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“Very well,” Simon finally conceded, “Let Richard know of this journey beforehand, he will help you prep with all the necessary equipment. Take the heavy coat from my study. And Walter, please, be careful on your way there.”
“I promise I will…truthfully, I also came here because I wanted to say I was sorry.” Walter took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I feel terrible Lady Ellie rushed out to save me—, I didn’t mean to be so careless with the weather. I got too complacent.”
“It isn’t only your fault Walter.” Simon sighed, looking away from both Ellie and him. “But you can tell her for yourself once she awakens.”
Walter nodded. “I will. I should be back inside a few hours tops, no more.”
Simon was left to his solitude once more, this time in a far more unpleasant place. He thought he could handle this, he thought he could remain strong until she recovered, but the whispers he tried so hard to keep away had already crept into his mind. It was his damned fault for this. Yet so far, apologies seemed to come from every direction but his.
It wouldn’t make sense to the average person, he knew it, but the dream confirmed what he had doubted all along. He was named The Cursed Duke by the ton, and now he knew it to be true. The only way to protect Ellie was to remain away from her. He had always lived an irresponsible life, and it was no life for a lady such as her. This was just a warning, it would only get worse from here on out if he kept her by his side.
Ellie would be far safer elsewhere, back at her estate, back in her ordinary routine. He turned to her once more, pressing his hand against her forehead to recheck her temperature. But no progress this time. She was still as cold as before, and he replaced some of the linens with new warmer ones that had been soaking in a hot tub by the side of the bed.
As the hours passed by, Simon remained loyally by her side, treating her and caring for her while waiting on the hope of Walter arriving with the County’s local doctor.
Muffled footsteps played against the still corridor. The weather had subdued, but so had the hustle and bustle of the servants and maids along with it. Simon continued across the stone flooring, making haste toward his office. Several hours had passed, and though the silence of the weather was a welcome sound, it replaced the tittering of horse hooves and the arrival of Walter. The man had not yet arrived, hope was growing dim, and now, Simon was taking things into his own hands.
Finally reaching his study, he pushed all thoughts to the side, momentarily. His hands clenched a shelf of a bookcase, sending the books to the ground and revealing a small gap. Some bottles nestled there, and he grabbed one of them in a hurry.
He had heard that alcohol helped warm one’s insides, and it’d surely help Ellie, at least until the doctor arrived. Dashing out of the room, he held the contents against his chest, making way back to his bedchambers and back to Ellie. When he finally reached the door, he paused for a moment at the sound of distant groaning. His eyes widened when he grasped the origin of the sounds; they were coming from inside the room.
Bashing the door open and ripping it from its hinges, he found Ellie; her figure had crept to the edge of the bed now. Her body was shaking like a leaf, her teeth clattered together, and she looked as if she was freezing cold all over again, as her hands struggled to latch onto the garments that wrapped around her body. The fire. How could he be so stupid? The fire had died down to a mere sparkle, and he tossed inside a couple logs and a lick of scotch, igniting it back up. Right after, he opened the bottle of scotch for her to drink—though she refused to take it.
“Please, you need to do this.” He tried to whisper, but her protests wouldn’t seize. “Tell me, what do you want? What do you need, love?”
Again, no response, only endless whimpers which shot at him like prickly darts. Her body shivered and trembled worse than before. He’d give anything to be in her place right now. But instead, he was sitting, watching on, hopelessly.
“Help!” he howled, making sure his voice was loud enough to echo throughout the Castle if he needed to. But he heard nothing, only an excruciating silence accompanied by Ellie’s cries.
Suddenly the damaged door scraped open once more, revealing the sight of a blond, plump man with spectacles on his eyes and a red face. “Your Grace, my name is Victor Mosely, I’m the county’s doctor,” was all the man said as he rushed firmly into the room, taking up position beside Simon. A trail of snow followed his figure as he pulled off his coat.
Suddenly, his eyes darted to the scotch in Simon’s hands, and he ripped the bottle away. “Was this given to her?”
Simon shook his head.
“Thank Heavens. It would have done her great harm—scotch, or any alcohol for that matter, is no remedy for a chilled person. I’ll require broth, laudanum, more layers of clothes, and curtains over the windows.”
Some maids just outside the room nodded, rushing to their tasks, while Simon remained inside, watching the scene unfold. The doctor held Ellie’s forehead with a frown and then produced a medical bag while waiting patiently for the maids to arrive.
“Is she going to be all right?” Simon asked. “Is there something I can do?”
The doctor adjusted his glasses. “It’s difficult to say, Your Grace. It’ll show, but I’m afraid I can’t promise anything this late into addressing her condition.”
The maids entered the room, placing everything the doctor asked for by the bedside, while they all stood back, letting him do his work. “Place the curtains on the window and don’t open them even if the sun is out—it’s far too cold outside.”
One of the maids grabbed the curtains, rushing and placing them on the window with hurried motions and closing them shut, keeping the room in darkness. After that, Simon lost track of time. The doctor continued to give instructions Simon couldn’t hear with the ringing in his ears, and Ellie’s condition was not becoming better, no matter what they did. Hot broth was forced down her throat with many complaints, the doctor supplied medication and bandages for her head wound, and the maids added more and more layers of garments on her skin. Yet, nothing seemed to work.
Simon couldn’t swallow or breathe for a moment. The room spun around him, and his palms grew sweaty with an all too familiar fear. Ellie was dying.
No, no, she can’t be.
Yet, as much as he tried to push away those grim thoughts, they returned tenfold. Serving as a constant reminder. Again and again. Ellie was dying, and there was nothing, absolutely nothing, he could do. And in a feat of desperation, he faced the ground, then up to the heavens, begging the unknown for help.
Please, please help her. I will stay away from her after this, I will avoid her very presence, and I will make sure she remains unharmed. It’s my fault this happened. Punish me but let her live.
He didn’t know if it would work, but he intended to keep his promise. Living without Ellie would be hell, but if he knew she lived, it would be a little less torturesome. Her safety was all that mattered now. All he wanted was to hear her speak one more time, enough to show him that she was okay, that no harm would find her again. And that would mark the end of their relationship.
I’ll do anything. Please help her.
“Your Grace!” The doctor’s voice called out to him, and Simon broke from his thoughts. “Are you all right?”
“Yes—yes, I am,” Simon paused for a moment. “Did something happen? Is there any news?”
“See for yourself, Your Grace.” The doctor pointed at Ellie, who was sleeping soundly, no more whimpers escaping her mouth. Her cheeks held that usual blush once again, and she looked her old self. “Of course, she isn’t completely recovered yet, and she will need to rest, but I believe the worst has passed. Her head trauma is the only thing we have to worry about. Good thing that man Walter reached me in time.”
A smile spread on Simon’s lips, followed by a surge of intense emotions. He wanted to kiss Ellie, lay next to her, and stay there until she woke. He also wanted to thank the doctor for everything, but all of his emotions were suddenly replaced by a dreadful realization. There was an icy cold stab in his veins as he recalled what happened only moments ago. His promise.
He bit his tongue as he stared at Ellie. She looked a lot better than she did an hour ago. She would wake up soon, and she would be able to return back to her home now that the storm was waning. Away from him and any troubles that followed him.
Until then, he had to stay away from her.
