She nodded and allowed the man to scoop her up, which he did with enough ease to make her belly warm with a pleasant feeling. He held her confidently and she felt safe, so safe. “I almost missed you.”
“I almost went looking for you,” Doctor Rowley corrected her. “You think me such a poor doctor that one of my patients going missing would not give me pause?”
Priscilla laughed softly and laid her head against his shoulder. “I am glad you did not bring the whole household on me. I would have gotten in trouble.”
“Cannot have that,” Doctor Rowley told her with a smile. “I am not one for getting damsels into woe.”
Priscilla teased. “Do you get them out of woe often?”
“I do not often get the chance,” he replied as he reached her room. “Would you mind?” He nodded toward the door and Priscilla turned the doorknob for him. “Very kind,” he said as he pushed the door open with his foot.
He brought her over to the bed and Priscilla wondered if this was what one’s wedding night was like. The thought of that suddenly brought to mind Philip and Bridgitte. Doctor Rowley sat her gently onto the bed. “What makes you cry so?”
Priscilla wiped her cheeks and found them wet. She did not remember crying these tears. She looked up at him. “I remembered.”
Doctor Rowley knelt down in front of her. His face held concern. “You recalled the night of your accident? How is that possible? What happened?”
Priscilla shrugged awkwardly. “I have been suspicious of my sister of late. Anyway, I saw her going into the garden and I found her with Lord Ridlington talking.”
She frowned. “As they were talking I just suddenly remembered; it was like living the moment all over again. I had found Philip and Bridgitte in each other's arms when I went to talk to her.” Priscilla wrung her hands. “I had been so upset, I had turned to flee. Only my foot caught on the carpet and I fell.”
Doctor Rowley covered her hand with his own. She clung to his hand as if a lifeline. “I do not know what to say.”
“Neither do I,” Priscilla admitted. “I cried in the garden for a long time. I do not know if I have even fully understood it.” She sighed. “I do not know that I feel anything right now. I feel betrayed that my sister would do that to me, and would lie to my face.”
Doctor Rowley’s face grew angry. “Lord Ridlington is no better.”
“No. He is not,” Priscilla said. She could hardly think of what the two of them had done. “How could they do it?”
To her surprise, Doctor Rowley gathered her to him. She did not resist, she melted into him. The kiss he gave her was cleansing, healing. She felt mended by his lips on hers.
When he went to pull away, mumbling apologies, she denied his apologies with a kiss of her own. She threw her arms around his neck and clung to him. He made a sound of surprise against her lips and Priscilla felt motivated by it.
Doctor Rowley looked at her when she finally relented enough that he could pull back out of the kiss. “Miss Morton?”
“Do you not think that is a bit formal, George?” Priscilla gave him a sweet smile.
Doctor Rowley laughed, nay… George laughed. He gave her a smile in return. “This is not quite a standard situation, Priscilla.”
“True,” She agreed. “But you know that I adore you.”
He teased, “Do I?”
“Yes,” Priscilla assured him. “I do not want to be alone right now. Alone means thoughts I do not want to think.”
George hummed. “Eventually those thoughts have to be thought.”
“Eventually, but not tonight,” Priscilla said with her lips quirked up into a hopeful smile.
George shook his finger at Priscilla. Using his name, in her mind, made his smile all the more handsome. “It is a good thing that I am a man of principle.”
“Are you?” Priscilla giggled as she pushed back closer to him. “Are you indeed, George?”
George sighed heavily. “I thought I was.”
Priscilla giggled as they toppled over onto the bed all tangled into each other’s arms. She relished his kisses, and despite the intimacy of their position, she trusted George to not take things too far.
They kissed and explored each other for a long while. Priscilla curled up in his arms much later, fatigue dragging her eyelids down. She gave him a sleepy kiss on the chin as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 12
George had stayed the night in the room that Lady Chaplin had on standby for him. He awoke early and looked at himself in the mirror. He could say he saw a scoundrel, but all he saw was a glint of happiness in his eyes.
After all, he had no intention of letting Miss Morton get away from him. Perhaps it might take a bit to get her parents to agree, but surely they could be made to see reason.
He sighed at his reflection. As it was, he needed to go and check in on her. George straightened his collar and willed himself to just stay professional.
He left his room and walked toward Miss Morton’s quarters while trying to keep the smile off of his lips. It would probably be better if everyone was not made aware of his indiscretion with the young lady. It would do his chances and her reputation very little good.
His knuckles rapped against the door. “Come in,” Gwen called. George had forgotten that the maid would likely be present, but then that might not be a bad thing.
“Good morning,” George called to the ladies as he entered the room.
Gwen gave him a smile. “I had not realised you were coming so early.”
“I actually just ended up staying the night in my guestroom. It was very late by the time I got in from my rounds and I could not stand the thought of dragging the carriage crew back out again.”
Miss Morton, or should he call her Priscilla, sat primly on the edge of her bed. The bed was considerably neater than when he had left it last night. George took his mind away from that and gave Priscilla a dip of his head. “How are you feeling?”
“I feel fine. I suppose I do anyway.” Priscilla gave him a little shrug, her blue eyes hiding behind her eyelashes.
Gwen said, “I am going to go see about breakfast.” George gave her a nod as he took the stethoscope out of his bag.
He listened to Priscilla’s breathing and listened for Gwen to shut the door behind her. When he heard the click of the door he asked, “How are you really feeling?”
Priscilla shook her head. “Confused. What do I even do with this knowledge? What good does it do me?”
“It could do you a considerable measure of good,” George told her. Her eyes look up at him as if pleading for him to tell her how. “Well, I guarantee you will not have to marry Lord Ridlington once this gets out.”
Priscilla clapped her hands over her face. “Oh, my parents will have to know.”
“Yes, but I think it might be better if you talk to the parties involved first.” George watched her turn pink at the thought of it. He sat down on the bed next to her. “You will need to talk to your fiancé.”
Priscilla sighed. “I know that what you say is true. But it does not make it easier. Lord Ridlington is due here today. I could speak to him.”
“The sooner the better, I should think. You will not be able to hide the fact that you remember forever.” George took her hand in his. “It is going to be alright. I wish that I could do this with you.”
Priscilla gave him a warm smile. “You are too kind. You have always been so kind to me. Then again, Philip was kind to me.”
George shook his head. “Do not compare me to him. My kindness never came from a place of greed, Priscilla. I simply wanted to see you better.” He gave her hand a kiss. “I know that you may be confused right now. But remembering is always for the best. What if you had married Lord Ridlington?”
Priscilla leaned her head to the side, her sea-blue eyes crisp and clear in the morning sunshine. “I know your words are wise, but I still fear. I shall find Lord Ridlington though, and I shall see this through to the end.”
“I shall stand by you where I can,” George promised. It was all he could do really. He could not be with her, even as her doctor during such an intimate conversation. He just hoped that it was not too strenuous on her. “I do not have any patients to see that are urgent today. I could stay here.”
Priscilla’s eyes lit up. “Would you really do that?”
“Of course,” George said as if it should have been obvious, but then things are rarely as obvious as they seem.
Priscilla looked as if she were going to throw her arms around him, but restrained herself. She gave him a smile instead. “I would like that very much.”
“I will need to monitor you anyway during this time, so I would need to stay close,” George said with a grin.
Priscilla leaned into him just a bit. “Is that the only reason?”
“The only one that I can say and keep my dignity,” George bantered.
Priscilla must have thought his answer great fun as she giggled. She accepted it with a nod of her head once she got her giggles under control. George stood up and smoothed down his waistcoat.
He went over to put his stethoscope down up just as Gwen flounced back into the room with a tray of breakfast food and tea held high. “Shall you join us?” Gwen asked the question as she cast her eyes down at the tray.
George thought the better of the invitation. “I have to speak with Lord Chaplin, so I shall just eat in the dining hall. Enjoy breakfast, ladies.” George gave them both a bow and left the room as swiftly as he could without it being obvious he was retreating.
He walked down the hallway and wondered if he should say anything to Lord Chaplin about Miss Morton’s recovered memories. He had not told Priscilla that he had thought of doing so, and he likely would not until he knew she had come to terms with the consequences. The consequences were something that he did not know if Priscilla had actually envisioned yet.
George, however, knew exactly what would likely happen. He had seen similar situations before, although not firsthand like this. Being a doctor did give a person an unusual insight into the inner workings of households at times. George did not envy anyone in the Chaplin household in the coming days.
He dipped his head to the doorman who was back at his post this morning, a newspaper in hand. George tried to recall what day of the week it was. His brother was due in with a guest in the coming weeks and he wanted to make sure that he was ready to at least entertain them for a day or two.
The dining hall was filled with the chatter of male voices about business, and female voices mostly trying to stay out of the main discussion. George grimaced and pushed the door open. Sure enough, Lord Ridlington and Lord Chaplin greeted him with booming hellos.
George inclined his head to them in turn. “Good morning, gentlemen.” He turned to Miss Bridgitte Morton and Lady Chaplin. “Good morning, ladies.”
“Good morning, Doctor Rowley,” Lady Chaplin said with a broad smile. “I was surprised to hear from the chambermaids that you were here this morning. I do hope the guestroom was ready.”
George nodded. “It was. I extended my thanks to the maid last night, but I should say one as well to you and your housekeeper. It was lovely to find a ready room when my rounds kept me so late.”
“As I said, a room is always at your disposal while you are treating our daughter,” Lady Chaplin assured him.
Lord Chaplin chimed in, “Quite right. The least we can do really.”
George gave them a smile as he took a seat on the side next to Lord Ridlington. Well, this might go down as one of the most awkward meals I have shared, George thought. He took the plate the maid brought to him graciously and began serving himself from the trays before him.
***
She paced in her room until she was sure that everyone was done with breakfast. Then Priscilla set out in search of her fiancé. She certainly hoped that she ran across him before she did Bridgitte.
Priscilla did not think she could keep the thoughts in her head when faced with Bridgitte’s smiling face. How the girl lied so cleanly was baffling to Priscilla. Her claims of loving Priscilla were all wrapped up in it. Were those claims lies too?
Priscilla pushed thoughts of her sister’s betrayal away from her. Honestly, Bridgitte’s betrayal was almost worse than Philip’s. Why lie? Why not just tell her?
Finally, Priscilla saw Philip standing out on the patio. She eased herself out of the door. He turned at the sound of the door clicking together and Priscilla grimaced.
“Are you sneaking up on me?” Philip eyed her with amusement. There was no guilt in his eyes.
Priscilla decided it was better to cut straight to it. “Tell me the truth, Philip.”
“What do you mean?” His brow furrowed together. “Are you feeling well? Should I go get Doctor Rowley?”
Priscilla clenched her fists at her side. “What is wrong with you? How can you stand there and lie to me so easily? I know about you and Bridgitte, Phillip.” She looked up at him. That smirk was off his face, and he no longer looked amused at all. “I remembered everything.”
Philip raised his hands. “It was not what it seemed. We tried to stop you, but you ran.”
“Yes, Bridgitte did try to stop me and I did fall, but I know what I saw before that.” Priscilla was practically shaking and the fact that her voice stayed so calm was beyond her. “I overheard you two talking and it made me remember. I know, Philip. There is no need to lie about it.”
“Who have you told?” Philip seemed suddenly incensed, and Priscilla instinctively took a step back.
Priscilla shook her head. “Just know that I’m not the only one who knows.”
“Leave her be, Philip,” Bridgitte’s voice called from behind Priscilla. They both looked around to see Bridgitte slip out of the patio door. She gave Priscilla a sad smile. “I am so sorry you found out like that. I am ashamed of what we have done.”
Priscilla pleaded, “Tell me why you did it. Did you hate the idea of me marrying first so much?”
Bridgitte shook her head. “No. Oh, no it was nothing like that!” She came over to stand next to Philip and sighed. “The truth is that I have been in love with Philip since I was a little girl. When they used to bring him to play, I always wanted to play too. I watched as they talked of you two getting married and it just was not fair.”
“But you held it against me as if I had a choice,” Priscilla whispered.
Bridgitte nodded her head slowly. “I should not have, but I was angry. I did not know what to do. I thought maybe you would find some boy at the balls, but you would not even dance. All that talk of finding a husband yet you just stood to the side.”
There was some truth to that. “I never wanted to go to the balls, but I did find a boy there that I liked. It was just that Mama and Papa had plans for me already.”
“You did not fight them,” Bridgitte reminded her.
Philip interceded, “It is not all Bridgitte’s fault, you know. I agreed to marry you because it was my duty, but then I was re-introduced to Bridgitte and I realised that I cared for her. I cared for her like I never cared for you. There never was a spark.”
Priscilla had felt all of that and she definitely did not need it said aloud. She had lived it, and she had others telling her that she was crazy. Of course, Philip never loved her.
Not only had he not loved her, but he had loved her younger sister. “Why not just tell me?” Priscilla looked between them. Bridgitte looked down as if she were too ashamed to hold Priscilla’s gaze.
The Awakening 0f A Forbidden Passion (Historical Regency Romance) Page 25