Page 48 of Elixir of a Duchess' Passion
“It is some herbal remedy, is it not?” the doctor asked, taking a step towards Harold as though he meant to remove the vial from his hand by force if that was what it took to get answers.
Harold looked more than a little flustered. Though there had never seemed to be any love lost between Harold and Lady Belmont, the look on his face suggested that he did not wish to give her up. However, it was also clear that he was having a hard time coming up with a valid excuse for what he was holding.
“It is mine,” Elijah exclaimed, and before he could think of any other explanation, he lied, “it was suggested to me by one of the maids.”
Harold looked almost as gobsmacked as Elijah felt at the lie. To put one of his servants at risk was bad enough, but all he could hope was that the doctor and his mother would not try to get it out of him as to which servant it was who had given it to him.
For just a second, Elijah imagined what Lady Belmont might look like in a maid’s uniform, her clothing entirely too plain yet also allowing her to shine ever more brightly than usual.
Then he was returned to the present and to Doctor Redditch holding out his hand to Harold.
“Forgive me, Mr Spurnrose, but perhaps I might examine this medicine a little more closely before the viscount ingests any more of it?” Doctor Redditch asked, glancing between Harold and his cousin and then finally at Lady Durham. Only one of them looked comfortable with the doctor’s request, and not for the first time, Elijah wished his mother would stand up for herself.
She had always been led by the men in her life, whether that was her father or her husband or even their family doctor. And now, she would attempt to get Elijah to do the very same if Doctor Redditch so much as made one suggestion.
“There is no need for that,” Elijah said firmly, shaking his head, “and with all due respect, Doctor Redditch, I fail to see your reason for being here. As you can see, I am perfectly well. As is my cousin.”
The gentleman doctor looked slightly disgruntled, glancing between the two men as though he was trying to decide whether he ought to protest.
“And with all due respect to you, Lord Spurnrose,” Doctor Redditch said finally, “I was brought here on the assumption that you were gravely ill.”
“Do I appear gravely ill to you?” Elijah demanded, and he could feel his face beginning to flush red with slight annoyance.
He was feeling the healthiest he had in months, yet here he was, still having to fight to prove that he was not nearly as ill as everyone had made him out to be.
Doctor Redditch’s bottom jaw trembled as though he was attempting to speak. Then his head shook, and he sighed deeply before saying, “Perhaps I was ill-informed, and my presence here is no longer required.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Elijah’s mother. The lady looked quite distraught and opened her mouth as if to speak, but Elijah quickly beat her to it.
“I think it best you return to London, where you are much more greatly needed,” Elijah suggested.
“Elijah, don’t be ridiculous!” Lady Durham protested, taking a step forward to prevent the doctor from leaving. “At least let Doctor Redditch examine you!”
“No, Mother, enough!” Elijah snapped back at her, taking a proper stand for what felt like the first time in his life. “I have been poked and prodded enough, and none of these so-called doctors have done me any good.”
Elijah only felt half guilty when he saw the disgruntled look on the doctor’s face.
“I can see where I am not wanted,” Doctor Redditch announced, his expression becoming firm as though he hoped to hide his emotions from the room. With that, he gave a bow to them all and started to depart.
“No! Doctor, wait!” Lady Durham protested, but the doctor continued with the butler, who had just appeared at the door, following to show him with a nod from Elijah.
His mother’s face was furious when she turned on him and demanded, “Why did you speak so disrespectfully to him? He might well have been your last chance!”
Elijah scoffed at that. He felt he had heard those words so many times over the last few months. And yet it hadn’t been true a single time.
Lady Durham looked again as though she might try to call the doctor back, but Elijah stopped her when he said, “No, Mother, I have already had my last chance.”
At that, Lady Durham raised her eyebrow and demanded, “No! Do not tell me you are giving up! I shall not lose you to this … this ridiculousness.”
There were tears in her eyes as she reached out for him. Just seeing them caused Elijah’s throat to constrict.
“You misunderstand me, Mother,” Elijah told her gently. He allowed her to take hold of his hand, raised hers to his lips, and kissed her reassuringly on the hand, squeezing her fingers. “I found my last chance, and there is nothing more to be concerned about.”
“I … I don’t understand,” his mother said, shaking her head.
“You have nothing to worry about, Aunt,” Harold insisted as he crossed the room to hand Elijah the vial he had brought down from the bedroom. He offered another apologetic expression and stepped back when Elijah took the vial from him.
Lady Durham looked entirely confused then, and Elijah knew he would have much explaining to do.
