Page 62 of Pursuing a Duke
“Let me through,” Caldwell said. “I just heard and came as fast as I could.” He dropped down to the ground on the otherside of Andrew. “Someone shot him? What the bloody hell is going on?”
“It was awful. His horse took off and threw him,” Emmeline said, then hiccupped. “All I could think of was Aiden. That Andrew would die the same way Aiden did. That the men I love were cursed to die tragically.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gently stroked Andrew’s handsome face. A face she wanted to see every day as they grew old together.
“Christ,” Caldwell inhaled a shaky breath. “He’s fortunate to be alive.”
“We need to get His Grace home and call for his physician,” the surgeon’s assistant said. “You should commandeer the nearest carriage.”
Caldwell took off running.
“What is your name?” Emmeline asked.
“Lord Stonebrook. My father is the Duke of Allerton. I’m his second son.”
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Lord Stonebrook.”
He bowed, “I was glad to be helpful. Since I left the army, I’ve been floundering. Perhaps I should attend medical school.”
“You would make a fine doctor,” Emmeline said as Caldwell returned with a carriage and they loaded an unconscious Andrew. Gently, they placed him on the floor of the borrowed carriage.
Caldwell held out his hand to her. “You go with him. I’ll see to the horses and meet you at Blackstone House.”
“Thank you, Caldwell.”
She was left alone with Andrew and kept a fresh cloth pressed to his bullet wound. No sooner had they left Hyde Park than it seemed they were in front of Blackstone House. His household must have received word because many worried faces met them on the street, ready to help in any way. His butler told them Doctor Higgins had been sent for and barked out orders asseveral strong footmen carried Andrew to the duke’s chambers. Emmeline, her skirts raised, followed right along. She would not be kept from him.
Once he was on his bed and stripped of his clothing from the waist up, Emmeline faded into the corner. She didn’t want to attract undue attention in case someone remembered she was present and thought it was improper for an unmarried lady to be in the same room with a half-dressed unmarried man.
Her eyes were riveted on the doctor who flew in the door during the chaos and proceeded to clean, stitch, and bandage Andrew’s upper arm. He placed a small brown vial on the nightstand. Emmeline hated laudanum and hoped Andrew wouldn’t need it, that his pain would be tolerable. By now, Caldwell stood beside her, his arm on her shoulder for support.
Doctor Higgins finally turned to them. “Barring infection, his arm should heal nicely. The muscles will be sore and need exercise to regain their previous strength, but I don’t foresee any problems. As for the bump on his head and his unconsciousness, we must pray he awakes soon. The longer he’s unconscious, the more difficult it will become for him to awaken. Keep him comfortable, and when he awakes, give him the laudanum for pain. I will return tomorrow to check on him and rebandage his arm.” He nodded his head. “I will see myself out. Send word if his condition worsens.”
After the doctor left, Caldwell had everyone else vacate the room, so the three of them were left alone. Emmeline approached the side of the bed. There was just enough room for her to sit on the edge. Stroking Andrew’s sweaty hair back from his handsome, pale face, she swallowed the lump in her throat as tears trickled down her cheeks. “I pray he wakes up soon.”
Caldwell stood at the foot of the bed, his face drawn, his eyes worried. “As do I. I can’t believe this happened.”
“Someone caught them—whoever shot Andrew. I just remembered that. Can you go downstairs and have Winters send word to Mr. Whitcomb that we would like to see him as soon as possible? He must know about it. Also, send a note to Langford.”
Alone with Andrew, she gently leaned down, resting her head lightly on his chest, listening to the beat of his heart. It was strong and steady. Too bad it didn’t ease her worried mind or the scenarios running through it. He needed to wake up for her to see his bright green eyes and his handsome face smiling at her before the tightness in her chest would ease. Until then, she would not leave his side. She needed to be with him. She would only go for short breaks to care for her personal needs. Otherwise, she would call his chambers her room for the foreseeable future. Or until he awoke and she was convinced he would live.
There was a knock on the door. “Can I come in, or would you rather I wait downstairs for Langford and Mr. Whitcomb?” Caldwell asked, his voice sounding tired.
“No. Please come in and watch over him with me.” She went back to sitting on the edge of the bed. “Do you think this has to do with the carriage accident? Was the bullet meant for me?”Dear God.Her hand flew to her throat. As much as she wanted to believe the carriage accident had been a fluke, Andrew getting shot made her face reality.
“Honestly, I can’t say. But if I went with my gut, I’d say yes.” Caldwell frowned as he stared at Andrew.
That is what she thought, too. And there was something else she needed to say since they had the time. “This may not be the proper time to bring this up, but it has been weighing on my mind lately. Andrew once told me that you, Langford, and he had never talked about Aiden’s death and how it affected each of you. We know how Andrew reacted and that you and Langford immersed yourself in your business.”
“We did.” Caldwell nodded.
“I told this to Andrew. Can I confide in you with the strictest confidence?”
“Yes.”
“The week before the house party, I miscarried, and Aiden took it hard.” She explained the changes in Aiden during the unforgettable week leading up to his death. “I was worried about him. He was not acting himself.”
“I’m sorry to hear this. Though it does explain why he seemed down during the gathering and drank to excess. He was in mourning.” He paused and inhaled. “This is long overdue. Emmeline, please forgive me for my part in Aiden’s death. I am so sorry...”—his voice broke—“for many things. But mostly for abandoning you after his death. I should have stayed to support you in your grief. Instead, I took to the seas to drown my grief in silence. I shared the story with Lady Clarice, at the Waterford’s house party, and forgive me for doing so. Being together with you and Andrew brought back the memories and it was easier to talk to an acquaintance than to talk to you or Andrew.”
Taking one of his hands in hers, she squeezed. “I forgive you, even though there is nothing to forgive. Aiden was dead, but you were very much alive and had your own life to live. I never resented that. Aiden loved you. He wouldn’t want you to continue suffering. Forgive yourself so you can move on and marry Lady Beatrice and be happy.”
