Lily glanced over her shoulder at Mr. Harrison, pasting a forced smile onto her face.
His dark hazel eyes narrowed at her, and she knew her smile covered nothing of what she was feeling.
“This is where you live?” His eyes travelled up the outside of the grand, three-story stone entrance. “It is impressive.”
Lily turned from him, staring at the carvings in the heavy oak door to avoid answering. “I know this is not proper, Mr. Harrison, but may I refer to you as Garek? You may call me Lily.” She angled her head to look at him. “I plan on introducing you as an old friend from childhood that moved away, but has now returned as a trained physician. I believe all inside will unfold more favorably if I can claim you are a trusted person from the past. So if I may call you Garek, it would lend credibility to the story.”
“You would like to lie about our association?”
“I would. Anything to ease the situation. Please.”
He gave her a curt nod.
Not exactly resounding agreement. While Lily could see he was not comfortable with lying, she also was not about to chance Mr. Harrison being tossed out of Weadly Hall before he could help Brianna. His reluctant nod would have to be enough.
Lily opened the door before Mr. Harrison could rethink the situation, and the heels of her boots clicked onto the marble floor of the wide entryway.
She went directly to the curved staircase, quickly moving up the steps, to the left, and down a long hallway. At the last door of the corridor, she turned the knob and stepped into the room.
Her heart sank.
He was still here. Still here with his leeches sucking the life out of Brianna. Up and down her sister’s arm. Just as she had left him last night.
She cleared the instant lump in her throat, not allowing her eyes to rest on her sister’s sallow face. “Dr. Rugbert, you are still here. Have you truly bled my sister all night?” Lily announced her presence with the words and watched as the rotund doctor jerked awake, slipping from the chair he had sprawled in.
He scrambled to his feet, his chubby hands running down along the lapels of his jacket. “Now, Miss Silverton, we do not need the scene from last night to be repeated. I have had quite enough pestering from you on the matter of your sister.”
“Get those suckers off of her, Dr. Rugbert,” Lily said, ignoring his condescending tone.
“Rubbish, Miss Silverton. Do you truly think to order me about this early in the morn? I will do no such thing. Do I need to get Mr. Sneedly?”
“You do not.” Lily stepped further into the room, stopping within distance to the spit that flew from his mouth with every other word. Her arms crossed over her chest. “But I want those bloody suckers off of Brianna this instant.”
He blustered, his face turning red, spittle gathering at the corners of his mouth. “I am only here at the insistence of Mr. Sneedly, Miss Silverton. Not for you and not for your sister. You do not appreciate that I am the only one that can save her. You most certainly cannot, and you had very well better start giving me the respect that I deserve.”
“There you are wrong, Dr. Rugbert.”
Lily could feel Garek step behind her, and Dr. Rugbert’s look went up over her head. His eyes squinted in the dim light of the room. “Who is this?”
“Your services will no longer be needed for my sister, Dr. Rugbert.” She stepped to the side, lifting her hand to tilt to Mr. Harrison. “This is a dear friend of mine—and Brianna’s—from childhood, Garek Harrison. Garek has just arrived back in the area, and as he is a trained physician, he will be taking over the care of Brianna.”
“But—you cannot—who?” Dr. Rugbert sputtered, his eyes flying to Garek. “Whom did you train with, boy?”
“I studied at Oxford and was licensed by the Royal College of Physicians years ago,” Garek said, his hazel eyes hardening at the physician. “In recent years I have been fortunate enough to train with Dr. Halowell at his practice adjacent to The London Hospital. Perhaps you have heard of him? He has made invaluable advances in surgery and treatments.”
Dr. Rugbert’s look swung to Lily. “You cannot just dispose of me, girl. You are nothing—do you hear me? Nothing. I do not answer to you.”
“I am giving you the courtesy of a few moments to remove your pets before I tear them off of Brianna and crush them under my heel, Dr. Rugbert,” Lily said. “Your time at Weadly Hall is very limited.”
“You insolent little twit.” Spittle sprayed as Dr. Rugbert’s arm flew up, the back of his hand coming down at Lily’s face.
Instinct turned Lily’s head, her eyes cringing as she tried to minimize the impact.
But then nothing.
She opened her eyes to see Garek had snatched Dr. Rugbert’s wrist in the air, right before it made contact with her cheek.
Stunned at his speed, Lily could see Garek’s knuckles straining, crushing Dr. Rugbert’s arm right in front of her eyes. She jumped to the side, well out of swinging distance from Dr. Rugbert, her hands landing on the side of the bed behind her.
Garek took a step forward, leaning over the physician with his height, threat clear in every muscle. “That does not seem necessary, sir.”
Garek did not tighten his grip, nor did he drop the physician’s wrist.
Shock registered on Dr. Rugbert’s face, his enraged bluster turning his bald scalp bright pink. He harrumphed, wrestling his wrist free from Garek.
Garek made a point to hold the physician’s wrist tight against his squirming. A few long moments passed, and Garek dropped it, both men fully aware of who was in control.
Dr. Rugbert whipped around to Lily. “I will not have this insolence from you, Miss Silverton, or this…this brute of a man. I am rousing Mr. Sneedly.” He charged out of the room.
Her breath held, Lily stared at Garek’s profile, dumbstruck. Slowly, he turned to her, his look still seething.
Lily’s eyes closed, her head dropping.
Please don’t leave. Please don’t leave. Please don’t leave. She willed him in her mind.
But why? Why would he possibly stay now? She had not told him what he was walking into, and it was now obvious that she had just dragged him into an impossibly troublesome situation.
The sudden warm presence next to her side startled her and she opened her eyes. Garek was silent, already removing the leeches from Brianna’s arm. His large hands, just as gentle with Brianna as they were with her, lifted each wiggling black sucker and dropped them into the glass container on the side table next to the bed.
Lily’s stomach rolled as her eyes closed. She still could not stand the sight of them.
“He has slapped you before?” Garek’s voice, low and soft, drifted to her.
Her head still bowed, she refused to open her eyes. If she opened them, she would look at Brianna. Look at the leeches. And if she looked, she would retch. “It does not matter. All that matters is that he is gone from Brianna’s room.”
The sound of footsteps, ominous, echoed down the hall—two sets of them. A quick glance at Brianna told her Garek was not done—he still had a slew of leeches to go.
She sprang away from the bedside, moving to the door to intercept.
Her hands flew up as the pair appeared in the doorway, immediately trying to calm. “Mr. Sneedly, whatever Dr. Rugbert has told you, I am sure he has exaggerated.”
“Why am I being dragged in here, Lily?” Mr. Sneedly tightened the knot around his purple velvet dressing gown, sighing as he stopped in front of her. His eyes flickered over her shoulder to Garek and then back to her.
Close. He was too close, as he always was. His chest almost touched the linen wrapped around her palms. She would normally back away, try to escape him. But not this time. This time she was so very close to removing Dr. Rugbert from Brianna’s care. She held her hands in place, hovering in midair, with her feet solid.
“I am not sure why Dr. Rugbert has brought you in here, Mr. Sneedly. I have just informed him that his services are no longer needed wi
th Brianna. I believe it is a closed matter.”
Dr. Rugbert pushed past the two of them, jabbing his porky finger toward Garek. “I have been manhandled by this barbarian—this impertinent ruffian—that Miss Silverton has dared to bring here.”
“He is not a ruffian, Mr. Sneedly.” Lily dropped her hands, turning sideways as she forced her voice to the utmost calmness. She motioned to the bed where Garek still calmly pulled leeches. “Garek—Dr. Harrison—is a childhood friend from long ago. We grew up together and he has recently moved back into the area. I heard he was back from his training as a physician, so I inquired as to his availability to take over Brianna’s care.”
Mr. Sneedly’s face went pinched, his cold glare chilling Lily’s spine. “How did you hear of his arrival back in the area? Who told you? Did you leave the house—you are not to leave the estate, Lily.”
She clasped her hands in front of her. “I was merely down at the stables. It was happenstance that Lawrence, our old stable master, had stopped by to check on one of the horses—he had seen it in the village when it had come up lame.”
“He has no right to come onto these lands.” Mr. Sneedly’s voice went cold, each word drawn out long and slow.
“You already dismissed him, Mr. Sneedly. There need be no dire consequence. He was merely concerned for the horse and stopped by to check on the mare and to offer help. I do not see how you can fault him for honest intentions—caring about what had been his life’s work.”
One wheezing inhale, and a forced smile crossed Mr. Sneedly’s face. “No. One cannot fault him for that.” His glare went to Dr. Rugbert, who was staring at Garek, watching him remove the last leech from Brianna’s skin. “And this man—Mr. Harrison—”
“It is Dr. Harrison, and he has also studied as a surgeon.”
Mr. Sneedly’s pinched eyes returned to Lily at her interruption. “Dr. Harrison has agreed to take over your sister’s care?”
“He has.” Lily jumped on the question. “You have, Garek, correct?”
Garek set the glass topper on the jar of leeches. He picked up the jar, moving from the bed to hand them to Dr. Rugbert, and then turned to Lily and Mr. Sneedly. “I have agreed. I am honored that Lily would request me in such a difficult time.”
“An abomination. You will kill this girl if you allow this, Mr. Sneedly.” Clutching his jar of leeches to his chest like a newborn babe, Dr. Rugbert stepped in front of Garek, pleading to Mr. Sneedly. “I do not need to remind you I was the only one helping her. Keeping her alive.”
“True.” Mr. Sneedly’s head tilted, looking to Lily. “You do recall that Dr. Rugbert was specifically recommended by the viscount?”
“I do. And I, of course, appreciate the kindness.” Lily offered her sweetest smile. “But both Brianna and I will be far more comfortable with a trusted friend from childhood, especially since he has the proper training. I am sure, Mr. Sneedly, that you can understand my need for a comfort from the past in this difficult time.”
Mr. Sneedly sneered and then nodded. “Acceptable. But I presume Dr. Rugbert will be compensated for his time?”
Lily gritted her teeth, but forced her words light. “Yes, Dr. Rugbert will be paid well for his services. He need not worry on that.”
“Dr. Rugbert, you may wait in the front drawing room.” Mr. Sneedly dismissed the physician and then waited in silence, staring at the open doorway until Dr. Rugbert’s footsteps receded down the hallway. He turned to Lily, swiping back the long strands of greasy hair hanging down his forehead. “This will be from your funds, Lily. Not the viscount’s.”
“Of course, Mr. Sneedly. I will retrieve his payment at once and bring it to you, so he has no need to return.” She glanced to Brianna. Even with the commotion, her sister had not moved in the slightest. “Garek, you will stay with Brianna?”
Garek nodded and went back to Brianna’s bedside.
Silently grateful, Lily left the room. A few steps into the hallway, she spun, collapsing against the wall. The top of the wainscoting cut into her lower back as she gasped, trying to catch her breath.
All of it—all of it had been such raw, false bravado on her part, her heart still had not slowed.
But it had been worth it. Dr. Rugbert was gone. Finally.
The whine of Mr. Sneedly’s voice spilled into the hallway from the open doorway, cutting through the blood pounding in Lily’s ears. “I apologize for the untoward scene, Dr. Harrison. A firm hand is what that chit needs—my firm hand. She has gone unchecked for far too long—her whole life I imagine. Spoiled, as far as I have seen. Of course, you knew her as a pup, so you must be well aware. But she will be much more disciplined once she accepts the inevitable.”
A cough filled the room. Garek’s cough, Lily could tell by the depth, and then his voice. “You have intentions toward Lily?”
“It is foregone. She is already practically mine. And the girl needs to be broken—scenes like this are not acceptable. Not that I will make it easy for her—a long breaking, so I may enjoy it, if you get my meaning, old boy.”
Bile rushed into her throat.
“I do get your meaning, Mr. Sneedly.” There was a definite bite to Garek’s words. “And I beg you to remember that Lily is a dear friend from long ago, and I would be quite displeased were she to be taken advantage of.”
Lily’s breath stopped.
Silence. A long moment of silence from the room.
Then a high-pitched, forced chuckle from Mr. Sneedly. “Of course, old boy, I meant no disrespect to your association with her.”
Without waiting to hear another word, Lily turned, exhaling as she escaped down the hall as quietly as possible.
She could not afford to get caught eavesdropping.
All would be lost if she set Mr. Sneedly off again—especially if he made the viscount came back to Weadly Hall.
{ Chapter 3 • Marquess of Fortune }
A sack of coins in-hand, Lily stepped back into Brianna’s room and handed them off to Mr. Sneedly. He wanted Dr. Rugbert paid, so he could very well do it himself. She would have no part of ever speaking to that physician again.
Mr. Sneedly left the room, and Lily stood, staring at Garek on the opposite side of the bed. He was bent over, writing on a piece of a paper on the side table next to Brianna’s pillows.
Fear suddenly gripped Lily. What if she had just traded one ill-advised physician for an even less equipped one? She had been so focused on getting rid of Dr. Rugbert, and Garek had seemed like such an easy solution this morning—the only solution, for she certainly hadn’t been able to manage it on her own these past weeks.
But what did she really know of this man? He was looking for work and he had medicinal skills.
That was it.
And he could swing a hammer.
She mustn’t forget that. Or that he was kind. Or that—for some god-forsaken reason—he had stumbled upon a crazy lady wielding a hammer in the middle of the night, and he had decided to help her. Silently. Without a barrage of questions.
Her eyes travelled up from Garek’s large hands, along his profile, to his dark hair. He was far too large to be a healer. Too intimidating. Tall, but nowhere near fat—his frame held a healthy amount of muscle if the way he swung the sledgehammer last night was any indication.
And handsome. A man that looked as if he should be enjoying sport or a grueling ride, rather than doting on the sick. If she hadn’t experienced herself the gentleness of his hands, she would never have believed he had the capacity.
But he did have the capacity. She had seen that this morning. She had to trust that instinct.
He set the quill down next to the ink jar and straightened, looking across the room at her. The concentration in his eyes disappeared, only to be replaced with obvious ire.
Lily’s heart started to thud hard in her chest.
“You brought me here to fight battles for you, Miss Silverton.”
“I—I what?” Her feet shuffled backward until she could lean out of
the room and glance down the hall. Empty, thankfully. She pulled the door closed. She couldn’t afford Mr. Sneedly overhearing any of this conversation.
“Dr. Rugbert. Mr. Sneedly.” Garek’s deep voice cut across the room the second the door clicked shut. “You brought me here to fight your battles, Miss Silverton. Battles I am not suited to wage.”
Lily moved forward, stopping at the opposite side of Brianna’s bed, her fingers wrapping themselves into the coverlet. “I…I brought you here for my sister. My sister.”
“Yes. That I can see.” His eyes flickered down to Brianna, then up to Lily, pinning her. “And also for me to trounce the physician who has obviously been overly generous with the back of his hand on your face. And also to buffer you from the other man who has every intention to claim you. Claim you and break you.”
Lily’s head bowed, her eyes landing on Brianna’s face. Her sister’s cheeks were sunken and grey. How long had it taken the last time Brianna was bled for the pink to come back to her face? Lily searched her mind. She couldn’t remember.
Her chest tightened. If only Brianna would wake up. Wake up and tell her what to do. Her sister always knew what to do.
Words crept from Lily’s mouth, almost a whisper. “I need you to stay.”
“You need far more than that, Miss Silverton.” The harsh edge still lined his voice.
“Yes.” Her chin lifted, defiant. “Yes—I need you for Brianna—and I need you for all those reasons.”
“I do not take kindly to deception, Miss Silverton. Nor to being cast in the role of champion.”
Lily uncurled her fingers from the coverlet, her hand waving over her sister’s prone body. “All of this—this is much more complicated than I first disclosed. I know that. I did not tell you this morning because I did not want you to say no.”
“So instead you try to trap me here with guilt? I see your sister and become beholden to stay?” He shook his head, drawing back from the side of the bed. “You overestimated me, Miss Silverton. I do believe I need to leave this home. I will do you the courtesy and wait until Dr. Rugbert leaves this place. I am sure you can procure another physician to look after your sister.”
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