by Anne Herries
‘We have many such as he in our profession. If it were left to those of his ilk we should still be in the dark ages. There is progress in surgery all the time, but, unfortunately, head wounds still remain an unsolved mystery. I intend to write a paper about the possibility of relieving blood pressing on the brain by draining it out—but that would mean an operation almost as soon as the accident occurred. I am not yet sufficiently advanced in my theory to attempt it, but had I been consulted at the start and your father willing...’
‘Yes, I wish that you had been instantly consulted, but my father did not tell me immediately and it was a while before he would consent to your being called in.’
‘And I was not immediately available,’ the eminent doctor agreed. ‘However, I do not believe all lost—though these things can happen suddenly. Prepare yourself for the worst, but live in hope, sir.’
With that Phipps had to be content, for Knighton was anxious to leave. He had a busy practice in London and his rich patients did not like to be kept waiting.
After seeing him to the door, Phipps went back to his brother’s room. Lord Piper was sitting with him, looking as if he were sunk in gloom. He glanced up as Phipps entered, shaking his head.
‘Did I not tell you how it would be? They can do nothing without risking either his death or such damage to his brain that life would be a torture to him.’
‘Knighton says that if there is a blood clot on his brain it might be relieved by removing it, but admits that it might cause severe damage.’
‘As I told you...’
‘He does not despair of Alex, however. He says there were signs of recognition to light and he thinks he might just be deeply concussed.’
‘For three weeks? I do not think it.’
‘He says we must be sure to employ a good nurse. I was thinking that Miss Hamilton might be willing to help with him, sir. Naturally, his man will tend to his bodily needs, but Miss Hamilton is so patient...so sensible. She would sit with him for hours. He must be made to drink and the maids will not bother if he simply lies there. Mother might, but she is too distraught to think clearly. We need a clear head.’
‘Would she come? Surely it is too much to ask of her?’
‘Had we been married, I know she would have been more than willing. If you could spare me, sir—I should go and fetch her myself.’
‘Well, there is little you can do here. I had thought your mother might respond to you, but all she does is lie there and weep.’
‘Miss Hamilton might be of help to Mama also.’
‘Very well, fetch her—but you must not delay your return. If he should die...’
‘Yes, I understand,’ Phipps said. ‘I shall be needed here.’
‘Is she at home?’
‘No, she will have joined Brock at his family home. It was arranged in London and I begged her to go ahead with her plans.’
‘Very well, you have my permission to bring her here. Perhaps, if her family agree, a quiet ceremony could be held here?’
‘I shall speak to her about it,’ Phipps promised.
Perhaps he ought to send word ahead of his coming, but driving his own curricle he could be there almost as soon, and he could not wait to see her again.
* * *
Amanda was shocked by the change in Cynthia. She seemed to have lost much of her sparkle and spent most of the time staring into space and sighing. Only when Brock entered the room and spoke to her did she come back from wherever she had been. Amanda had tried to sympathise with her, but met with a stony look for her expressions of regret for what had befallen her. It was obvious that she intended to stick to her story of having had a fall and there would be no confidences. She was perfectly polite to Amanda, but kept her at a distance and did not speak to her with the warmth she had when she’d considered Amanda an ugly duckling to be patronised by the beautiful swan.
Amanda remained friendly towards her, but did not try to break down the barrier Cynthia had erected; instead, she spent her time enjoyably walking about the beautiful grounds and enjoying her hosts’ lavish hospitality. That her pleasure in the visit was dimmed by Phipps’s absence could not be denied, but she hardly ever gave way to tears and always in the privacy of her bedroom. No one who did not know her well could have guessed that she felt so very unhappy.
Mama looked at her critically when they had been at Lord Brockley’s palatial home for a few days.
‘Are you sure you are eating enough, Amanda? You look so pale and thin, my love. I dare say you meant to lose a little weight so that you would look elegant at your wedding, but that dress begins to hang on you—and it was new before we left London.’
‘Yes, Mama, I know, but it just happened. I eat as much as I wish for, but I am not hungry.’
‘Your papa thought you were pining for Phipps. I hope you are not so foolish, Amanda? You must know why he asked you to marry him, and if you have fallen in love...I fear you are destined to be disappointed in your marriage.’
‘No, Mama, I am not pining,’ Amanda assured her, though it was a terrible lie. She felt sometimes as if her life was over and knew instinctively that if Phipps had changed his mind she could never love again.
‘Lord Armstrong is leaving in the morning, my love,’ Mama said. ‘It is not too late to fix your interest with him. You could tell Lieutenant Phipps that you have changed your mind...after all, this business of his brother may make it impossible for you to marry.’
‘No, Mama.’ Amanda lifted her head. ‘Please put this nonsense from your mind. I do not care for Lord Armstrong and would rather live my life as a spinster than wed him.’
Mama looked at her in annoyance, but the subject was dropped. However, the next morning, when they were sitting in the parlour with Jane, and Lord Armstrong came to take his leave, she insisted that her daughter take a stroll outside with him to say her farewells.
Not wishing to make a fuss, Amanda allowed herself to be persuaded and they went out into the sunshine. For a few minutes they walked in silence, Amanda enjoying the scents of lavender and roses, but wishing that this interview might soon be over.
‘Miss Hamilton...Amanda,’ Lord Armstrong said suddenly. ‘I must and will speak. I cannot bear to see you so unhappy. I fear that you are nursing a secret sorrow—can it be that your engagement is at an end?’
‘No, sir. As you are aware, Phipps’s brother is very ill. He has been delayed and the wedding cannot take place while his brother is in danger of his life.’
‘Yet I fear that he has let you down and you may not trust him. Please, my dearest Amanda, let yourself think of turning to another... I am willing to wait until you extricate yourself from this sorry situation.’ He seized her hands and covered them with passionate kisses. ‘I adore you, my angel.’
‘No! You must not, sir. I beg you...’ Amanda cried, but he was lost in his passion and took her by the waist, drawing her close and, holding her so that she could not escape, he kissed her. She gasped, thrust him away and slapped his face as hard as she could. ‘How dare you! I forbid you to touch me again. You disgust me—and I despise you. Please leave me now.’
Even as he hesitated, someone came out of the house and began to run towards them. Turning, Amanda recognised him at once and gave a glad cry, rushing towards him and throwing herself into his arms.
‘Oh, Phipps...’ she wept emotionally ‘...I am so glad you have come.’
‘What did he do to you?’ Phipps demanded, his eyes glittering with fury. ‘Damn his impudence!’
‘He proposed to me, and he—he forced a kiss on me...’ she said, but caught his arm, as he would have gone after Lord Armstrong. ‘No, let him go, Phipps. I hit him as hard as I could and after what I said...I do not think he will approach me again.’
‘I should thrash him,’ Phipps said, fury smouldering in his eyes. ‘But I do not have time to waste on such things. Amanda, my brother is so ill—and Knighton says he must have a sensible nurse. I could not think of anyone who would be more cap
able...would you come and help me care for him?’
‘Of course,’ she said, though her heart sank. He had not come because he could not bear to be away from her another moment, but because he thought her a capable nurse. ‘I have wished that I might be of use to you, dearest, but felt I could not push myself forward.’
‘My mother cannot bear to look at her adored son and my father walks around in an angry daze. I need you there with me so much, Amanda. I should like to be married quietly at my home—unless you would prefer to wait?’
‘Oh, no,’ she said and prayed that she would not come to regret her rashness. ‘I shall come with you now. Perhaps your father would write and invite my parents and then we may be married very quietly at your home. I do not particularly wish for a big wedding...but I should like to invite Jane to be my bridesmaid, if your family would not mind her staying with us?’
‘I am sure they would be delighted to have her,’ Phipps said and kissed her hands. ‘Oh, Amanda, I am so glad to see you. You cannot imagine how awful it has been at home. I think I would by far rather be ill myself than see Alex lying there like that.’
Chapter Thirteen
Mama was a little reluctant at first, but as she could see that Amanda was determined, she was forced to give way. She complained that it was rude to leave Lord Brockley’s house before the visit was due to end, but Brock was concerned for his friend and insisted that he would escort them to Phipps’s home.
‘I should not dream of standing in your way,’ he said. ‘You must of course go, Miss Hamilton. I think Phipps a lucky man to have secured you for his bride—and as for the celebrations, I shall be there to stand as his best man. When things are back to normal, which we must all pray for, you can give a large ball. I may be married myself by then...we have not yet decided. Miss Langton’s mama prefers an engagement of some months, but we shall see.’
Brock took his leave of his betrothed in private. Amanda did not know what he said to her, but Cynthia came to say farewell and wish her happy. She apologised if she had been distant, but she was not feeling quite well. In the future she hoped they might be friends again.
Jane was quite happy to be leaving. She had seemed very quiet the past few days, but when asked denied being in any distress.
‘You may find it very quiet at my home,’ Phipps said to her when he helped her into Lady Hamilton’s carriage. ‘I would not have taken you away but that Amanda would like you at her wedding—which is now to be very quiet.’
‘Oh, I shall be perfectly happy, sir. If Amanda will permit me, I intend to spend my time sewing. Her clothes need altering again and I shall enjoy being of service to her—I love her dearly, you know.’
‘I am sure she is extremely fond of you.’
* * *
The journey to Phipps’s home was not long and easily accomplished by teatime. They were greeted by Lady Piper, who had roused herself sufficiently to entertain her guests to tea, though she looked pale and wan and was happy to allow herself to be taken up to bed by her woman later to lie down for a while before dinner.
‘This is very kind of you, Miss Hamilton,’ Lord Piper said, his brows a little arched as if surprised. ‘I cannot apologise enough for imposing on you—and for causing your wedding to be postponed. I wish I had not had to ask Phipps to put his own happiness aside for a time.’
‘We have settled on a quiet wedding, sir,’ Amanda said and smiled. ‘As Brock said, we may easily give a ball when your eldest son is recovered.’
‘I wish to God that I might think it possible, but I fear the worst.’
‘I do hope not, sir. I do not claim to have any nursing skills above the ordinary, but I am patient and Phipps seemed to need my help.’
‘And so you came. What a very good sort of girl you are, Miss Hamilton! I did not realise quite how lucky my son was in his choice.’
Amanda blushed and disclaimed, but was warmed by his genuine welcome. She could only hope that she might be of some real use to the family in its distress, though Mama was certain that nothing was to be done in such cases.
Phipps took her to his brother’s chamber after tea and she felt her heart stir with pity as she saw the young man lying so pale and still. He was like Phipps to some extent, but his hair was almost black and it curled at the ends. Its colour made him appear very white and she realised that he was a very attractive man, with a look of intelligence about his lean features. Instantly realising what the loss of such a son must mean to his parents, she understood his mother’s total collapse. Her own mama might be much the same if her son had been brought home in such a state.
‘Oh, Phipps, I am so sorry,’ she said. ‘I will do all I can, though I do not perfectly understand what I can do. His valet keeps him clean and I have no real nursing talent...’
‘I know. I simply needed you here,’ he said. ‘You were so very kind to Brock and—I fear that the servants may neglect him. Knighton said we should make sure he swallows liquids... Oh, and he said talking might help. He thinks Alex may just be concussed.’
‘We must pray he is right,’ she said and went over to the bed, placing her hand on the patient’s brow. ‘Oh, he is a little too warm, I think. Has he had a fever?’
‘Until now I think not,’ Phipps said and followed her example. ‘By Jove, there has been a change since I left him to fetch you... I do not know whether it is for good or evil.’
‘At least it means I may be of some real use,’ Amanda said in her practical tone. She could see that Phipps was very disturbed and wished to save him what pain she could. ‘Is there water in the jug? Ah, yes, I can bathe his forehead—but I do not see a jug of drinking water. Could your cook make some iced lemon barley for us, do you think?’
‘I am sure she could,’ Phipps said and smiled at her in such a way that her heart flipped. ‘Oh, Amanda, I am so thankful you are here, my love. I think I can bear anything now.’
Amanda felt the sting of tears and her throat caught with emotion. She told herself not to be foolish and set about the task of bringing the patient’s fever down. As Phipps left the room she cautiously peeled back the covers. Alex was wearing long pants, which covered his modesty. They would have to be removed when his man came, because he needed something less enveloping. He was sweating profusely and, as she began to soothe her cool cloth over his heated flesh, she heard him moan. Unsure of what he said, she soothed his hair back from his forehead.
‘Yes, sir. I dare say you feel very ill, but the mercy of it is that you can feel, you know. Poor Phipps was in terror lest you die and that would be very bad. Everyone wishes you to get better.’
She turned with a smile as Phipps returned with the barley water.
‘Try not to worry, dearest,’ she said. ‘I am here now and we shall nurse him together.’
* * *
Alex was burning up by the time the doctor arrived. He shook his head gravely and gave it as his opinion that this was the onset of a death fever and that the patient could not live long. It was useless to force him to take medicine and kinder just to leave him to die—giving him liquids would merely prolong his agony.
After he had gone, Amanda let free the rage that had consumed her.
‘What a prosy fool he is,’ she said. ‘No wonder your poor mama is having hysterics and your father is sunk in gloom. I should write to Mr Knighton and beg him to come at once—and in the meantime I shall ask Mama to make up her own remedy.’
Mama was agreeable and, after she had visited the sick man, went away to beg the housekeeper for the necessary ingredients. She watched Amanda administer the first dose and said she was proud of her, then left her to go down to dinner. It was her duty to make sure that Jane was not left alone, and, since Lady Piper had made the effort to dine with them, she could do no less. Amanda said that all she required was some tea and a slice of bread and butter, which she would eat here.
Amanda and Phipps decided to share the nursing with Alex’s valet, who was accustomed to shaving him and was able to
wash the parts that would have been a danger to Amanda’s modesty. She was perfectly content to leave such intimate duties to the valet, who seemed very capable, and agreed that she would need help when administering the medicine and giving the patient drinks.
She and Phipps sat up together through the late hours, and the valet took over in the morning while they went away to their separate rooms to sleep.
* * *
In the morning, Jane came in as she was eating her breakfast and sat on the edge of the bed.
‘I should not mind sitting with him for an hour or two so that you and Phipps can walk in the gardens—such lovely gardens as they are. I went for a walk this morning as far as the lake. I can sit and sew in his room as well as the parlour, you know.’
‘Oh, Jane, you are such a good friend—and you’ve done so much for me.’
‘Not as much as you have done for me. I never had a friend before and I have been about so much more than if I had not met you. Had I gone home without an offer I do not know what would have become of me—perhaps the curate might have offered...’
Amanda laughed. ‘You are far too pretty to marry the curate, Jane. I know we shall find you a husband one day, my dearest friend.’
‘I have thought, if you should like it,’ Jane said, ‘that I might take your wedding gown to pieces and make something simpler. You will not wish to wear such an elaborate gown for a quiet affair.’
‘It is much too grand and was never what I hoped.’
‘Besides making you look like a dumpling with all those skirts and that train—but the good thing is that I can cut it into a very simple dress, rather like the white muslin you look so well in.’
‘You are so clever with your needle,’ Amanda said. ‘I shall leave you to do whatever you think—just make it a surprise. Papa is coming at the end of next week and I believe Brock has gone to get a special licence for us. When he returns we shall have the ceremony and a simple dinner here.’