Seduced by an Irresistible Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book
Page 12
“Good day sirs, ladies.” He bowed and removed his hat before standing back upright and placing it on his head again.
“Miss Helena,” he said as he nodded and shook her hand.
For a trifling second, Dr Frederick held her hand a bit too long. He cherished the rub of her soft palm in his. The tension that strung through her hand charged his skin and warmed him inside. He was standing above her, and his eyes flew straight to her heavy bust.
Dr Frederick drew his hand back, lest he did something uncultured. The hand singed, sending waves of want threw his body. He refused to look up. He was scared the want would reveal itself in his eyes, in its most primal form. He did, after a few seconds. Their eyes clashed, and she smiled. Dr Frederick smiled back and walked away. He couldn’t stop smiling, and he knew why.
Chapter 9
Same Symptoms, Same Sickness
The words still swam around. Letters jumped from line to line. Dr Frederick drew his chair away from the table and stood up. It was futile trying to read while feeling so sleepy. He couldn’t even tell which journal he was reading. He strode to the sink and used the bowl to take water, pouring the water with his right hand while using his left hand to wash away the sleep from his eyes.
“That should do it,” he said to himself.
It was already evening, and the sun was going down. He looked to his reading table and couldn’t find any candle there. Dr Frederick walked to the door of his chamber, leaning his head and neck across. Mr Frank sat across on the only armchair in the house. He leaned over a small magazine, using the dying sunlight to read.
“Is there no candle in this house, Frank?” Dr Frederick asked.
“There is a box of unused ones around here. I just got it yesterday,” Mr Frank answered as he stood up and looked to his master.
“You can go and continue your reading. I’ll bring it to you,” Mr Frank added.
Dr Frederick put his head back into his room. His eyes were alert now. He walked to his reading table, drew the chair closer, and sat down. He closed the journal and looked at the front page.
It was a scientific research report sent to him by his friend, Dr Berbick, who was an associate physician in Scotland. It was based on the study of blood flow in the veins and arteries, the differences between the two and how to operate on each one to save a life. Dr Frederick read this one because the veins and arteries were an integral part of the system in which the heart was the most important organ.
Understanding the state of flow in these vessels tells a lot about the state of the patient’s heart.
Dr Frederick opened the book to the page he was on; the letterings were stable now. He skimmed over the first two paragraphs since he had read them before and jumped to the third one.
On comparison of the flow of blood in the veins and in the arteries, it was found that arterial flow is a truer indication of the state of health of the patient. The true blood pressure was found within the arteries after the series of examinations I and my team performed. Blood pressure can be indicative of many factors: state of health, type of diet, health of the heart and state of the vessels. The true interpretation of the indication of a normal, hypo or hypertension can only be affirmed after variant cross examinations on different contributing factors. Regardless of this fact, blood pressure is usually a good indicator of whether a patient is healthy or not. Hypotension, we find, is a great indicator of a dying patient.
Dr Frederick picked up the pen on his table and jotted down his inferences in his jotter. He never missed any of Dr Berbick’s biannual reports because it made up a large part of his own research. He used to run experiments on Dr Berbick’s area of concentration, but he found the man to be very accurate. Now, he just used his results to foster his research.
Dr Frederick thought about the injured puppy Mr Frank was bringing the next day. He was going to sedate it then cut it open. Dr Frederick was searching for a biotic compound in that dog that was responsible for the increase of heart rate during strenuous exercises and sometimes during emotional outbursts like anger and fear. If he could detect what changed in the body of the dog during those times, he could extrapolate and use it to find out what changed in the body of a man when his heart increased its beat rate too.
“A beating heart is a living heart,” he said to himself.
He thought about the part of the report he had just read. It probably was true that arterial flow was more indicative than venal flow, but veins were easier to find and use than arteries. He couldn’t cut a healthy man open just because he wanted to get to his arteries. He had to make do with the pulse in his veins.
Dr Frederick looked to the next page of the journal but couldn’t see the letterings clearly anymore. The sunlight was not sufficient enough.
“Frank, Frank, where is the box of matches?” Dr Frederick shouted.
There was no answer. Dr Frederick stood up and went to his door. He looked into the sitting room but there was no one there. Mr Frank had left the house.
He was probably fibbing about the matchbox he claimed to have bought.
Dr Frederick went to his reading table and closed the journal. He couldn’t sit on the chair waiting for Mr Frank, so he went into his bedroom and lay down on the bed. His mind roamed back to the party he had attended earlier that day.
I get to see Miss Helena during the week.
He smiled. He was sure his heart was working faster now that he thought about her. He was excited already and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. She looked excited to see him too while at the party.
Dr Frederick remembered the sick Duke.
What could be wrong with that man?
A weak pulse, hypothermia, general weakness, and a shallow breath were the major symptoms that alarmed Dr Frederick. It was so reminiscent of the signs Dr Terry had shown before he cocked up his toes. Dr Frederick shot up suddenly.
“Blimey, how can I be so daft?” he said.
The Duke definitely had an ailment of the heart. Dr Frederick ran through all the symptoms again. All of them were indicative of a dying heart.
What was I thinking about up there?
“I am going to Beaufort tomorrow. The Duke’s life depends on it,” Dr Frederick decided.
He heard a creak of the entrance door. Mr Frank was back. Dr Frederick closed his eyes. He wasn’t in the mood to read anymore, probably when he woke up that would have changed. He thought about Miss Helena and her sweet salty scent.
Chapter 10
Without his Knowledge
Dr Frederick steadied his horse. The mount seemed rattled by something and kept trying to jump up. Mr Frederick bent and spoke gently into its ears. He had no time for strange behaviour from his horse.
I need to get back quickly. Frank will have brought the puppy to be worked on.
Mr Frederick watched as the steward opened the gate of the Duke of Beaufort’s compound. He rode in quickly as the gate slid open for him. He dismounted and called to the steward that opened the gate.
“Please hand over this mount to the stable boy,” he said.
Dr Frederick walked up the stairs and met another steward. It was Roman, the steward he had met in front of the Duke’s room when he had first come.
“Roman,” he said, “is the Duchess around?”
Roman nodded.
“She was in the waiting room when I left, Sir,” he answered.
Dr Frederick nodded and walked down the corridor till he got to the winding stairs. He climbed the flight of stairs till he reached the huge door. He twisted the knob and pushed the door open. As he entered, he saw the Duchess facing the open door of her husband’s bedroom.
“That was quick, Roman. How did you get to see her so quickly?” she said without turning back.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Dr Frederick said, causing her to turn around sharply.
The Duchess smiled when she saw him.
“No wonder, I was wondering how Roman got back so quickly,” the Duchess said.
“Dr Frederick, thank you for the other day. I was expecting you in a few days, not today,” she said when she was in front of him.
Dr Frederick placed his left hand on his head to remove his hat. His hand met dry, stringy hair.
Oh! I didn’t wear a hat.
He muffled the laughter that was about to emit from his mouth due to his forgetfulness and bent forward in a quick bow.
“I realised a cogent fact last night as I was reading at home. It’s not that I realised, more like I remembered, Your Grace.”
Dr Frederick looked to the sides to ensure no one else was in earshot. The Duchess moved backwards and signalled for him to follow her. It seemed she understood why he had looked around. She pushed the door of her husband’s room open and walked in. Dr Frederick walked in after her.
“Thank you, Your Grace for your comprehension of my behaviour. I prefer the patient or direct nurse of the patient getting to know the ailment first before any other ear hears of it because sometimes medical information can be used negatively. That was why I wanted a more private place,” Dr Frederick said.
The Duchess nodded. Her expression was apprehensive. Thin worry lines ran across her forehead. She said nothing; her expression encouraged Dr Frederick to speak further.
“Your Grace, from all the signs and symptoms I have gathered, I have to submit that your husband, His Grace, has an ailment of the heart.”
The Duchess didn’t move; nothing moved. Her expression didn’t change. Her eyes didn’t squint, shake, or enlarge. She was just statuesque for the first few moments. When she finally moved, she sat down on the bed, just beside her sick husband’s legs.
“Is it terminal?” she asked.
Her voice sounded coarse like the wheels of an old, rickety carriage on a rocky, bumpy road. Her eyes looked bigger now. Dr Frederick felt hot. He placed a finger between the neckline of his shirt and his neck, pushing the cloth forward.
“I am yet to determine that, ma’am. What I can tell you is that it is an ailment that strikes quickly and suddenly. I suspect it was a major part in the early death of the Duke’s father. I only came to this realization because I am currently researching hearts and ailments like this. The Duke exhibits a lot of signs, major signs, that other sufferers have exhibited,” Dr Frederick said.
The Duchess looked back at her husband. It was just a glimpse, a quick turn of the neck before she turned back, but everything changed when she looked back at Dr Frederick. Her eyes shone. Pools of water appeared in them, catching the afternoon light. Her eyes were wider, and she blinked rapidly. Dr Frederick couldn’t bear to look anymore so he lowered his eyes.
Is this what happens when one looks like losing a loved one? She appeared very strong just now.
Dr Frederick raised his gaze and saw the Duchess mopping her eyes with a blue ’kerchief. Her mouth was in a tight line, almost a grimace. Short vertical lines ran across both lips, ageing the woman before Dr Frederick’s eyes.
She looks well capable of being Lord Jeffrey’s mother at this moment.
“Is there anything we can do?” she asked.
“There is a lot that can be done, depending on what you want to achieve, Your Grace. A good change in lifestyle could do a lot. I am yet to confirm if a weak heart can be strengthened, but I do know we can ameliorate its effects if we do certain things,” Dr Frederick said.
The ’kerchief was off her face again, and the lines had disappeared. The Duchess’ face was a blank mask once again. She spoke in a strong voice.
“What are those things that we should do?” she asked.
Dr Frederick nodded.
“I mentioned that the Duke, on recovery, should try to avoid public outings. It’s no more just a mere suggestion, Your Grace; it has become imperative that he doesn’t attend to so many public responsibilities. I advise that he attends only the ones that cannot be missed,” he said.
The Duchess nodded and spared her sleeping husband another look.
“I also suggest that he spends as much time outdoors as possible, just within the compound. Good air and sunshine will do a lot. He might be given to bouts of weakness and sleepiness, faintness of breath, and a few other evidences of lack of bodily strength, those should be taken as normal now. There is no need to panic. All he needs is to rest and to take in lots of fluids. Drink enough water.”
The Duchess nodded again. There was a groan from the Duke. Dr Frederick walked closer to the Duke as he opened his eyes. The Duchess stood away from them, watching closely from a distance.
“Your Grace,” Dr Frederick said as the Duke’s open eyes steadied.
The Duke blinked twice. He closed his eyes for a while and opened them again before closing them once again. Dr Frederick waited a while. He watched the Duke’s soft breath move the strands of hair in his moustache from side to side. The Duke’s chest rose and fell, gently and in rhythm. When it was apparent that the Duke had fallen asleep once again, Dr Frederick moved to his wrist and pressed on to its base, checking the pulse of the Duke’s heart. It was normal.
“He has gotten better since yesterday,” Dr Frederick said.
“Yes, he has. He woke up this morning, just for a short while, though. But we spoke, and I told him about you,” she said.
“He probably will wake again before night falls. He might spend even longer. I will suggest that you let him know the current state of affairs so he can mentally prepare himself,” Dr Frederick said.
The Duchess nodded. Dr Frederick placed his hand into his jacket and brought out a small capsule. It was a tiny bottle containing laudanum.
“Have this, Your Grace,” he said, giving it to the Duchess.
“It’s laudanum. He might need it to sleep, or if he has headaches that are refusing to leave, he could use it. No more than two drops should be added to wine at one time,” Dr Frederick said.
The Duchess opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it. She placed the bottle on the table beside the Duke’s head. Dr Frederick nodded and walked towards the door.
“I’d like to take my leave now,” he said.
“Alright,” she said.
“Dr Frederick, I know this, but I just want to confirm that you will keep your discovery a secret. It is important for the political stability of the barony that no one thinks this more than a passing seasonal ailment. It is also important that Jeffrey does not come to this knowledge,” she said.
Dr Frederick nodded. He wondered why she would want to keep such knowledge away from her son.
“We want him to sit up and realise that being a Duke’s son is more than frolicking with a new woman every season and socialising with friends. If he finds out that his father is terminally ill, and he is soon to be the Duke, I fear for what my son will do.”
Dr Frederick nodded his head and turned to the door. He wasn’t going to speak of it outside the room even if the Duchess hadn’t asked.
It is unethical.
Dr Frederick opened the door and walked into the waiting room. Roman sat on his chair. He looked up to Dr Frederick as Dr Frederick came out of the room. The Duchess came out immediately behind him.
“Roman, where is the parcel?” she said.
The steward had it ready as it was in his right hand. He stretched it to the Duchess who collected it and gave it to Dr Frederick.
“Thank you very much, Your Grace,” Dr Frederick said.
“So when should we expect you again, Dr Frederick?” she asked.
Dr Frederick smiled.
“Let’s hope you don’t get to see me again, Your Grace,” he answered.
The Duchess laughed.
“I hope I don’t, and if I do, just for social visits and duri
ng balls,” she said between chuckles.
Dr Frederick laughed and turned. He walked to the end of the room and was passing through the door leading to the staircase when a shadow appeared on the wooden floor. A tall, hefty man walked into the room. The man had dark eyes with long, feminine lashes. His eyes took in the entire room at once then focused on Dr Frederick. The man looked at Dr Frederick like he was an intruder.
This would be their first son, Lord Jeffrey.
“Lord Jeffrey,” Dr Frederick said with a slight bow.
He heard Roman repeat the same greeting.