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Suddenly, arms were around me, helping me to stand. Sure, dexterous hands started picking twigs and leaves out of my hair.
‘I do not think the late John Wood the Younger would appreciate your expletives, Miss Linton.’[48]
‘John Wood the Younger can go and—’
My voice cut off when he pulled me against his chest, encasing me in warmth, love, and everything else I thought we would never find. It was too much. The weight of the whole day came crashing down on me all at once, and I collapsed against him. Maybe I even cried. I let it happen. In the darkness of the night, nobody could see. He would never let anyone see. He just held me, silent strength wrapping around me like a cloak.
‘How is she?’
‘H-how do you think?’
‘That bad.’
‘When can we get a doctor?’
‘I’ve had my people searching for the very best specialist all day. The man is currently some dozen miles to the north.’
‘Is he willing to come?’
‘Willing has nothing to do with it. He’ll be there first thing in the morning.’
That should probably have worried me. Instead, I just smiled in blissful relief.
‘I told the hotel staff—’
‘Don’t worry about the staff. They have been briefed on the situation—or at least as much as they need to know. They will do anything you say, and if they don’t…’
The ominous way in which he ended the sentence said more than a thousand words. I squeezed him, hard.
‘Thank you.’
‘Don’t thank me. This counts as your next ten years’ worth of holidays.’
Still squeezing him, I smiled against the thin cotton of his tailcoat. ‘I surmised as much, Sir.’
I felt his lips brush against the top of my head, and suddenly, the bone-crushing need to fall over and sleep which I’d felt all night lifted from my shoulders. I had him to lean on. Who needed a bed, anyway?
Beds…rooms…
That reminded me of something.
Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I glanced up at him. ‘What about my other sisters? I’ve been so busy with Ella that I completely forgot about them. Are they settled in? Do you know if they’ve been showing symptoms, too?’
‘Your two oldest siblings are well.’ He cocked his head thoughtfully. ‘As for the twins, Anne and Maria—I’m not certain. They might be ill. They certainly looked somewhat ill when they were shown to their quarters in the broom cupboard.’
A slow grin spread across my face. ‘The…broom cupboard? Really?’
‘Indeed.’
‘You really know how to make a girl feel better.’
‘Yes.’ Suddenly, one of his fingers was underneath my chin, lifting it up. For one moment I felt his dark, sea-coloured eyes bore into me—then he bent down towards me, and—
He made me feel better.
Much, much better.
*~*~**~*~*
