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“Everything you do is in favor of my heart,” he replied, lifting my hand and kissing it. “Verity, you know not how much I wish to be beside you. But…”
“I do not care what your status is. Whether you are titled or not, have estates and drawing rooms or not,” I whispered back. “I merely wish…I merely wish to be beside someone who makes me not search for the exits.”
“You are far too bold for a lady,” he muttered, shifting closer to me. “Your boldness only inspires my recklessness and that will only cause trouble. What we are doing right now is…”
“Fun.” I smiled.
“You being thrown from a horse is hardly what anyone would call fun.”
My smile widened. “No. But being tended to by such a fine doctor is.”
Slowly a smile spread across his face. “What am I to do with you?”
“What is it you wish to do?”
“Such things cannot be said aloud.”
“Then write them down?” I asked, and he gave me a rather annoyed look, though still the smile persisted.
“You jest about my fears.” He chuckled, shaking his head. He was about to speak, but the door opened suddenly, causing him to release my hands as in came the marchioness.
“Verity!” She rushed to me, panic clear upon her face. When she reached me, she pulled me into her arms as if I were a child, hugging me. “Oh, thank heavens you are awake. I could not sleep for worry of you, my dear. Are you all right?”
“Yes, I feel well enough now. Forgive me for the trouble,” I replied, watching from her arms as Theodore moved back to the corner of the room where his medical bag and things were.
“Your ladyship?” he spoke up. “She is well, but I shall come back tomorrow afternoon to check on her.”
He was leaving again? Running from me again? We had only barely begun to really speak.
“Are you sure?” asked the marchioness, her grip on me tightening. “I believe she may need something for the night.”
“No,” I replied, seeking to sit up on my own. “I do not wish to sleep again, Godmother.”
“Verity, you need your rest, is that not so, Doctor?”
He nodded. “Yes, I have given instructions to the maid for a remedy. It is a simple soup, but it shall make it easier for you to relax.”
“Soup?” the marchioness questioned.
“Yes. It is best for her not to take much else today. After her fall, I gave her a tonic to ease her. The soup shall help, as I believe she is still tired and under the effects of it,” he stated, but the way he spoke sounded almost indifferent. He looked to Bernice, who stood off in the corner behind the marchioness. “Have it brought for Lady Verity now, please.”
I wanted to tell him not to go but…I could not say a word, not with so many people between us. There were always so many people between us and our chances to speak with each other were like the passing wind.
“Good night, your ladyship, my lady. I shall see you both tomorrow.”
“Yes, thank you, Dr. Darrington. Truly, we have called upon you much of late,” the marchioness replied.
“It is nothing.” He bowed his head to us before taking his leave, and I felt myself…dejected once more.
“Verity?” the marchioness called, returning my attention to her. “Are you in need of anything?”
“I am fine,” I said without hesitation, but that seemed only to displease her.
“I cannot do this for a moment longer. It is not my nature.” She sighed heavily, throwing up her hands.
“I do not understand. You cannot do what?”
“Wait for you, my dear, Hathor is quite right. You simply will not move until pushed.” She spoke in a way I did not understand. “I know of your nightmares. As well as the medicine you take for this condition. I have waited and waited for you to feel comfortable enough to confide in me. Instead, you look to me and say you are fine when you so clearly are not.”
“Godmother…” I hung my head and clasped my hands together as I did not know what to say. However, she lifted my chin up.
“Verity, I cannot help you if you do not talk to me.”
“What am I to say, Godmother?” I whispered. “Tell you about the horrors of my past that you already know of? And forgive me, but if a doctor cannot cure me, what is it that you or anyone can do should I speak anyway?”
“There is a solution to everything, and two minds are greater than one, so surely we can figure something out.”
I gripped my hands tighter. As if it were so simple. This was what frustrated me about their family—the way they thought everything would just happen because they desired it to.
“Verity, do not simply tell me you are fine—”
