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“I shall need two footmen to help lift him toward the basin once he consumes this,” I replied, taking the ipecac from my bag and carefully putting the smallest drop of it into the cup for him to drink.
I turned back to the patient, and saw that the marquess had removed his jacket to help the footman beside him lift Lord Hardinge.
It startled me, but I pushed the thought from my mind as I prepared to work. Taking the spoon, I carefully poured some into Lord Hardinge’s mouth.
In the back of my mind, though, I was still wondering when…or if I could see Verity.
Verity
I tried to journal the evening away, and at one point I even began needlework to distract my mind. However, nothing could sway my thoughts from the man downstairs. I found myself moving to the door to see if I could hear his voice, or catch anything of his presence. Bernice later came to check once more that I was all right. Instead, all I did was press her about Lord Hardinge so I could hear of Dr. Darrington. I had rested so much during the day that as the night came and everyone else had gone to sleep, I was wide awake…My thoughts were full of…of Theodore. I thought of the ease with which we had spoken to each other just the day before, how he sheepishly smiled…I also thought of his feelings, the ones he confessed to me, and all of me shook with excitement once more.
I wish we could have spoken more, I thought, reaching into the box for a vial, and feeling my shoulders drop as I thought of what he would think if he knew I took this or the reasons why. Would he still feel the same?
I pondered over that question again until the urge to end my torment finally grew to the most extreme levels. Gripping the vial in my hands I rose to my feet.
He was still in the house, and I knew what room he was in, as Bernice had said he refused to leave Lord Hardinge’s bedside.
I could go.
“I should not, though,” I said to myself in the mirror. I could only imagine the consequences should I be caught. To think of it was insanity. For what reason would I be in the dark seeking him out? Merely to speak for a few more minutes? It was ridiculous. And yet I found a devious plot brewing in my mind. Evander would not have been surprised. It was only because I was under the marchioness’s care that I sought to be on my best behavior. If this was Everely, I would have already done what I wished.
“I shall go,” I said, turning toward the door only to immediately sit down. Perhaps he was sleeping as well.
If that is the case, I will merely say I went down for milk, I thought, taking my robe. The last thing I took was the vial. I would be honest, as he was with me, and then I would learn if these feelings were real.
I opened the door slightly, sticking my head out to see nothing but the slight glow of a candle coming from the bottom of the stairs. Tiptoeing out, I sought to see if it was a maid, but instead, at the very next landing was none other than the man in question. He had only removed his coat and was staring intensely at something in his hand, even sniffing it, and when his face wrenched up into a foul look, I couldn’t help giggling.
Immediately, he turned to look, and I ducked as if I were a child. What in the heavens was the matter with me?
“Hello?”
“Shh!” I shot up quickly, fearful someone would hear him.
“Lady Verity?” He still spoke as if we were in a ball.
“Shh!” Slowly, I walked down the stairs, my heart pounding with each step. Maybe that is why I lost my footing on the last stair, tripping over my hem. All the blood rushed from my legs to my heart. I tried to catch myself, fearful of the noise I would create, but instead of hitting the floor, the wall, or the railing, my chest collided…with his, and his arms wrapped around me tightly.
His face was so close to mine that I could see even the finest lines around his eyes, which widened as he stared down at me.
“Are…are you all right?”
I could not speak, so I merely nodded.
He nodded as well before shaking his head and stepping back, helping me to stand on my own.
“What are you doing out so late?” I finally managed to ask him.
“The same could be said of you.”
“I asked first.” I felt embarrassed to say I had not expected to actually see him so suddenly.
He chuckled. “That you did.”
