AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Because it’s a bad word and nice young ladies don’t use that word.”
Glory laughed and shook her head. “So, I'm ter be a nice young lady, isit? 'oo would ever fink?”
* * *
Two days later Edwin entered the infirmary after having placed an order for medical supplies. He was pulled in the direction of the drawing room where a lively conversation was taking place.
“Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen.” He greeted Lady Pamela and her husband, Nick Smith, Mrs. Lizbeth Mallory, and her husband Marcus.
He knew Rayne had been expecting them—at least the two ladies anyway—since Mrs. O’Leary had asked the day before if Rayne could summon them so she could offer her apologies for what she’d done to them.
Although Lady Pamela had not been sold to a brothel, she had uncovered the sinister goings-on at the boarding house where she and Lizbeth lived and had turned to Nick to help her rescue Lizbeth once she’d been kidnapped.
Before she asked for Nick’s help, Lady Pamela had been run over by a carriage in the street which had been done to silence her. Both women had reason to thoroughly dislike Rayne’s patient.
Marcus and Nick had rescued Lizbeth from the brothel, and the entire incident ended with two happily married couples. However, too many young ladies did not have a happy ending to their tale.
Rayne stood and walked over to him. “I didn’t realize it, but perhaps I should have anticipated that Marcus and Nick would come with their wives. I am glad you are here in case things get a bit heated with them.”
“I doubt either one of the men would strike Mrs. O’Leary, but I understand your concerns.”
“It might be a better idea if only Pamela and Lizbeth speak with Mrs. O’Leary,” Rayne said.
“No.” Nick Smith, in his usual abrupt—man from the streets—manner wrapped his arm protectively around Lady Pamela’s shoulder. “I will not have my wife face that demon woman alone.”
“You do realize she is unable to move?” Rayne added.
“At all?” Lizbeth asked.
Rayne shrugged her shoulders. “Since she’d been shot, she’s been unable to move her legs. I cannot be certain at this time if this is permanent or temporary. However, with my training and experience, given where the bullet landed, I predict that she will never walk again.”
“What will become of her?” Lady Pamela asked.
“Who cares, sweetheart? Nothing is too horrid for that woman,” Nick answered, giving her a squeeze
.
Rayne smiled no doubt amused at the possessiveness of Nick’s manner with his wife. One of the hardest and most ruthless men in Bath and the man was so besotted with his wife that it caused knowing smiles—well-hidden—everywhere they went.
“I have been in touch with other doctors who agree with me that she will unlikely recover from the gunshot wound. Once she is stable enough to leave here, she will be sent to an asylum to live out the rest of her days.”
A hush fell over the room. Being sent to an asylum was, in most cases, worse than prison. Most of the asylums were horrible places for those who had no families to care for them and were dependent on the government. There were even rumors of the insane being chained to the walls. Rayne shivered every time she thought about it.
It was a somber group that left the drawing room and entered the infirmary. Mrs. O’Leary was still on her stomach since it pained her too much to lie on her back. She was still receiving the laudanum, but in smaller doses so she didn’t add addiction to her list of woes.
“Is that you, Miss Davenport? And Lady Pamela? I am so happy to see you.”
The two women looked at each other. “Why are you happy to see us?” Lizbeth said.
“Because I want to tell you how sorry I am for what I did to you.”
Nick stepped up closer to Pamela. “Is that the only reason you dragged our wives here? To garner sympathy? Because if that’s the case, we will all leave now.”
“No. Wait. I have more to say.”
Marcus crossed his arms over his chest. “Say it. My wife gave birth only a little over a week ago and needs her rest. In fact, I didn’t approve of her coming here at all, but she insisted.”
“I am happy to hear that you have a new baby.” When no one responded, she continued. “There is a man at the hat factory where Lizbeth—excuse me, Mrs. Mallory—worked. His name is Basil. He’s the one who connived with me to see the girls fired so they had nowhere to go.” She grimaced. “I never told the police about him, so you can turn him in.”
