Page 76 of The Duke's Inconvenient Bride
“You wanted to discuss something,” she said to distract herself. “You mentioned it earlier.”
He shook his head. “It can wait.”
He dropped the towel and supported her into the bedchamber, where Daisy was waiting with a robe. Between the three of them, they got her into it. She lay on the bed and Vaughan covered her with a blanket.
She stayed there while he left the room and returned with a man she assumed must be the doctor—a nondescript gentleman who could be anywhere between forty and sixty.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace,” he said as he moved into the room. “I wish it were under better circumstances. I’m Dr. Edmund.”
“Thank you for coming,” Emma said. With the weather as bad as it was, the journey must have been difficult for him.
He raised his bushy eyebrows. “My family have served the Stanhopes for generations. A little rain wouldn’t keep me away. Now, let me examine this ankle.”
He sat on the end of the bed and lifted the blanket enough to reveal her ankle. She gritted her teeth as he poked and prodded the joint.
“Hmm. Not broken,” he said. “Possibly sprained, though.”
He covered her again with the blanket.
“Is there anything we need to do?” Vaughan asked from where he was pacing beside the bed.
The doctor dug around in his bag and pulled out a small container. “Spread this poultice on the ankle twice a day. It will reduce the inflammation.”
Emma took the container when he offered it and popped the lid open. It smelled herbaceous with a strong undertone of oil of wintergreen.
“Do you have any other instructions?” she asked, putting the lid back in place.
“Stay off it for two days,” Dr. Edmund said. “I don’t want you walking at all unless it absolutely can’t be avoided.”
Emma’s face fell. Wonderful. Two days of being effectively bedbound.
“After those two days, you should limit your movement for another two weeks,” the doctor added. “By then, you ought to be back to normal.”
“Thank you,” Emma said.
She didn’t like the idea of being stuck in one place for two days, but she knew it could have been much worse if Vaughan hadn’t found her in the folly.She might have become too chilled and gotten ill.
Vaughan stood as the doctor gathered his things, but Dr. Edmund gestured for him to stay.
“I can see myself out, Your Grace,” he said.
“You’re welcome to stay until after the rain has eased,” Vaughan said. “We can have a room prepared.”
Dr. Edmund slung his bag over his shoulder. “Thank you. I might very well accept.”
As the doctor left, Vaughan turned back to Emma. He studied her, concern evident in his expression.
“I will remain at Ashford Hall until after you are well,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument.
Emma’s heart lurched. “I didn’t realize you intended to leave.”
CHAPTER 18
Oh,damn. He’d let the cat out of the bag.
“Um.” He moistened his lips. “Yes. I plan to return to London.”
She looked crestfallen, and he felt like a cad for dropping this news on her when she was already injured and upset. He should have kept better control of his tongue.
