Unconventional Suitors 02 - Her Unconventional Hero

by Ginny Hartman

  “Rose, I’m so sorry,” she exclaimed. Both of Rose’s hands went up to self-consciously cover her face as Adel continued, “I want you to know that I did not pen that article about your husband. I would never have done that to you. I quit writing for The Morning Post before I came to Kent.”

  Adel was aware of all eyes in the room staring at her as she spoke, but her main concern was for Rose. She watched as the girl slowly lowered her hands and nodded. “I did not think you would ever do such a thing,” she answered timidly.

  “I assure you that I wouldn’t have. But what of your husband now? Surely you cannot go back to him after he has done this to you.”

  Her eyes looked to her father, hoping that he would somehow know how to help Rose, to keep her safe. He cleared his throat loudly. “You haven’t heard?”

  Adel shook her head. “Heard what?”

  Her father glanced to Rose before turning back to her. “Lord Moncreif killed himself after wounding Lord Straton.”

  Adel let out a sob. Turning to Rose she said, “I hadn’t heard. I am so sorry.”

  Rose smiled wanly at her. “I am not sorry, as horrible as that sounds. I am finally free from the tyrant. I’m just sorry that because of him Griffin may die.”

  The room filled with a stony silence, concern for Griffin etched on everyone’s faces. “There’s got to be something more we can do.” Adel finally broke the silence.

  “If his fever doesn’t break soon, the physician said he will need to let his blood,” her father said.

  “It’s too bad we do not have any leeches,” Katherine added thoughtfully. “I hear recovery is much more likely if leeches are used as opposed to the traditional method of purging the blood.”

  An idea popped into Adel’s head. “Katherine, do you remember that time we were wading in the pond and a leech attached itself to your foot?”

  Katherine shuddered. “It was the most vile thing that has ever happened to me. Even though it was ages ago, I’ll never be able to forget it.”

  Ignoring her sister’s repulsion, she said excitedly, “Perhaps we can go to the pond and collect some leeches for Griffin.”

  Adel looked at the disgusted looks on everyone’s faces, frustrated that they did not share in her excitement. “I know the prospect of gathering leeches sounds revolting, but I will do anything to help Griffin.”

  When no one responded, she rose from her chair, “I guess I will go to the pond by myself.”

  Katherine rose quickly besides her. Though her face looked pale, she managed to squeak out bravely, “I will go with you. Let us fetch some sort of container for the dreadful things from the kitchen.”

  She smiled gratefully at her sister. “Yes, a very good idea indeed.”

  Adel followed Katherine to the kitchen where they quickly procured a glass jar and a rag to contain the slimy creatures should they be so lucky to find any. She admired her sister’s courage as they fled from the house and headed towards the pond. She remembered all too clearly how upset Katherine had been the day the leech had attached itself to her foot that long-ago day at the pond. It had scarred her so deeply that she had refused from that day forward to ever set foot in the water again. Truth be told, Adel had been somewhat hesitant as well.

  Katherine began talking as they walked, in an effort to distract herself from the gruesome task ahead. “Father is not pleased to learn of your role as Mrs. Tiddlyswan.”

  Adel’s heart sank. She wished that she never had to speak of it again. “I am sure he is severely disappointed in me.”

  “I think more than anything he is shocked by your actions, as Aunt Tabitha and I are as well. How could you have kept that a secret from us all of this time?”

  Adel shrugged her shoulders as she continued to look at the ground. “I couldn’t very well have told you what I was doing. You never would have approved.”

  “You are right about that, I most assuredly wouldn’t have. Why did you do it? It is so unlike you to be rebellious like that.”

  “I didn’t do it to be rebellious,” she exclaimed with frustration. “I did it for my amusement, as a distraction from the pain of missing mama.”

  Katherine gave her a strange look. “Attending parties every night wasn’t distraction enough?”

  “Not entirely. I can see now that my actions were foolish, I should never have written for the scandal sheets, but at the time I didn’t see how doing so would cause anyone harm. I regret my actions now, especially since they led to Griffin’s injury. If he dies, I will never be able to forgive myself.”

  Katherine came to a halt, searching Adel’s face she asked, “You love him, don’t you?”

  Adel nodded. “I do. I used to find him incredibly vexing but that was before he…”

  “Risked his life for yours?”

  “I fell in love with him even before that,” she admitted candidly. “And I fully intend on marrying him, so let us not waste any more time, let us go fetch some leeches.”

  Katherine stuck her tongue out as she made a disgusted face. “I’m only agreeing to help you because I love you and I want you to be happy. Lord Straton really is your hero after all, isn’t he?”

  “As unlikely as that may have seemed to me before, you are right, he is.” Adel giggled as she grabbed Katherine’s hand and began running down the hill towards the pond.

  Adel wasted no time removing her shoes and stockings as they approached the edge of the pond. Katherine stayed back, holding the glass jar tentatively in her hands. “I will hold the jar, but do not expect me to get in that water.”

  “Oh, I don’t,” Adel said as she slid her feet into the shallow water at the edge of the pond. She closed her eyes and took deep fortifying breathes as she walked along the murky bank, trying to block the images of the black slimy creatures from her mind, lest she lose her courage completely.

  She tried to keep her skirt lifted high above the water, but the hem of her gown still dragged along the water’s edge as she walked. Stuffing her skirts between her legs, she bent over and tugged on a large rock, exerting all of her strength to lift the bolder and toss it a few inches out of the way, knowing that leeches were often found in such places.

  She cringed as she slid her foot into the mossy, muddy ground, feeling the slime squish between her toes. She swallowed down the urge to retch as she looked towards Katherine. “I hope this does not take long.”

  “I hope so too,” Katherine shuddered. “All I can say is that I’m glad it is you and not me in there.”

  Ample time passed as the sister’s made small talk in an attempt to distract them both from the gruesome task at hand. Finally, when Adel was certain she could not take it much longer, she lifted one foot from the water to inspect it. She was disappointed to find nothing but mud and bits of moss clinging to her foot. With a frustrated sigh, she replaced it into the water with a splash and pulled the other from the mud.

  Bending forward, Adel saw two long, black leeches clinging to her foot, the sight of them making her gag. She began to dry heave as she fought her impulse to scream and shake the creatures from her foot in disgust.

  “There are two on my foot,” she called out shakily to Katherine before clenching her teeth tightly together in agony.

  Katherine ran towards the water’s edge, extending the jar towards Adel. “Quick, grab them and put them inside before they attach to your foot and we cannot get them off.”

  Adel looked at her, “Won’t you do it? Please?” She stuck the foot containing the offending creatures out towards her sister.

  Katherine shook her head vigorously. “I can’t do it, I promise you I cannot.”

  Taking a deep, fortifying breath, Adel bent down, gagging once more as her fingers enclosed around one of the slimy, squirming leeches. It would do no good to stand on one foot and argue with Katherine. She pulled it angrily off of her foot and screamed as she nearly missed the jar in her attempt to throw the thing in.

  Katherine jumped back as she squealed, “Hurry, get
the other one.”

  Adel did as she was told, just as repulsed with touching the second leech as she had been with the first. As soon as both leeches were in the jar, Katherine slapped the rag on top, holding it firmly in place and extending the jar towards Adel.

  Adel scurried from the pond, shuddering once more as she checked her feet to make sure they were free of leeches. She was certain she would have nightmares about this day for years to come. Though if it helped save Griffin’s life, it would all be worth it.

  “You carry them,” Katherine ordered, shoving the jar towards Adel.

  “You are such a coward,” Adel exclaimed as she took the jar roughly from her hands. Truth be told, she had been hoping that Katherine would carry the disgusting things.

  The sisters ran all the way back to the house, leaving their stockings and shoes on the bank of the pond. Ignoring the strange looks she was receiving from the servants, Adel rushed through the house barefoot, straight up to Griffin’s bedchamber and pushed the door open with a flourish.

  Griffin was lying lifeless in the middle of the bed, the physician bent over his extended arm, a scarificator pressed firmly against his forearm. “Wait,” Adel called out as the physician turned at the interruption.

  “Get out of here, my lady. This procedure is not for the faint of heart.”

  Adel ignored him, walking towards the bed where she noticed that Griffin was alert, but only barely. His eyes found hers and the slightest of smiles spread across his face before vanishing as fast as it had come. “Adel, please leave. I do not wish for you to see what is about to happen.”

  She shoved the jar containing the leeches out in front of her. “I brought you these.”

  Griffin’s eyes squinted. “I do not understand,” he answered with confusion.

  Turning to the physician, Adel held the jar out to him. “They are leeches I collected down at the pond. They will be much more effective than cutting open his vein.”

  The physician looked at her in awe. “Yes, they will be. However, I’m not sure that two leeches will drain enough blood.”

  Adel did not hesitate, “I will go collect more. I will do whatever it takes.”

  Taking the jar from her, the physician smiled sincerely before saying, “I will let you know if that will be necessary. Thank you, my lady. Now if you will kindly leave, I will attach these at once.”

  Adel turned to look at Griffin one last time. Tears filled her eyes to see her strong, handsome hero looking so pale and weak, a shadow of his former self. It amazed her how much change had occurred in his appearance in such a short time. “I love you,” she somehow managed to squeak out over the emotion threatening to clog her throat.

  He flashed her another one of his brief smiles before mouthing the words, “I love you,” back to her, before losing his strength and closing his eyes.

  Adel stayed rooted in her spot, unwilling to look away from him for even a second. What if the leeches didn’t work? What if instead of making him better, they only made him worse? The idea that this could be the last time that she saw him alive instantly produced a stream of hot tears running down her face.

  She was convinced that she would have stood there forever, despite the gruesome procedure that was about to take place, had the maid who was assisting the physician not forced her from the room. As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, Adel slid to a heap on the ground, pulling her legs beneath her and resting her weary head on her knees as she began to cry harder than she had ever cried since her mother had died.

  Chapter 21

  A weary but grateful Adel sat at Griffin’s bedside, watching him as he slept. The two leeches she had caught hadn’t been quite sufficient enough, so the physician had sent Adel to retrieve more. She had gladly done it hoping it would help Griffin.

  With nearly a dozen leeches eventually gathered and attached to his arm, a prodigious amount of blood was extracted from his body, enough so that he had eventually fainted from the loss of blood. There had been several times over the last three days when the physician had been unsure of his body’s ability to recover, but after the second day his fever had finally broke and things had begun to look hopeful.

  Adel traced his face with her eyes. His appearance had been altered slightly by the dark beard that had yet to be shaven from his face. And though his face was pale and his cheeks gaunt, he was still, in her opinion, the most handsome man alive.

  She hummed softly as her hand clung tightly to his as he slept. She hadn’t left his bedside since she had learned that his fever had broken. The physician had warned her that a full recovery wasn’t guaranteed, but he had improved so vastly in the last day that she was hopefully optimistic that all would be well. Griffin was too stubborn to die, and she was too stubborn to let him.

  “What is that song you are humming?”

  Adel sat up straight as her eyes settled on Griffin’s. “I am not certain. I’ve been making it up as I go.”

  “That’s kind of like life. All any of us are doing is making it up as we go, but it always has a way of turning out uniquely beautiful, doesn’t it?”

  Adel smiled at him, “I thought you didn’t consider yourself a poet?”

  “Oh, I assure you I am not,” he chuckled. “Would you mind helping me sit up?”

  “Of course.” Adel stood and reached her arm underneath him, helping him to rise. “How is that?” she asked as she adjusted the down pillows around him.

  “Much better. I do not wish to spend this much time in bed ever again, at least until we are wed.” His eyes twinkled while his words caused Adel to blush.

  “Well I insist you stay in bed long enough to get better, for I am most anxious to become your wife. As soon as you are able to stand without swooning, I am sending for the priest to marry us at once.”

  “You are most anxious, my minx, but have your forgotten that the banns need to be read?”

  Adel gave him a self-satisfied smile. “A special license is being procured as we speak.”

  Griffin laughed, “Aren’t you the diligent one? How did you manage that?”

  “Easily, if you must know. All I had to do was promise father I would never do something so foolish as write a gossip column again and he was more than happy to oblige. Truthfully, I think he is just relieved and grateful to see me so happy.”

  “So the only thing left for me to do is regain enough strength to pull myself out of bed, is that what you are saying?”

  “Precisely. Leave all of the details up to me. I want you to spend all of your energy on recovering. I cannot stomach the thought of having a weak groom,” she teased.

  “I assure you that by our wedding day I will have my strength back. My pride could not handle it if I didn’t.”

  They shared a smile.

  “There is one thing I do need to take care of, however.”

  “What is that?” she asked.

  “I need to ask your father for his permission to wed you.”

  Adel scoffed. “You ninny, he has already given his permission. Do you think he would pay for a special license had he no intent of allowing me to wed you?”

  “It’s a formality,” Griffin explained patiently. “I would feel better if you at least would grant me that.”

  “Very well, if you feel it is necessary, then by all means do it.”

  “It is my duty as a gentleman, so yes, I will do it. Besides, I do not want to start our marriage off on the wrong foot. I always want to do the respectable thing by you.”

  “Thank you.” Adel stared into the depths of his black eyes, eyes that were now so familiar and comforting to her before asking, “Do you think your father will come to the wedding?”

  Griffin exhaled slowly. “I do not even wish to invite him, truth be told.”

  “Because it will hurt worse if you do and he doesn’t come?” she ventured guessing.

  He didn’t even need to respond, for the vulnerable look in his eyes told her she was correct. Squeezing his hand she said, “I will
leave it up to you to decide how you wish to proceed.”

  “Thank you,” he answered sincerely, then purposely changing the subject he asked, “How is Rose doing?”

  “Better. The bruises on her face are beginning to turn yellow and fade. I think her physical wounds will heal much faster than the wounds to her spirit. As cruel as it sounds, it is indeed a blessing that Lord Moncreif killed himself.”

  “His situation must have been worse than any of us could ever have guessed that he would choose death over the prospect of facing debtor’s prison.”

  “Poor Rose. What do you think she will do now?”

  Griffin was thoughtful for a moment. “I am uncertain. We will have to find out the entirety of the situation her husband left her in, but I would venture a guess that it isn’t good. Worst case scenario is that he leveraged himself to the hilt and will lose everything and be left penniless, in which case I wouldn’t hesitate to take her under my wing. If that were acceptable to you, of course,” he was quick to add.

  “Of course it would be,” she insisted without hesitation. “But perhaps she will wish to return to live with your father.”

  Griffin scowled at her, “You forget that my father is the reason she was ever married to that buffoon, to put it nicely. I’d venture to say that she has no desire whatsoever to return to my father’s care. I am uncertain how much contact she has even had with the man since she wed. No, I would never subject Rose to another tyrant’s care. I have no qualms about taking care of her for the rest of her life, if only to ensure her well-being.”

  “Wouldn’t it be lovely if she could find someone to love her?” He looked at her skeptically, as if the very idea was ludicrous. “Why are you looking at me like that? Your sister is a very lovely girl who deserves to be loved and cared for. Every girl dreams of finding a dashing prince to rescue her and Rose is no different.”

  “If someday she wishes to be courted again, I suppose I would allow it, but only when she is ready. And I can assure you that I will be very protective of her. I would rather her be alone the rest of her life than to be in an abusive marriage again.”