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“Indeed,” agreed Ashton. “No doubt the wound has become infected. It happens.” He had already opened Scott’s shirt and removed his soaked bandage to find that the wound was indeed oozing badly, swollen and red.
“We need warmer water and the gin,” Felicia said and then breathed with relief as the innkeeper appeared with the bucket and the bottle.
Ashton took the gin and poured some of it into the warm water. He then dipped one of the clean rags the innkeeper had supplied and went about the business of wiping Scott’s forehead, face, chest, and even his wound.
Becky leaned over Ashton and said calmly, “It will need to be cauterized after it is cleaned. My father suffered such a wound from a stray bullet—poachers—and his wound looked just like that.”
A few moments went by as Becky sat beside Scott and used a wet cloth from his wash basin, warmed it by the fire, and cleaned his damp face over and over again.
Felicia went downstairs to see if the doctor had been sent for and paced a moment when they told her he had over twenty minutes past.
Ashton took to pacing, and Felicia returned and helped Becky wipe Scott down. She knew an urge to cry, for he did not look well at all.
Suddenly Ashton was there, gently touching her cheek as he whispered, “Good girl, Scott will do. As Becky says, the wound needs cauterizing.”
The doctor arrived, and when he inspected the wound a bit too roughly, Felicia thought, Scott screamed out in pain, which made Becky clutch at her.
When the hot iron was set to the wound, Scott let out one yelp and passed out.
The doctor said on a sigh, “Aye, lad … aye … but now it’s done.”
Becky started for the door, telling the doctor, “Don’t cover the wound. Honey … it will work to help heal him. I should have thought of it sooner.”
“Yes, I have seen honey work wonders on very awful wounds,” Felicia agreed.
The doctor shrugged. “Agreed.”
A few moments later, Becky returned with the honey, and it was placed on the now closed black flesh.
Scott squirmed and opened his eyes, grabbed Becky’s hand, and whispered, “Don’t go.”
“No, I shan’t,” she answered.
After that, Scott seemed to rest a bit more comfortably, and the doctor pronounced that they had all done right by him but that he needed some sleep. “Keep him off his feet … keep his meals light, bread and jam for a bit … he should do.”
Felicia and Becky fussed over Scott, and Ashton grinned at the young man and said, “Well, look at you, with two beautiful women attending your every need. I tell you what, Scott Hanover, you are the most complete hand.”
Scott grinned before he closed his eyes and promptly dozed off.
~ Eighteen ~
AT EASTON MANOR, Lady Daphne went about the business of discovering how the missive from her brother had been delivered.
She was thorough and relentless. She gathered her information, and it was easy enough to discover that the groom who had delivered the note had come from Andover Inn, off the Post Road to London.
This establishment, she was advised, was a perfectly respectable hostelry some twelve miles west and should not take her above two hours traveling time.
What did take her time, however, was seeing that her maid packed her bags, instructions to the Easton staff to carry on, and composing a letter to be taken to Scott’s father. It had to be worded just so, as she did not wish for him to find and follow her.
Confronting her brother was something she meant to do completely on her own and in private.
These matters thoughtfully executed, she advised her coachman to hitch up the horses and get ready for their short journey.
She saw herself comfortably situated against the leather squabs, gazed at the passing scenery, and planned her revenge against her beloved brother. That he was a duke made not a bit of difference to her. That he was her younger and very dear sibling meant nothing in her present state of mind. That he had gravely and unjustly wronged her meant everything.
Her maid, who was more friend than anything else, kept her entertained with endless chatter that was both amusing and, at times when the woman spoke of her family in the North, endearing. Her maid, Sally, had been with her a long time, and her ladyship, being both generous of nature and considerate, made a mental note to slip Sally a few extra coins to help her less fortunate but deserving family members.
All at once the carriage came to a complete stop, and her lashes flashed over her eyes. Oh no, now what?
