Page 89 of The Moonstone Pirate
Draco did not care.
He was not going to allow her to suffer a moment longer than necessary. This was his fault. His assignment and Driscoll’s murder on his property were to blame. Yes, all his fault for being in Imogen’s company when he should not have been with her today.
He’d thought it was safe, since theDroghedawas not in port yet and no one had set eyes on McTavish. Nor did it matter that the constable’s men and Major Brennan’s soldiers had been on alert and looking for Healey, Burke, Driscoll’s companions, or any strangers all week long. Obviously, these precautions had not been enough.
Imogen reluctantly held out her hand, and was about to take a deep breath to renew her protests when the doctor pulled out two tiny shards, then dabbed a salve on the two spots. “There, that ought to do it.”
“You’re done?” she asked incredulously, having gotten out not a single complaint.
Dr. Hewitt smiled. “Yes. All done. Elmer, wrap a bandage around Lady Imogen’s hand. Her wrist appears to be mildlysprained, so wrap it over her wrist as well. Lady Imogen, I’m sure it will be better in a day or two.”
“Then do I really need a bandage?”
The doctor nodded. “Just a precaution. Come by here tomorrow or the day after and I’ll remove it. If the hand is still red in those spots, then I’ll apply more salve.”
“All right.” Imogen glanced at Draco, who was seated on a stool beside one of the two beds in this private room, his shirt a bloody mess. “Now you must tend to him, doctor. He’s still bleeding. I’ll be right outside the door with Deandra.”
Draco watched as Elmer walked her out. “Wait right here, Lady Imogen,” he heard the lad say, since the door was open and he could hear all that was going on in the hall. “I’ll fetch a chair for each of you. Treating Lord Woodley’s injury will take a little while. The doctor has to clean out his wound, make certain nothing is lodged inside, then stitch him up. That gash is going to require at least a dozen stitches, if not more.”
Deandra, who had been standing by the doorway, staring at him and quietly weeping, now began to swoon.
Imogen cried out, “Oh dear! Elmer, help me get her back into the room. I noticed a second bed in there. May we use it? Oh goodness. She’s going to faint.”
Draco was about to leap to his feet to assist, but the doctor sternly held him down. “Elmer and Lady Imogen have this in hand. I do not need you fainting, too.”
Draco was not pleased, but obeyed, since the lad and Imogen did have matters very much under control without his interference. The two of them set Deandra on the empty bed. “Lie still,” Imogen said, gently brushing Deandra’s hair off her cheek. She then turned to Elmer and whispered, “I’ll fetch some apple cider. Keep an eye on her to make sure she does not try to climb out of bed.”
“I’ll fetch it,” Elmer volunteered.
Imogen shook her head. “No, Dr. Hewitt needs you to assist him with Lord Woodley.”
Deandra’s eyes fluttered open. “What happened?”
“You fainted,” Imogen said.
“I did?”
“Yes, but it is understandable. You’ve gotten yourself too worked up.” Imogen left her side a moment to grab a fresh cloth from the long table beside the window, dip it in the ewer of water beside the pile of cloths, and then twist the excess water out. She placed the cloth over Deandra’s brow. “Just rest comfortably until I return. I won’t be long.”
“Where are you going?” Deandra grabbed Imogen’s wrist, the one that had been injured and was now bound.
Draco expected Imogen to cry out, but she remained stoic. “Just running to the kitchen for refreshments that you and Draco will both need. I’ll be right back.”
Deandra nodded weakly. “All right.”
Imogen hurried off.
Draco felt so proud of her. Out of all of them, she had remained the calmest and was most efficient. He had noticed her rubbing her wrist lightly when Deandra finally released it. Grabbing her like that must have hurt, but she did not make a single complaint.
From the moment that shot was fired and he was struck, Imogen had shown incredible resolve and patience in dealing with him and Deandra.
“Ready, my lord?” The doctor’s question brought him back to attention.
“Yes, do what you must.”
The doctor nodded. “Elmer, help him remove his shirt.”
“No need for delicacy,” Draco said as the young lad proceeded slowly. “The shirt is ruined. Just help me rip it off.But I’ll need to borrow a clean one, if the hospital has any to spare.”
