctor stood straighter.“I am the grandson of a marquess.I’ll vouch to the earl’s incompetence if I have to.”
Those words made Priscilla’s shoulders go limp as gratitude washed through her.“Thank you.”
A soft knock sounded at the door as the butler entered.“Lady Priscilla, the Viscount Ware?—”
“Is right here,” Wyatt said, stepping around the other man.The butler made a face but said nothing as Wyatt entered the room.
Relief made her draw in a ragged breath.“You came.”
“I did.”He looked over at her mother, his mouth forming a hard line that pulled at his scar.“Can she be moved?”
The doctor nodded.“We were just discussing that very action.I’ll help.”
“Good.”He turned back to the door and waved his hand, Ralph coming in behind Wyatt.
Priscilla took a step toward him, pulled by some force closer to him.There was no present danger here in the room, why did feel the need to be at his side?“I’m so glad you’re here.”
Their eyes met and as she moved closer, he reached out a hand, touching her cheek with the pad of his thumb.“I’ll always be here for you, Priscilla.”
“What are we going to do about Eugene?”
“I’ll take care of that.Ralph can take you both to the carriage.”He looked over at her mother.“He’s very strong.If anyone can carry you without jostling, it’s him.”
