Page 34 of The Gentleman Physician

“He’s in the study,” Julia added with a gesture. Then she lowered her voice. “I would like to speak to you, too.”

Nathaniel nodded. “Perhaps a turn in the back garden?”

“Yes. I will wait outside.” Julia waited until he entered the study, closing the door behind him, then she tore quickly up the stairs to find her spencer. She took the servants’ staircase down the back, to the kitchen, and let herself into the open air via the small herb garden tended to by Mrs. Rainey during their time here.

Julia waited by the conservatory’s exit, where she judged it most likely Nathaniel would appear. After only a few minutes, she realized in her haste she neglected to bring gloves or hat for warmth. She pulled the light coat more tightly about her and tried to tuck her fingers into the sleeves, but the cut was too snug for her to achieve much protection that way.

“Bother,” she muttered, finally tucking her hands under the opposite arms. It wasn’t a dignified way for a lady to stand, but she would rather have warm fingers than a sophisticated posture at present.

The doors opened and Nathaniel strode out, hat and coat on, gloved hand clasping the handles of his medical bag. He spotted her and crossed the ground between them in several long strides.

Julia sucked in a breath at the expression on his face.

She’d never actually seen him angry before. Every line of his body, every muscle in his face, looked taut and he moved with exaggerated control. His blue eyes were dark and cold, like an oncoming storm, and his scowl was something to behold.

He stopped barely an arm’s length from her. “That man,” he said, his voice low and shaking, “is no gentleman. He has offered me a bribe, a substantial one at that, to testify against the baron’s sanity.”

Julia’s mouth dropped open of its own accord and she could only gape at him, unable to form any coherent thought.

“I told him no.” A muscle twitched in his forehead. “But that he would try, or even think I could be persuaded into such a thing—”

“He is more conniving than I realized,” she said at last. “What did he say when you refused him?” She stopped holding herself and reached out, grasping his forearms. “What will he do now?”

“He told me. He actually told me.” Nathaniel shook his head and his nostrils flared. “He will bring in his own doctor to examine the baron today, as his lordship is completely unconscious and under the influence of laudanum.”

Julia’s hands tightened and Nathaniel dropped his bag, raising his gloved hands to clasp her elbows, steadying her as her knees began to buckle.

“I have sent for Timothy, but I must go warn your cousin.” His gloved hands slid from her elbows down her arms to grasp her hands. “Come, Julia.” Then he turned and tugged her with him, but she easily changed their course to the kitchen entrance.

“Through the servants’ stair.” She did not need to explain more.

The kitchen staff must have been startled to see Julia fly through their domain again, with the doctor in tow, but Julia did not care. She kept Nathaniel’s hand in hers and looked only at the path ahead of them. She gathered her skirts with her free hand and went up the narrow stairs with no thought to decorum, and he pounded along behind her.

They came into the hall and went into the baron’s bedchamber, where Virginia had been sitting by his side. Julia barely registered the startled expression on her cousin’s face.

“You must remove Mr. Macon from the house immediately,” Julia gasped out.

Nathaniel closed the door behind them and leaned against it.

Virginia came to her feet and raised her hand to dash away tears Julia hadn’t yet noticed.

“What are you talking about? What has he done?” Virginia’s voice was soft, and she darted a look at her husband, who slept on through their boisterous entrance.

“He is sending for a physician to interview your husband and declare him unfit.” Nathaniel’s explanation came out rushed, but clear. “He determined on this course after I refused the bribe he offered me to do the deed.”

Virginia glanced from Julia to Nathaniel, her face turning white. She took a stumbling step back, her composure lost. “Why? Why is he doing this?”

“We have sent for a barrister, but the doctor may arrive first,” Nathaniel said. “Under no circumstances can he be allowed in this room. If you can eject your brother-in-law from the home, I suggest you do so.”

Virginia nodded. “The staff is loyal to me. They will not admit another physician and they will put Gerard out.” She stopped in front of Nathaniel, in the doorway, and met his eyes. “Stay with him for me, Doctor?”

“Of course.”

“Cousin Julia?”

“Yes, Ginny?” Julia came forward, ready to follow orders.

“You stay too. Protect Charles.”