by Gloria Gay
“I would like to have a talk with him. Is he at his farm at present, do you know?”
“He usually is, at this time, my lord. I’ll ride there with you if you want.” The man passed a hand over his ginger head and grinned in his friendly way.
When he had arrived in the area, he had taken Cobby’s advice to stay with the Cobbys at their cottage. They insisted the inn nearby was small and ill-managed and welcomed him with open arms to their humble house so he relaxed on the saddle and let Cobby lead him on to the next farm.
On the way they stopped at the house where the doctor he had arranged to see to the injured farmers was staying. Doctor Ensleigh was not from the area and had come at Lanquest’s request, since the doctor in the area was ill himself.
The Cobbys were grateful that Lanquest had not left without first obtaining the services of a doctor in a town a few miles from Cobby’s farm.
It had meant that he would miss his nieces’ ball but it was more important that the two injured men receive treatment for their injuries. One of the men was Cobby’s brother and Cobby and his wife were so grateful, Lanquest was embarrassed by their constant expressions of gratitude, for Cobby’s brother, Rupert, was the most injured of the two farmers. On having to choose between helping the men and attending the ball, it had been an easy choice for Lanquest, for he could not leave the men to find a doctor on their own without his help.
“I’m glad for it, yer lor’ship,” Cobby said. “I’m sorry ye missed yer niece’s ball, as you said, but I’m glad you stayed to find another doctor for me brother. Me and me wife are grateful to ye, sir.” There were tears in Cobby’s eyes as he thanked him again.
“And the other tenants close to the flooding will be glad to have the doctor here to tend to them although their injuries are not so bad.
Doctor Ensleigh had promised to make the rounds of all the farms until Doctor Jasby recovered.
“The rains caused a lot of damage. As soon as we deal with one problem others pop up.”
“Yes,” Lanquest replied, and added: “There is enough work here for me to stay a couple of weeks more but I must deal with the problems at my other estate.
“But I will send another in my stead once I return to my estate. It appears you need the services of my steward for the rebuilding of your grain building and Mr. Smith and Mr. Calvin need their stables rebuilt before the next rain.”
“And don’t forget Alben, yer lor’ship.”
“Oh, yes, Casper Alben’s cottage. The north wall collapsed and must be rebuilt.”
“Well, I will send a missive right away, so that Embry can start making arrangements to come here and take care of all that.”
“It would be easier on ye if these farms with the flooding problems were not such a distance from your other estate, m’lord, or Mister Embry might be able to help you more.”
“He’s just finding his bearings after his father died,” Lanquest said. “He’s learning the work and is very dedicated. But these problems here are beyond his experience. He helps me more by overseeing Arcadia while I come here to deal with the floods.”
“Well, you know yer business m’lord and well you do it,” Cobby agreed.
The Cobbys had herded all their boys—five of them—to the parlor and given Lanquest their room for the few nights he stayed, telling him they felt honored.
***
Next morning Lanquest partook of breakfast with the Cobbys while Blue ate his oats.
Blue was well-rested and Lanquest suspected eager to be gone from the humble stable, by the way he skipped in place.
He was glad he had sent an urgent missive to his steward, Embry, so that he would leave even before Lanquest arrived in Arcadia, for the problems in these farms could not wait. The steward’s assistant, Willister, would take care of things while Embry was away.
After a full breakfast prepared by Mrs. Cobby, Lanquest took his leave from his host early the next morning and was still tired in spite of a restful sleep.
On the second day, Lance allowed Blue a whole day’s rest.
He, too, needed to settle down and sleep without thinking of getting anywhere in a hurry. He had missed the ball days before so there was nothing pressing on him other than his worries over Kate.
He remembered that one of Augusta’s goals in life was in pairing her daughter to the young marquess. Knowing his aunt well, he was certain all her concern was in securing the marquess for her daughter. Also, he had warned Augusta that her attitude towards Kate would earn her a quicker leave from Arcadia. He hoped she had taken this to heart.
***
On the road, Lanquest’s thoughts went back to Kate, where they often dwelled these days.
He realized the last miles would be the longest of his life. Although Blue had had all that rest Lanquest couldn’t make him go faster than a canter and they would have to spend another night on the road.
With a sinking heart, he realized one thing: he was deeply in love with Kate.
It was impossible to think he could keep her here when she lived in the bright exciting future the likes he was afraid even to think of.
Just the thought of her had shot tingles from his loins clear to his heart. He sighed deeply. The idea of never seeing Kate again made his eyes water and he felt a wracking pain in his chest.
And it could happen. Just as she had suddenly appeared in his wood, she would disappear one day, and he would never see her again.
The thought made him sick to his stomach and the excellent breakfast Cobby’s wife had prepared for him was in danger of being tossed on the road. Lanquest reined in Blue and with a sigh, got down from him. He would rest under that oak by the stream and try to overcome the feeling of nausea.
Sitting under an old tree while Blue stepped in place and nickered joyfully at the unexpected break Lanquest waded through his gloomy thoughts.
It was extremely important that Kate never find out what was in his heart. She would only feel bad for him because she did not love him as he did her. He could tell her whole being yearned to be back in her time.
After closing his eyes for a while until the feeling of nausea disappeared, he once again mounted his blue-black horse and was back on his way.
The miles stretched out. Lanquest’s mind barely skimmed along the reality about him and allowed Blue to follow the road on his own, for the sky had darkened and night was falling about them as his thoughts stayed with the woman he could never have.
The mist became thick around him and he was suddenly uneasy as Blue slowed his gait. Lanquest eased his hold on the reins, leaving Blue to find the road on his own without Lanquest confusing him.
***
Damn, Lanquest thought. This would delay his journey. He was so anxious to see Kate again he could feel a pressure in his chest.
In his heart, there was always the fear that Kate would be taken from him by fate and without even a chance to say good bye. To hold her one last time pressed to his heart.
Nearing Arcadia, a mist enveloped them and he sighed that the weary journey was presented with still another obstacle when all he wanted was to get home.
He continued to let Blue follow the road on his own through the mist as he felt a tension and his mind on alert at the sudden danger the mist presented.
Even though he had suddenly been on alert as the mist closed around him, he was not aware of the two bulky forms until the two men rushed before him and attacked him, one to each side. It happened so fast that he didn’t see when one of them hit him on the temple. The other one plunged a knife on his upper chest.
Suddenly there was sounds of someone yelling in the distance which caused Lanquest’s attackers to leave the scene without making certain their victim was dead.
“Away!” the heavier of the two shouted as they headed toward the shrubbery surrounding the wood as they disappeared into the thick mist of the forest.
CHAPTER 24
Romy ran into Kate’s bedroom and when Kate looked at her, alarmed, Romy shook her head and pres
sed a finger across her lips. Kate rushed to the door and locked it.
“What is it, Romy?” Kate’s hand trembled over Romy’s shoulder and Romy was trembling all over, unable to talk.
Kate led Romy to the table and chairs by the windows.
“Tell me, quick!”
“It’s fearful, mum,” Romy finally managed to utter.
“His lordship?” A tremor shook Kate’s voice.
“Jake Kimbal,” Romy’s voice trembled. She finally calmed herself enough to go on: “Sam’s brother and a friend run into some hooded men attacking his lor’ship, mum, about a mile from here, by the fork.”
“My God!”
“They brought his lordship as fast as they could. He’s up in his bedroom now. Sam went to get Doctor Kirby and told me to rush over to you so that you could help Jake.”
Kate was already running out the door with Romy following in her wake before Romy finished her sentence.
While Jake stemmed the blood with a folded handkerchief, Kate examined Michael, who was passed out. She had seen the wound before Jake had put pressure on it and cringed at how very deep it was.
Jake explained quickly that they had meant to stab Lanquest more times but Jake and his friend had interrupted them.
Kate told Romy to get a linen night rail from her clothes press and the scissors. Romy ran out and was soon back.
Kate cut strips of the linen, her hand trembling as she worked while John stemmed the blood with the soaked handkerchief. She folded a piece of linen several times and when John removed the handkerchief she applied the folded cloth on the gaping wound and passed the bandage she had cut over it tightly around Lanquest’s chest and then over his shoulder to hold it in place.
“How long until the doctor arrives?” she asked John.
“Not long, Miss Shallot, but I wouldn’t put too much stock on him doing any good. Doctor Kirby is old and has weak eyes. He is not as able as he was when he was younger. He suffers from gout and sometimes he can hardly walk with his cane. Let’s hope this is one of his good days. Doctor Melldow, his lor’ship’s usual doctor is away in Scotland.”
Kate had read enough to know that Lanquest was passed out rather than asleep and without antibiotics he would soon go into a fever from which he might not wake.
Only Doctor Hendrick, Lanquest’s friend, would know what to do in such a dangerous situation. Lanquest had told Kate he was brilliant surgeon and had saved many soldiers in the combat fields who would have died without his help.
But Michael had not been able to contact him and there had been no reply to the numerous missives he had sent to his London townhouse.
Lanquest had given Kate Hendrick’s address in London. Should she go there? No, she couldn’t leave Michael. Who knew what would happen once Augusta found out he was incapacitated. She would contact Cortland with the information. Kate was certain Cortland would bring a doctor that would answer only to him in the treatment Lanquest would receive.
She shuddered at the thought.
She felt like sitting down by Michael’s bedside and crying. Her throat was tight and her eyes were stinging with unshed tears. But there was no time for tears. Time was of the essence.
“An express came for his lor’ship as we were bringing him in, Miss,” said Jake. I tried giving it to Lady Donney but she said it would be better if you opened it, as you would know better what to do with the information it contained than she would.”
Kate rushed to the table and grabbed the express letter.
Tears filled her eyes as she tore it open. It was from Doctor Hendrick!
A joyful thrill sped through her as her eyes filled with tears.
Hendrick had been ill in Italy from an accident and had been unconscious for many weeks but he was back in London and recovering from his injuries. He wrote that this was the third letter to Lanquest, to his townhouse, without response!
Dear Michael,
I wrote you several times when I arrived in London at my cousin’s townhouse some weeks ago, since I hadn’t heard from you. But as there was no reply to my letters I sent my coachman to see if he could have more luck in finding you. He came back to report that the townhouse was boarded up with only a skeleton staff. Yet my letters to you were not returned!
However, in the following days I will be sending this express to Arcadia in the hopes that it will reach you.
How was it possible that Lanquest’s mail had been accepted but not forwarded on to Arcadia?
Michael had told her that he maintained a small staff in his townhouse because he often went there due to his work in Parliament. It appeared either Hendrick’s letters were lying unattended on a silver dish inside the townhouse or that someone had intercepted Lanquest’s correspondence.
Cortland! Augusta had mentioned that Cortland was in London and would join them when she and her daughters arrived for the Season.
She wouldn’t put it past Cortland, from what she had learned about him from Michael, to have intercepted Michael’s mail.
Kate needed to get a hold of Lucy. Then her heart sank. Lucy was in her honeymoon in Italy. Had she written to Michael? She would have told him her address—or direction as they called it in England. Michael had told Kate he was very close to Lucy and was happy that she had married the man she loved and who loved her too.
She would have Amy look through Michael’s correspondence for Lucy’s direction in Italy and write to her.
But even in the best of circumstances, Kate realized with sadness, it would take Lucy and her husband several weeks to return to the Hall. It was not as if they could just hop on a plane. A journey by ship took months and was dangerous.
“I will write an express to Doctor Hendrick,” she told Aunt Amy.
***
Early the following day, Dr. Jonas Hendrick resumed the work that had absorbed him the previous day. He was bothered by a problem he had been working on in his laboratory and had left the surgeon’s hospital around midnight. After grabbing a couple of hours of sleep he had again returned to his laboratory.
He felt he was working against the clock, that he had just a little time to complete his work. His man had asked for a few days to visit his dying mother and the housekeeper had returned from the bakery, as usual.
Lately he had been working under a feeling of doom. Why he felt this he could not explain to himself. He was in relatively good health, considering the little sleep he often got and his haphazard diet, for he often became so immersed in his work that he left the carefully prepared food trays his housekeeper provided for him to gel untouched.
Could this feeling of doom be related to someone other than himself? Hendrick felt deeply for those he loved, but his parents, whom he had loved dearly had both passed away. His brother was in India and he had just received a letter from him. He had assured Hendrick all was fine with him and his family.
So, who, then? Hendrick felt a cold shaft of fear slice through his heart. Lanquest!
His abnormally strong intuition pointed to Lanquest. Something was wrong with his dear friend. He had not answered his letters.
As he waded in the gloom of his thoughts his valet scratched at his door.
“Yes, Sam, come in.”
“An express for you, sir.”
Doctor Hendrick glanced hurriedly at the return address and while Sam was still in the room exclaimed:
“My friend Lanquest has been attacked, Sam! I must hurry to Arcadia. This lady who wrote the letter, a Miss Kate Shallot, tells me my friend is hovering between life and death! Alert our coachman and pack my valise while I visit the Inns of Court.
“Before I leave London I must get a court order, Sam. I am sorry that it will take at the very least two to three hours but I must get the wheels rolling. If my friend is unconscious, as this lady states, it will not be long before that unpleasant nephew of his, Cortland, takes over the estate. The court order will keep him in check for a while.”
“Yes, Doctor”.
CHAPTER 25
“Doctor Hendrick!”
“Miss Shallot…?”
“Yes, Doctor, it was I who wrote you the letter. I am a friend of Lord Lanquest and his aunt, Lady Donney.”
“My pleasure, Miss Shallot,” said the doctor, stepping inside the Hall as Kate moved aside for him to greet Amy.
“He is in great danger, doctor,” Kate said as Hendrick followed her up the stairs and on down a hallway to Michael’s bedroom.
Doctor Hendrick quickly pulled up his shirtsleeves and with Kate’s help, removed Michael’s bandages.
“The wound has become infected,” said Hendrick, putting aside his magnifying glass after he had made a thorough examination of Michael’s wound. “The injury appears to have been done with an extremely dirty knife. The blade was caked with mud and grime, or extraneous particles are embedded with the wound. The knife attack was very deep, which is why there is so much swelling. I am going to have to widen the knife wound in order to remove the particles, for the wound cannot close with it. And it is so swollen…”
Hendrick shook his head and his eyes filled with tears. “There is pus along with the blood, I fear greatly for my friend, Miss Shallot.”
Kate’s eyes were also filled with tears as she helped the doctor clean Michael’s wound.
“I will stay with him while you rest for a while, Miss Shallot. I fear you are ready to collapse. Rest easy while Lord Lanquest is in my care and please have a meal, now that you can do so with confidence that he is in my hands.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Kate said with a sigh of relief, although her heart ached at the little hope Hendrick’s words had given her.
Two hours later, Kate knocked at Michael’s door. Doctor Hendrick had been in there with Michael all this time and had not even asked for tea to be brought in.
“Would you like for a meal to be brought to you here, Doctor?” Kate’s voice trembled. She hesitated to ask him how Michael was for she feared for his answer and preferred not to know, not until later when Hendrick might have more hope.