Page 50 of The Marchioness Who Tempted Fate
“What was it he wanted to do?” Dr. Hardwick asked.
“He suggested laudanum for the pain, and thought possibly the Marquess might need bleeding.”
“Already bled plenty,” Dr. Hardwick said. “You’ll need to feed him beef tea until his head settles, and then goodly servings of beef and beer to build up his blood again when he is able to eat it. As for the laudanum, the opium poppy is a sovereign remedy for unrelenting pain, but should never be used on head injuries such as this.”
McClellan and Smithers both sighed with relief.
Dr. Hardwick chuckled. “Sent him packing and you are worried that you did the wrong thing? Well, have no fear. His style of treatment went out sometime in the last decade. Anyone who regularly practices real medicine has learned better.”
“Thank you, Dr. Hardwick. It had crossed our minds that perhaps we had done the wrong thing. He was the physician on call with the Watch.”
“Him? Oh, my. He is primarily useful for proclaiming people dead. You were quite right to send him off.”
Dr. Hardwick turned again to his patient. “Now, then, My Lord, since you are not needed in battle, I recommend a day or two of rest and keeping your head still. Mr. Smithers, if you will steep a packet of these herbs in hot water, and bathe both the head wound and the shoulder in the water, and make the herbs into a poultice and apply it to the wound. Do that twice daily. Call me at once if the headaches become worse or if the wound develops red streaks radiating out from it.”
“I will,” Smithers affirmed. “I will take good care of My Lord.”
“I am sure you will,” the surgeon agreed, giving the valet a hearty handshake. “In the meanwhile, you might invite one or two of the Watch to stand guard over him until you have identified the perpetrator. This was a most malicious attack, and it is a wonder that it was not worse. You do not remember how it came about, My Lord?”
Percival started to shake his head, then thought better of it. “No, Dr. Hardwick. In fact, I don’t remember anything at all, except one of the female staff members standing over me, screaming.”
“That would have been Tiffany,” Smithers corroborated. “She was standing in the doorway shrieking as if all the furies of Hell were after her when I came to see what was the matter. I do wonder why she was abovestairs at that hour? It is not the general way with her. Usually she is busy putting the kitchen to bed.”
“Indeed. I cannot imagine why she would have come to my office.”
“Perhaps, My Lord, she had something to do with your injuries,” Dr. Hardwick commented.
“Then why was she screaming?” Percival asked. “It seems to me that if she had meant me harm she would have simply slunk away. Probably taking that horrid knife with her.”
Smithers shrugged. “Who can say what the fairer sex will do? They are neither logical nor rational.”
Mrs. Twitchel merely stared at Smithers for a moment, lifted her chin, pointed her nose in the air, picked up the basket of linens and sailed out of the room.
“I would not expect any favors from housekeeping in the near future, Smithers,” McClellan remarked. “Best you should send your requests through me for a day or two.”
“Beg pardon?” Smithers said, bewildered.
Dr. Hardwick chuckled. “He means that you offended the lady housekeeper. While I would not dispute your point, the distaff side of the world does tend to be sensitive and prone to taking offense.”
Smithers stared off down the hall in the direction where Mrs. Twitchel had departed. “Well, I never!” he declared.
Dr. Hardwick chuckled as he finished packing up his bag. “You just take good care of His Lordship and I’m fairly certain she will forgive you. You are a lucky man, Lord Northbury. Rarely have I seen staff so devoted. Truly, they have saved your life.”
“Yes,” Percival agreed. “I am, indeed, fortunate. Thank you all, and I will see to it that Mr. Wilson acknowledges your capable service. Oh, and do see him on your way out, Dr. Hardwick.”
“I will, My Lord. Get some rest, and drink plenty of tea made with boiled water, beef broth, or even vegetable juice. Do not, on your life, touch water that has not been boiled or anything fermented. Good day, all.”
Chapter 35
Tiffany awoke to find two women puttering around in her room. “Ah, there ya are,” Old Elizabet said. “I’ve brought some ‘un to see you.”
“Grace!” Tiffany exclaimed. “I didn’t expect to see you today!”
“We all thought to surprise you,” Grace said. “Michaels couldn’t get away, an’ it din’ seem natural for Lucas to visit. But I helped Mrs. Elizabet carry the victuals home. No one has told us yet that we can’t continue to give out alms, so here we are.”
“Just Elizabet,” the older woman corrected, just as Tiffany said, “I’m glad to see you. How is the Marquess?”
“Well enough. Lucas says that he has a lump on his head and that the knife wound is sore, but doesn’t show any signs of infection. He doesn’t seem to remember anything about what happened except you standing over him screaming.”
