Lady Henrietta's Dilemma: Regency Suspense Romance Book 2 (Lords of Sussex) by Katy Walters Page A
Authors: Katy Walters
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and threw her apron over her face.
But my lord – tis the finest treatment—’
‘It will not happen here. I forbid it,’ the viscount shouted over Lottie’s shrieks. ‘No my good doctor, I wish you to tend to her without the leeches or the cutting.’ His mind raced back to the night his dear wife lay quite white and comatose, the leeches fat from feeding on her blood.
‘But my lord, tis the finest treatment, the best leeches. See?’ The doctor remonstrated waving the leech before the viscount’s face.
‘Doctor do not push me. If you wish to tend to the patient heed my words.’ he roared.
Esther lay back startled; this was not her gentle giant; this was a man determined to have his way. ‘Good doctor, please, put them away,’ she said gently.
Flustered, the doctor put the leech in the glass, and hastily stowed it back in his case.
Very well, my lord, tis of course your prerogative, but I warn you this young woman could succumb to the fever again. We are holding it at bay at present. I shall examine the wound once more.’ He stopped and then said, ‘I have procured a nurse for you my lord; she will stay with the young lady through the coming night.’
The viscount turned to Esther, ‘Will you stay m’dear. We can get you back in the morning.’
‘If it is necessary, then I have no choice.’
Bowing, the doctor left the room.
‘You are doing so much for me my lord; I do not know how to thank you.’
‘Just get well my dear girl – get well. I must say I find those leeches positively gruesome.’
The door opened to admit the doctor, and a woman who shuffled behind him. ‘Let me introduce Madame Laurent. ‘
‘I beg your pardon?’ David stepped back; the woman exuded a foul sour smell. His eyes roved over her dirt splotched face, the grimy shawl and stained grey apron. Glaring at her, he said, ‘Show me your hands.’
Mutely the woman held up grimy hands smiling, showing blackened and missing teeth.
‘Doctor Bastian , would you please remove this person right now.’
‘But my lord, she is—’
‘Remove her, before I remove you both,’ the viscount said, in an intense voice.
‘Madam Laurent is the best; many people have—’
‘Died?’ David questioned, his face muscles tensing. ‘I warn you Doctor, get rid of her now.’
Hearing the menace in the Duke’s voice, the doctor bowed, ushering the woman out, as they fiercely chattered in French.
David wiped his forehead with a snow-white lace handkerchief. ‘Good Lord did you see that? Does she never put water to her face? I am astounded; the doctor is immaculate, but he brought in a denizen from hell.’
‘ My lord, he did so in good faith. Many cannot afford the luxury of soap.’ Esther explained, bemused yet agreeing with him. She saw an emotional side to him now, which was reassuring after the distant composure of before.
‘Your health and well-being are of the utmost to me , my dear Esther. We will make do with your excellent maid and myself,’ he said, putting the handkerchief back in his pocket.
Lottie smiled and curtseyed at his compliment and moved over to Esther. ‘I’m here mi stress never fear, I’ll look after you.’ Upon which, she wrapped her arms around Esther.
‘Now – now Lottie. All is well, la, you are quite overcome.’
‘No-one has ever called me excellent before. I almost lost my wits .’
Despite the secret she now harboured, Esther smiled and hugged her back.
Turning to Penfold, she said, ‘So I must be more of a trial to you, my Lord?’
David strode over and lifted her hand to his lips. ‘Not a trial – a privilege m’dear.’
Esther wondered how he would react to the news of her condition. With that thought, her heart almost failed.
Chapter 11
The Hotel in Ostend
Lord Vaughan looked stonily out of the window. The sea was as grey as his thoughts.
‘Henrietta, I know you are stalling, please do not be so obvious.’ Vaughan said
But my lord – tis the finest treatment—’
‘It will not happen here. I forbid it,’ the viscount shouted over Lottie’s shrieks. ‘No my good doctor, I wish you to tend to her without the leeches or the cutting.’ His mind raced back to the night his dear wife lay quite white and comatose, the leeches fat from feeding on her blood.
‘But my lord, tis the finest treatment, the best leeches. See?’ The doctor remonstrated waving the leech before the viscount’s face.
‘Doctor do not push me. If you wish to tend to the patient heed my words.’ he roared.
Esther lay back startled; this was not her gentle giant; this was a man determined to have his way. ‘Good doctor, please, put them away,’ she said gently.
Flustered, the doctor put the leech in the glass, and hastily stowed it back in his case.
Very well, my lord, tis of course your prerogative, but I warn you this young woman could succumb to the fever again. We are holding it at bay at present. I shall examine the wound once more.’ He stopped and then said, ‘I have procured a nurse for you my lord; she will stay with the young lady through the coming night.’
The viscount turned to Esther, ‘Will you stay m’dear. We can get you back in the morning.’
‘If it is necessary, then I have no choice.’
Bowing, the doctor left the room.
‘You are doing so much for me my lord; I do not know how to thank you.’
‘Just get well my dear girl – get well. I must say I find those leeches positively gruesome.’
The door opened to admit the doctor, and a woman who shuffled behind him. ‘Let me introduce Madame Laurent. ‘
‘I beg your pardon?’ David stepped back; the woman exuded a foul sour smell. His eyes roved over her dirt splotched face, the grimy shawl and stained grey apron. Glaring at her, he said, ‘Show me your hands.’
Mutely the woman held up grimy hands smiling, showing blackened and missing teeth.
‘Doctor Bastian , would you please remove this person right now.’
‘But my lord, she is—’
‘Remove her, before I remove you both,’ the viscount said, in an intense voice.
‘Madam Laurent is the best; many people have—’
‘Died?’ David questioned, his face muscles tensing. ‘I warn you Doctor, get rid of her now.’
Hearing the menace in the Duke’s voice, the doctor bowed, ushering the woman out, as they fiercely chattered in French.
David wiped his forehead with a snow-white lace handkerchief. ‘Good Lord did you see that? Does she never put water to her face? I am astounded; the doctor is immaculate, but he brought in a denizen from hell.’
‘ My lord, he did so in good faith. Many cannot afford the luxury of soap.’ Esther explained, bemused yet agreeing with him. She saw an emotional side to him now, which was reassuring after the distant composure of before.
‘Your health and well-being are of the utmost to me , my dear Esther. We will make do with your excellent maid and myself,’ he said, putting the handkerchief back in his pocket.
Lottie smiled and curtseyed at his compliment and moved over to Esther. ‘I’m here mi stress never fear, I’ll look after you.’ Upon which, she wrapped her arms around Esther.
‘Now – now Lottie. All is well, la, you are quite overcome.’
‘No-one has ever called me excellent before. I almost lost my wits .’
Despite the secret she now harboured, Esther smiled and hugged her back.
Turning to Penfold, she said, ‘So I must be more of a trial to you, my Lord?’
David strode over and lifted her hand to his lips. ‘Not a trial – a privilege m’dear.’
Esther wondered how he would react to the news of her condition. With that thought, her heart almost failed.
Chapter 11
The Hotel in Ostend
Lord Vaughan looked stonily out of the window. The sea was as grey as his thoughts.
‘Henrietta, I know you are stalling, please do not be so obvious.’ Vaughan said
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