The Viscount's Wife: Christian Victorian Era Historical (Window to the Heart Saga Spin-off Book 4)

by Jenna Brandt

  Lily nodded and started to turn to leave. The girl hesitated, then turned back around. “Should I inspect the wound?”

  William consented, and the girl made her way over to Debbey’s side. Gingerly, the servant pulled back the covers and let out a gasp. William jumped to his feet and rushed to his wife’s side. There was a puddle of blood below Debbey and the bandage around her arm was completely soaked through.

  “My lord, her wound is still bleeding. We need to fetch the doctor at once.”

  “Agreed. I am also wondering why she is not stirring from the cool air hitting her body.”

  Lily reached out and touched Debbey’s forehead. “My lady feels hot to the touch. I think she has a fever. This might mean the wound is becoming infected.”

  William reached out and placed his hand on her forehead. Debbey was burning up. “Send for the doctor right away,” he commanded with urgency.

  Doctor Stiles arrived at Hinwick Manor an hour later. William escorted him to Debbey’s chambers. The doctor spent several minutes inspecting the wound, cleaning it, and placing medicine directly on it. He turned to William and handed him a bottle of liquid.

  “Make sure she takes three doses of this a day for the next week to make sure the infection resolves. It’s lucky you were able to catch this as quickly as you did. Much longer and the outcome might have been quite different.”

  A grave look crossed William’s face. “Why did I not notice sooner? I should have insisted she see you last night.”

  “She was most likely in shock, which cloaked a majority of the pain. I suspect she believed the injury to be minor, but the laceration is deep in her arm.” A worried look crossed the doctor’s face as he added, “And we have to watch for signs of rabies. We can ask her some questions regarding the wolves when she wakes up.”

  “I might be able to answer the questions doctor. I was the one who found them attacking her.”

  The doctor nodded. “Were either of the wolves foaming at the mouth?”

  William shook his head. “No, they seemed hungry not crazed.”

  Rubbing his grey beard, the older man stated, “That’s a good sign then. Perhaps, they were only hunting.”

  “Would inspecting the body of one of the beasts help determine whether they suffered from the infliction?”

  With a nod, he asked, “Indeed. Did you manage to kill one of the creatures?”

  “One escaped; one did not. The one which bit my wife met the end of my sword.” William looked over at Debbey who was still sleeping. “The incident happened in the evening. I told the servants not to worry about the animal’s body until today. I was going to have the stable hands dispose of the body.”

  “Please, take me to it.”

  The pair made their way outside into the back part of the garden where the wolf remained frozen from the winter elements of the night. The doctor spent several minutes examining the carcass.

  “Hmmm,” the doctor uttered from under his breath.

  “What?” William inquired.

  “From the body, I would think your wife appears to have been spared exposure to the disease. We will still have to watch for signs of oddity in behavior, memory loss, and convulsions. The symptoms can appear several weeks to months after the attack. If any such indications manifest, we will have to take precautions to keep it from spreading.”

  From behind them, William heard his mother probe, “What types of precautions?”

  Both men turned to face Lady Almonbury. Doctor Stiles answered the older woman’s inquiry. “She would have to be hospitalized until the infliction ran its course. There’s no cure for the disease, as you both know. If the symptoms appear, the patient merely has days, and almost never recovers.”

  William’s stomach seized with fear. What if Debbey had been exposed to rabies but they could not see it yet? Was the disease incubating in her body, threatening to spring forward at any moment? What would he do if that were to happen?

  “How long before she can travel?” Lady Almonbury asked. “We are due to be in London for the Season by the end of the week.”

  The doctor appeared to be contemplating Lady Almonbury’s question. After a few minutes, he responded, “As long as no symptoms present, she should be able to travel in three weeks’ time.”

  It was apparent the doctor’s recommendation did not go over well with Lady Almonbury. She immediately put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes in anger.

  As if to defend himself, the doctor quickly added, “Her arm should be mended well enough that travel will not aggravate it by that point.”

  As the trio made their way back towards Hinwick Manor, the doctor instructed, “She will need to be seen by your family doctor in London. I can telegraph over the details discreetly.”

  “Thank you,” William said.

  Clara was waiting for them on the veranda with a worried look on her face. “I just returned from checking on Deborah. She looks pale and has a temperature. What is going on with her?”

  “I will explain everything in a few moments, Clara,” Lady Almonbury stated. “Let me escort Doctor Stiles out. Both of you wait for me in the parlor.”

  As William and Clara made their way through the manor, Clara looked at William with concern. “Is she going to be alright, William?”

  Trying to muster positivity for his sister’s sake, William stated, “The doctor is optimistic she will make a full recovery.”

  The siblings entered the parlor and sat down on the sofa.

  “You do not sound convinced. What are you not telling me?” Clara implored.

  Apparently, he did not do a good job of convincing his sister. He averted his eyes to hide his fear as he explained, “Doctor Stiles is worried Deborah might have been exposed to rabies.”

  Clara gasped, and William’s eyes snapped up to meet hers. She raised her hand to cover her gaping mouth. “What is to be done?”

  “I will tell you what is to be done,” Lady Almonbury answered as she entered the room. “We will finish closing down Hinwick Manor and packing for London. Doctor Stiles is a fine country doctor, but the best doctors are in the city. He changed his mind and said she could travel in two weeks’ time.”

  William’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “And your concern with Deborah’s care has nothing to do with your desire to get to London as quickly as possible, so as to not miss the opening events of the Season?”

  Lady Almonbury appeared affronted. “William, I am in mourning and cannot participate in any social events.”

  “You may not be able to participate but you can still have your friends visit you in London and relay all the details of the events. I know you, Mother, and you will do whatever it takes to keep abreast of the happenings of the Season.”

  “I am dismayed you could think such a thing of me. I simply want to make sure your wife is given the best medical treatment possible.”

  He wanted to believe his mother, but he knew she never did anything that did not benefit her in some way. “If my wife feels up to traveling by the end of the week—without pressure from anyone—” William shot a pointed stare at his mother, “I will allow it.”

  “Since that is settled, I will go inform the servants to resume their tasks for getting everything ready for our departure. Come along, Clara.” Lady Almonbury turned on her heels and exited the parlor with Clara trailing behind.

  Chapter 8

  Several days had passed since the attack, and Debbey was recovering quickly. Wanting to take her on an outing, William had collected her from the parlor where she had been listening to Clara play the piano.

  William looked at his wife and admired how lovely she appeared in her dark green dress and fur-lined cape which complemented her green eyes. Her red curls were piled high upon her head with two alabaster combs holding her locks in place.

  He took Debbey’s good arm and gently guided her over to the stable where an older man with peppered black hair stood grooming a horse.

  “Good afternoon, my lor
d,” he bowed to both of them, “my lady.”

  “Good afternoon, Miles. I was wondering if we might use a set of the horses for the afternoon?”

  Debbey looked skeptical at the horse in front of her. With a shake of her head, she stated, “I don’t think I can ride a horse with my arm in its current condition.”

  William glanced over at his wife. Would she be opposed to riding with him on one horse? “Would you be content to ride with me?”

  “Thank you. I accept your offer, William.”

  Miles brought out a set of steps and helped Debbey climb up onto the horse. William joined her on the saddle, wrapping his arms around her, and grabbing the reins. He brought the horse to a slow trot, mindful to watch the path for any dips or rocks. He wanted to keep the ride as smooth as possible to prevent further damage to Debbey’s arm.

  As they moved along the outskirts of the woods, Debbey’s intoxicating scent of jasmine tickled his nose. William enjoyed the feel of his wife leaning back against him. The rhythmic pattering of her heart pulsated through to his own chest, enticing him to lean closer. His lips brushed the edge of her neck. He felt her inhale sharply, but she did not pull away. Instead, she moved towards his caress.

  The horse moved evenly beneath them as it galloped along the frosted ground. A few minutes later, they arrived at their destination. William dismounted first and helped Debbey descend after him. She turned to face him with a puzzled look on her face.

  “What are we doing here?” she inquired quizzically.

  “Your favorite fruit is a persimmon, correct?”

  She nodded as he took her hand and guided her into the center of a small orchard. He stated, “I wanted to surprise you. Our neighbors at Harrington House have an extensive orchard. They have an entire section of persimmon trees they imported from America. Lord Blanchard’s daughter loves them.”

  Her eyes grew round with awe as she marveled at the trees ripe with enticing offerings. “I can’t believe you thought to do this, William. The trees are so beautiful. Their branches are heavy with the plump fruits.”

  “With all you have been through as of late, I wanted to do something special for you.”

  William reached up and plucked a persimmon from a nearby tree. He gently rubbed it against the front of his shirt and extended his hand towards her mouth. Her eyes twinkled with appreciation as she gingerly took a bite of the fruit.

  Debbey’s eyes grew even wider with excitement as tiny trickles of juice ran down the sides of her mouth. With his free hand, William pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and dabbed the juice away from her mouth before it could fall and damage her dress.

  “I have to say, that is the most delicious persimmon I have ever had the pleasure of sampling.”

  “Pick as many as you like to take back to the manor. I obtained permission from the owners. We can store them in the saddle bag for the ride back.”

  The couple spent several minutes walking through the orchard and picking persimmons from the trees. Debbey explained to William what to look for when deciding which ones to pick and how to identify fruit ripe for the picking.

  “The perfect persimmon has a deep orange hue with pink overtones. It’s shiny and soft to the touch, which is why you have to be gentle when you pick them. They bruise easily.”

  William pulled Debbey around to face him. He placed his gloved hand on the side of her cheek as he whispered, “I love how passionate you are about this.”

  “I wanted to plant my own garden in the backyard of our home in West Linn. I had been planning which trees and plants I wanted to add. I wanted to grow my own fruits and vegetables for our children.” The twinkle disappeared from her eyes and she glanced down. “I suppose none of that matters now.”

  “We can still make your dream a reality, Deborah. If I remember correctly, Hinwick Manor has a lovely garden which will provide everything you will ever need.”

  “I know. I just thought we would be building our life together in West Linn by now.”

  “And we can one day once the family affairs are settled; we can return to West Linn.”

  Debbey nodded, but continued to look down at the ground. William placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face until their eyes met. He moved towards her as his arms reached out and encircled her. Slowly, his mouth descended to hers until their lips met in a tender kiss. He held her in his embrace a moment longer before releasing her and leading her back over to the horse.

  William placed the persimmons into the saddle bag before helping Debbey up on the horse. He then joined her. William could tell a sadness still lingered within his wife, and he planned to do whatever it took to make it disappear.

  Chapter 9

  Debbey’s eyes fluttered open as the glow of the sun filled the room. She shifted in her bed, making sure to avoid brushing her arm against the covers. Though her wound was healing well, it was still tender to the touch. She had hidden the pain from everyone, not wanting to irritate William’s mother further. She knew today would be a long one as they would be departing for London in the afternoon.

  A knocking at the door drew Debbey’s attention to her chamber’s entrance. “Come in,” she called out.

  William entered the room and made his way over to her bedside. “I was checking on you to see how you felt this morning. Do you feel prepared to travel?”

  Debbey sat up and leaned back against the headboard. “I’ve mended well enough. There is no need to remain in the country on my account.”

  “The baggage has been stowed on the carriage, and it is ready to take us to the railway station.” He glanced down at her nightgown clad body. “I will leave you to get ready for the trip.”

  Debbey reached out and placed her hand on William’s arm to keep him from leaving. “Can you spare a few minutes?”

  One of William’s eyebrows arched as a knowing smile formed on his lips. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I was hoping you might help me get dressed this morning instead of Lily.”

  “Are you certain you are healed enough? I would not want to hurt you,” he asked with a concerned voice.

  “Oh, I’m positive alright.” She had missed being with her husband and wanted to feel his touch upon her again.

  As the couple settled into their private section of the train, Debbey marveled at the opulence. Since William’s family had invested in the Brighton to London rail line, the accommodations were exemplary. They had their own area within first class. The windows were donned with silk shades and the ceiling was intricately painted. The walls were a rich dark walnut, and their seats were covered in luxurious upholstery. They were even assigned a private porter who saw to their every need while they were traveling.

  “Are you content with the accommodations?” William inquired.

  “You have provided wonderful amenities,” Debbie stated as she looked around in awe.

  “I am glad you are pleased.”

  “I had never traveled outside the Oregon Territory before marrying you. Every moment is a new experience to me. I cannot believe how beautiful England is.”

  “A true statement indeed, but everything pales in comparison to you, my love.”

  Even though they were alone, Debbey felt a blush cover her body. William had a way with words. From the moment she met him, he had an ability to tempt her in a way no one else ever had.

  “You are sweet but mistaken. I have this wound that will most definitely leave a scar. Gone are the days where I can wear an off-the-shoulder dress. I will have to don full sleeves from here on out.”

  “Nonsense, you are beautiful no matter what.” He gestured towards her arm, “That scar is of little consequence.”

  “Kind of you to say so, but we both know how judgmental people can be. Such a mark will taint me forever. Every time someone sees it, they will either stare at it discreetly or ask what happened. Either option isn’t something I look forward to. It’s better to keep it covered,” Debbey stated as she pulled her shawl up and over t
he bandage. She needed to get used to her new way of life. Once in London, she would order new dresses; dresses unlike the one she currently wore which showed her bandage through the silk organza sleeve.

  Lady Almonbury and Clara joined them. William’s mother appeared perturbed. Since they were in a private location, she lifted her mourning veil. “I assumed we were to get the largest suite. Why did we only get the second largest?”

  “Because, Mother, when I called to change the travel arrangements, I was informed that the Marquess Sedrick already reserved the larger suite. We could either take this one or wait until tomorrow.”

  “I do not know why that man gets such preferred treatment. Our family has invested in this rail line. The marquess has never done anything of note, other than be lucky enough to be born a second cousin to the queen.”

  “Mother, you should not say such things,” William warned. “If anyone heard you speak about royalty in such a way, they could have your head for it.”

  Lady Almonbury rolled her eyes. “Do not be so dramatic, William. No one loses their heads over such matters these days.”

  “At the very least, you would be ostracized from proper society.”

  With a huff, Lady Almonbury sat down and leaned back against one of the chairs. Clara gave an apologetic smile to both William and Debbey before joining her mother in the next seat.

  Time hurried by as Debbey looked out the window at the passing countryside. Although it was winter, there was still a beauty in the land. The pine trees peeked out of their powdery white blanket, heavy from the weight of the previous night’s snowfall.

  The train came to an unexpected halt. Debbey wondered if the train was experiencing a delay because of the snow like the American train had on their trip to New York. Several minutes passed when suddenly their private porter, Martin, darted in from the hallway. He had a fearful look on his face as he lifted his finger to his mouth, warning them not to speak.

  Several women’s screams and children’s cries mixed with men shouting could be heard echoing through the train. There were also a few loud thuds as if an altercation was happening down the hall. Suddenly, two pistol shots rang out.