“Rest now. Sleep if you can.” He stood, leaned over, and kissed her.
She seemed to doze then. Beth went to work on the compress once more. “She’ll come through fine,” she said belligerently. “Been through worse, hasn’t she? She’ll be right soon, you’ll see. Not some fool delicate woman.”
“Do you have any soup made, Beth? There should be something for her if she will eat.”
Beth set her hands on her knees. “I had only started cooking. I could make soup, though. Only I’m needed here.”
“I think she will sleep for a while. I’ll sit with her. I promise to call you if you are needed.”
Beth’s hesitation said she was of two minds. She finally stood. “The water is still cool, so you wet the cloth again every ten minutes or so. If she wakes you plump those pillows again. Call me and I’ll help. Don’t you go kissing her or anything either. Not the time or place for that.”
He let her lecture him on a few more points before she plodded to the door.
He sat, and tried not to spend every second of the next half hour scrutinizing Minerva for proof he did not have to worry as badly as he did.
Chapter Twenty-One
Voices. Talking near her. Around her. Almost whispering. Even so the sounds of them made the headache scream.
She kept wanting to open her eyes, but dared not. Even looking very far hurt. Only lying here, not moving, not talking, seemed to make it better.
Another voice. Chase’s.
There are doctors here, Minerva. They are going to examine you. Please let them.
Touches on her head where pain carved into her scalp. Then on her temples. A quiet command told her to open her eyes. She did, and looked into the round, florid face of a plump man wearing spectacles.
Another face appeared beside his. Gray hair. Thinner face. Peering closely, right into her eyes, but not really looking at her so much as through her.
She has mostly been sleeping, you say? Was only out a short while?
As I understand it, yes. I am almost certain she has not lost consciousness the last two hours.
Good. Good. More peering. And she knew who you were? No confusion?
Only a little regarding what happened.
That is common. In a few days she will remember more.
The two faces pulled away and became heads attached to two bodies. Those heads tipped to each other. More whispers. The bodies turned and the plump man addressed someone else who stood behind her head. Since no one seemed to care if she kept her eyes open, she closed them again.
She has been fortunate. A taller man, a stronger one, and the attack could have been fatal. Even so she must rest. A week at least. In bed. No reading. Low light. As little noise as possible. You can move her from here if you are very careful while carrying her. If she has not recovered in a week, we will have another conversation. The sounds of footsteps walking away.
It was wise to call for him. You did not need me with his experience at your disposal. He has seen the effects of artillery, swords, and musket butts.
I thank you for coming anyway.
When a duke sends for a royal physician, the physician normally complies. A pause. His woman?
No.
Ah. Lest it not be obvious, I need to say that there should be no sexual congress this week of rest.
They walked away and she heard no more. She remained a little aware even as dreams gathered. She knew when Beth returned just from her footfall, and thought she heard Jeremy whispering far way.
Two arms slid under her. Her body rose. She forced her eyes open and saw Chase’s face near hers, and felt her head resting on his upper arm. “I feel much better when you hold me,” she whispered.
He smiled down at her, but his brow remained furrowed and his eyes stern.
“I was careless, Chase. I did not inquire sharply enough about why Mrs. Jeffers sought her cousin. I assumed it was for a reconciliation he would welcome. Only he did not want to be found.”
“Don’t think about it now. Don’t think about anything.”
She really did feel better, in his arms like this. She closed her eyes again and floated in the strength of his support.
* * *
Chase waited in the library while Beth undressed Minerva and tried to feed her some soup. He fingered a small piece of paper and a card, impatient for Jeremy to return. He