Page 42 of A Wicked Duke's Redemption
Nathanial beckoned to Kitty, who quickly slipped past Violet and broke into a run towards the village.
“To the drawing room,” Violet said, leading Leo in that direction. “That is the nearest room. You need to lie down.”
He grunted in response. Nathanial went with them, opening doors and shoving furniture to clear their path. After they reached the drawing room, Leo lowered himself onto the settee. Violet seized a nearby chair and carefully reached for Leo’s leg. “What are you doing?” he asked between clenched teeth.
“You will need to remove your shoe and stocking,” Violet said. “Then you will need to prop the leg up for the physician.”
Violet assumed that was what needed to be done. At the very least, those did not seem like actions which would cause any harm. When the physician arrived, he would need to access the wound. Leo tipped his head back and nodded. Violet removed his shoe as gently as she could, receiving a pained hiss in response.
She raised the leg of his trouser and felt heat rush to her face. In almost any other circumstance, she would have been delighted to be this close to him and to touch him like she was. With the utmost gentleness, Violet rolled down the silk stocking and carefully removed it from Leo’s foot. The wound was readily visible on his ankle. It was already red and raised, with the two puncture marks clearly present.
“How bad is it?” Leo asked.
Violet swallowed. She felt as if she might vomit, but it was impossible to say whether seeing the wound or knowing that the snake might be poisonous was responsible for the sensation. “It is not so bad,” she said, forcing her tone light. “But we shall see when the physician comes.”
It would not be long before he arrived, but Violet could not say if that would be soon enough.
Chapter 20
Samuel Johnson, the physician, leaned close to Leo, inspecting the snake bite. Leo scarcely dared to breathe; despite being instructed to draw deeper breaths. His ankle throbbed and stung all at once. He felt as if he had stepped into a fire, rather than being bitten by a snake. His eyes drifted to Violet, standing close behind the physician.
All the color had drained from her face, but she remained still, standing resolute in her posture. She looked like a proper duchess in that moment, someone who could be depended upon to make difficult decisions and face frightening circumstances.
“There is already some swelling around the wound,” Johnson said. “I would guess, based on Her Grace’s description of the snake, that you were bitten by an adder.”
“Adders are poisonous,” Leo said carefully.
“They are,” Johnson agreed. “However, the varieties found in Essex are not usually fatal. If you were a child or an old man, I might have concerns, but healthy, young men rarely have anything to fear about from these snakes. You will likely find it painful to walk for some time, and I strongly encourage you to lie down as much as possible until the pain has faded. You will be quite fine, though.”
Violet sighed, and her rigid stance lost some tension. “That is good.”
“Indeed,” Johnson said.
Leo looked morosely at his leg. His ankle did not appear especially swollen from that angle, but he could tell that his skin was an angry shade of red. It certainly hurt, causing sharp pain to creep all the way up his calf. “At least, I will still be able to work.”
“Agreed,” Johnson said. “I brought a salve with me which you can use to numb the pain. I will speak with Oxeburgh’s apothecary and ask him to send some additional remedies to Groveswood.”
“Thank you,” Leo said.
Johnson stood; the motion accompanied by a creaking of his limbs. “The pleasure is all mine, Your Grace.”
The physician reached into his bag and produced a small bottle with a green-brown concoction inside. “Is that the salve?” Violet asked.
“It is.”
Violet smiled. “I will apply it for Leo. It may cause him further discomfort to lean up and reach the snakebite.”
Leo had not considered that, but she was right. He had no desire to move his leg at all. Doing so sounded terribly unpleasant.
“Very well,” Johnson replied, placing the bottle in Violet’s waiting hand. “Just be gentle. The area will be tender for some time, also.”
She nodded. “I shall use the utmost care in treating him. I assure you.”
Johnson smiled. “I do not doubt it. If that is all, I shall take my leave. I will send my apprentice to you with my other recommendations.”
“Thank you,” Leo said.
The physician bowed, picked up his large bag, and left. Violet settled onto her knees near his foot. “Well,” she said, “I feel a little foolish now.”
