Lord Naylor knelt next to his son, panic widening his eyes. “What happened?”
His wife sobbed. “He swallowed one of those orange berries.”
Hector studied them quickly. The rounded berries and shiny dark-green leaves pointed to a willow leaf plant. “They’re poisonous. Keep his mouth open and make sure his tongue stays out, lest he choke on it.”
He ran down the aisle, searching for the leaves of thePhillotaria elongatahe’d spotted earlier. Behind him, Albert kept choking and gasping for air. Come on. Where was that damn plant? Hector snatched a few tender leaves and dashed back to the child.
“Keep his mouth open.” He stuffed the boy’s mouth with the crushed leaves none-too-gently, being careful to break them so as to release their juice.
The boy swallowed hard, tears welling in his eyes. Lord Naylor rubbed his son’s back, his features etched with fear. “Swallow it, son.”
Albert pulled a face, but he stopped convulsing and breathed normally again. His skin lost its blue colour but didn’t return a healthy shade of pink.
“Papa,” the boy said in a weak voice.
Lord and Lady Naylor hugged him. Frances joined them. Happy tears fell down Lady Naylor’s cheeks as she whispered how much she loved her son. Hector’s legs shook. He needed to sit down, or he’d collapse. He stretched out an arm, searching for something to grasp, and found Maddie.
“I’m here, Hector.” She took his hand and steadied him.
As always. She was always there for him.
“He’s fine. He’s fine,” Lord Naylor kept saying, caressing his son’s face.
Hector leant against her, not too heavily, though. “He needs the physician. It takes a few days for the body to get rid of the poisonous juice of those berries. He’ll likely have problems with his stomach for a few days, but if he drinks a lot of water and avoids spicy food—” The rest of his list of recommendations was cut off by Lord Naylor crushing him in a bear hug.
Hell, Hector could barely breathe, trapped in the captain’s thick arms.
Lady Naylor copied her husband and, still holding her child, wrapped an arm around Hector. He waited for the rising tide of anxiety that being squashed and crowded might bring him, but nothing came. If anything, he enjoyed the comfort of the embrace. Maddie never left him, her arms wrapped around his waist.
“We could never thank you enough.” Lady Naylor wiped her tears. “Without you, Albert would be dead.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wentworth,” Frances said, taking his hand. “For everything.”
The boy flashed a weak smile and waved as if agreeing with his mama. “Thank you, sir.”
Lord Naylor stared at Hector with the determination of someone who’d made a firm decision. “Lord Hector, I’ll vouch for you with the queen. I’ll present your case myself. You are neither deranged nor dangerous. I owe you my family’s life.”
Hector shook his head. “You owe me nothing.”
Maddie poked him with her elbow.
Lord Naylor’s determined expression didn’t change. “I do, and I’ll show you what gratitude means.”
* * *
“Yes, yes!”Ernest shook a fist in the air, his enthusiasm contagious. “We have our letter from Dr. Smith, and we have our champion, and a fine one at that.” He kept waving the document signed by Lord Naylor after Maddie and Hector had returned from the captain’s house.
Maddie couldn’t believe it. Thanks to Lord Naylor’s intervention, Hector was about to become the Duke of Blackburn. Sitting next to her, Hector grinned as if he couldn’t believe it either.
“Your brother and your mother would be so proud of you.” She squeezed his hand. A sob remained lodged in her throat as his eyes misted.
“Will I be a good duke though?” he whispered. “Will I really make them proud?”
“You’ll be the best,” Ernest said before Maddie could reply. He grabbed Hector’s shoulders and shook him. “Now we have to talk to your cousin, Your Grace. Let’s go.”
“Now?” Maddie and Hector asked together.
Ernest snatched his hat and leather bag. “No time like the present.”
