Isabella did her best to keep up with the Marquess as he hurried to the side of the doctor exiting the carriage. She could hear the quick rustling of her petticoats and prayed she wouldn’t trip over them.
“Dr. Thornton,” Lord Bellfourd said as he reached the elderly man. He stretched into the vehicle instinctually, knowing there would be a cane there, and handed it to the gentleman.
Dr. Thornton looked up at Lord Bellfourd with squinted eyes behind his spectacles. He was quite a bit shorter than the Marquess, which was only made more apparent by his hunched stature as he leaned on his cane.
Isabella couldn’t help but wonder if Dr. Thornton might need a doctor himself. He was well on in age, with a severely wrinkled face and long hook nose. His whiskers that grew long on the side of his face were white as snow and stood out wildly.
He wheezed a bit as he inspected the pair that came to meet him. Finally, he held out his hand and shook Lord Bellfourd's.
“How are you, young Lord Christian?” he asked in a breathy voice.
“I am quite well. May I also introduce you to the honorable Miss Isabella Watts.”
Isabella turned and opened her mouth to Lord Bellfourd. She wanted to correct him but decided it wouldn’t be polite to do so.
He looked back at her and seemed to tell her with his eyes that he didn’t find her address a mistake.
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss,” Dr. Thornton said as he began the slow walk toward the house. “How is His Grace doing?” he said, changing the subject.
“I’m not sure. I just arrived myself and Miss Watts informed me of the accident. I’m sure he will recover well, though, won't he?” Lord Bellfourd asked with noticed concern in his voice.
Though the duke didn’t often see eye to eye with his children, there was still a significant amount of affection for their father.
“I can’t say till I see His Grace. He is no spring chicken,” Dr. Thornton laughed at his own joke, then covered his mouth with a handkerchief when it turned into a cough. “A great fall can be hard on older bones,” he added more seriously after he caught his breath.
“You know,” Dr. Thornton said in Isabella’s direction as they slowly made their way into the manor and down the long foyer, “I was here the day Lord Christian was born. I have seen him through many colds and even a broken arm, if I remember correctly,” he added, reaching back in his mind.
“Yes,” Lord Bellfourd said confirming his tale. “I fell out of an apple tree,” he explained to Isabella.
She looked up at him with a smile. She liked that she could see the twinkle in his azure eye as he spoke. She realized how much she had missed looking up at him, seeing the light in his teasing smile and hearing his smooth voice, since he had been away.
“Yes, you were quite the wild little chap, if I remember correctly,” Dr. Thornton said with the friendliness of a family doctor. “Your sister, or even your brother, God rest him, never caused so much trouble, if I remember right.”
“I suppose that is why I took to the sea so well,” Lord Bellfourd responded.
“Yes, I suspect the danger and adventure of a naval carrier suited you well,” Dr. Thornton agreed.
Isabella couldn’t help but hear the sadness in Lord Bellfourd’s words. Between that and what he had confided in her tonight, she suspected that he missed his old life greatly. Perhaps that was why he felt such a kinship with her. They were both living a life contrary to what they wished, doing instead what had been chosen for them.
They arrived at the drawing-room door. Isabella hesitated and let her arm slip. Before coming all the way out of Lord Bellfourd’s crook, he reached across and patted her hand with his, keeping it in place.
Isabella looked up at him with questioning eyes.
“I would like you to stay, if you please. I know it would be a great comfort to Abigail. She has written that you are such a dear friend to her. I am sure she could use some support.”
“Of course,” Isabella said, relaxing her hand again into his arm.
“Thank you,” he said softly, smiling down at her.
Isabella couldn’t help the blush that rushed to her cheek. Lord Bellfourd was charming, even at such a sad time. Isabella couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter as he looked at her so sincerely.
“Christian!” Abigail said, getting up from her spot on the sofa and coming over to him.
Lord Bellfourd took his sister into a warm embrace and Isabella respectfully stood to the side.
“What on earth are you doing here?” she asked.
“Well, I had planned on surprising Jackie for her birthday. Miss Watts found me out while I was sneaking around the gardens. I think I gave her quite a scare,” he said, adding a wink in Isabella’s direction.
Lady Wintercrest came and hugged her son, “Providence, no doubt, sent you this way.”
“Miss Watt told me of Father’s accident. Is he alright?” Lord Bellfourd said, searching the room for him.
“It’s hard to say for certain,” Lady Wintercrest said with a glisten in her eyes. “He was so uncomfortable sitting in the chair here, but I feared he might hurt himself worse if he went up to his chamber. Mr. Larson had his bed brought down to the study and, just a few moments ago, helped him to lie down.”
Lord Bellfourd took his mother’s hands in reassurance. “He will be alright. I will take Dr. Thornton to him now. You and Abigail wait here.”
Lord Bellfourd left with the doctor to see to his father. Lady Wintercrest dabbed at her eye with a white lace handkerchief.
“Thank you, Isabella,” Lady Abigail said, taking her hand, “for informing my brother.” She lowered her voice. “I don’t know that Mother would have fared well taking the doctor to inspect him.”
“Of course,” Isabella squeezed Abigail's hand in reassurance. “Anything I can do to help, please let me know, and I would be happy to do it.”
“Perhaps, if you don’t mind, would you sit with us till Christian and Dr. Thornton return?”
“Certainly,” Isabella said taking a seat with Lady Abigail on the sofa.
A few minutes passed, the three ladies sitting and waiting, before the door opened. Their three heads turned quickly to see who it was. It was only a maid bringing in a pot of tea. She set it down on the small table and left quietly.
“Lady Wintercrest, may I pour the tea for you?” Isabella asked.
“Yes, please. Thank you, Miss Watts. I fear my hands are shaking too much now to do it myself. He was just so pale, and in so much pain,” she added, barely above a whisper.
Isabella’s heart went out to Lady Wintercrest. Though there was a vast difference in age, and most likely an arrangement to their union, the duchess genuinely cared for the well-being of her husband.
Isabella poured out the tea and served it to the two ladies.
Upon finishing, she said, “If you would like, Your Grace, I could play a little on the pianoforte for you. It might help calm your nerves.”
“Thank you, Miss Watts, I would appreciate that.”
Isabella made her way to the pianoforte. She had gotten in quite a bit of practice over the last few months. Often, after Jacqueline presented her accomplishments to her grandfather, she was left to visit with the ladies and Isabella would play softly on the piano.
She shuffled through the music, coming to a calming piece by Handel. She felt the tension of the room soften as she made her way through the music. She was grateful that she could be of some help to them while they waited on news.
Finally, after just over an hour, Lord Bellfourd re-entered the room. He was alone. Lady Wintercrest stood at his entrance and Isabella stopped her playing.
He came and sat in the vacant chair by the fire. He was visibly worn from his travel, followed by a long evening tending to his father’s bedside.
He took his mother’s hand, “Dr. Thornton thinks he might have fractured his hip. He also noticed that father’s side was very tender and breathing a little strained. It could just be some bruising compiled with his recent illness.”
“But it could be something worse,” Lady Abigail said, reading what Lord Bellfourd was inferring but not speaking.
Lord Bellfourd gave a solemn nod. “He may have also fractured a rib.”
The duchess raised her handkerchief to her mouth to stifle a sorrowful gasp.
“Dr. Thornton has bound it up tightly, set his fractured hip as best he could, given him something for the pain, and instructed him to get strict rest for at least the next six to eight weeks. Hopefully, it is just bruised and will heal quickly. If it is fractured, it might have punctured his lung, which could be causing the difficulty breathing.”
“What is there to do?” his mother asked.
“The best thing to do is just to let him rest as comfortably as possible. I have already seen the doctor to a room for the night. I didn’t think it was right for him to travel home so late.”
Isabella looked at the clock on the mantle. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed but it was getting close to eleven.
“Dr. Thornton will check on Father again before he leaves in the morning and will return as often as needed. The best we can do is pray that he recovers quickly,” Lord Bellfourd added to both his mother and sister.
Lady Wintercrest nodded solemnly and caressed her son’s cheek in a motherly fashion.
Upon standing, she said, “I think I will go and bid your father goodnight and get some sleep myself. You should do the same, Christian; you look dreadfully tired.”
“I’ll come with you, Mother,” Abigail said, standing to join her mother’s side.
“Thank you, Miss Watts,” Lady Wintercrest said before leaving the room, “your music was just what I needed to get me through the night.”
“You’re welcome,” Isabella said with a curtsy. “If there is anything else I can do, Your Grace, I would be happy to help.”
Lady Wintercrest nodded and gave a weak smile before leaving the room.
Isabella made ready to leave, herself. She turned to Lord Bellfourd to say goodnight. Instead of staying by the fire he stood and came over to her.
“I will see you to your room, then,” he said reaching out his arm again for her to take.
“It’s not necessary,” Isabella said.
“I insist. I feel bad that I kept you here so late. The least I can do is see you safely to your door. You never know where dark, strange figures might be lurking,” he teased.