Page 38 of Is This Real or Just Pretend?

But Lucien didn’t respond to her quip. His chest rose and fell, though his breathing was labored. Once Alex was sure he was unconscious, she cried even harder.

She had no idea how much time had passed before she heard faint voices shouting.

Reluctantly, she left Lucien and hurried down to the lobby, where two policemen were waiting.

They identified themselves as Officers Clement and O’Connell and together they carried Lucien downstairs.

Then they laid him on one of the lobby sofas just as the doctor arrived.

He was an older man with curling white hair and an air of competence that set her slightly at ease.

While he saw to Lucien, Alex told the policemen as much as she could, though she couldn’t help stopping every few moments to pepper the doctor with questions.

The exasperated man finally shot her a quelling look. “Madam, I must insist you cease speaking and let me evaluate your husband!”

Alex didn’t bother to correct him. She just dutifully clamped her mouth shut.

“You say you’ve been in contact with Inspector Holland?” Officer O’Connell asked. He seemed to be the senior and had taken charge of the scene.

“Yes,” Alex said distractedly. She was unable to look away from Lucien’s still form laid out on a lobby sofa. He hadn’t regained consciousness even while they were moving him. And every minute that passed, her worry grew.

“All right,” Officer O’Connell continued. “He will be informed about this incident. In the meantime, we will have a look around the neighborhood, but chances are this fellow is long gone. Is there someone we can notify for you?”

Alex finally managed to meet the man’s eyes. “Uh, yes. My father. Though I’m not sure anyone is home at this hour.”

The officers exchanged a look. “I can see you both home safely in our vehicle, while Office Clement stays here and takes a look around.”

“Thank you,” Alex said.

The doctor then approached them. “Well, he’s certainly been knocked about, but nothing seems to be broken. I’ll wager his ribs are bruised, though. Best thing is to let him rest as much as possible.”

Alex let out a sigh of relief and nodded. “Of course.”

“And someone should watch over him tonight,” the doctor added. “On account of the blows to his head and the possibility of internal bleeding.”

“I will,” Alex croaked.

The older man frowned. “You need to rest as well, madam. This has been quite a shock. If you exert yourself anymore, I fear you will fall into a swoon.”

At any other time, she would have given the doctor a piece of her mind.

I have never once swooned and do not intend to start now.

But she didn’t possess the will to challenge his backward assertions at the moment, so instead she managed a smile, or something close to it.

“Thank you for your concern, Doctor,” Alex said. “Your expertise is much appreciated.”

She must have sounded convincing, for the man preened a little before collecting his fee and shuffling off.

Once he was through the doors, Alex’s smile fell. She would call for the family physician as soon as they got home and confirm the diagnosis.

Then she abruptly turned to the waiting policemen. “Shall we be going?”

Officer Clement, who hadn’t said a word since he arrived, cracked a smile and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

They then loaded Lucien into the back of the police wagon before Officer Clement left to assess the scene.

“I trust this will be the only time you get to ride in one of these,” Officer O’Connell joked after Alex insisted on staying with Lucien.

“Unless I met that brute again,” she muttered with cold certainty.

The man’s eyebrows rose. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, ma’am,” he said as he touched the brim of his helmet and shut the door.

The ride home proved to be interminable, as poor Lucien let out a pitiful little moan every time they went over a large bump. He still hadn’t regained consciousness and Alex was nearly out of her mind with worry when they finally arrived at Park House.

As soon as Officer O’Connell opened the doors of the police wagon, Alex leaped to the ground and raced up the front steps.

Munson must have been watching from the window, because the door immediately swung open.

No doubt he was positively scandalized by the sight of a police wagon in front of the house.

Indeed, the venerable old butler looked rather pale. “Miss Alexandra!”

“There’s no time for hysterics, Munson,” Alex commanded as she moved past him. “Ready the blue room. Mr. Taylor is not well. And call for Dr. Mosley.”

But Munson was distracted by Officer O’Connell carrying a limp Lucien up the front steps.

“Munson!” Alex clapped her hands and the butler snapped to attention. “ Now. ”

“Yes, Miss Alexandra.” He nodded. “Right away.”

“Is anyone else at home?”

“No. Your parents and Mrs. Bailey are at the Turners’.”

Alex relaxed a little. Then they weren’t far. For once she was grateful for the Turners and their musical evenings.

“Send a note to them. But be discreet ,” she said. “And my sister?”

Munson hesitated. “Miss Freddie is… out.”

Alex narrowed her eyes as he hurried away, calling to the footmen as he went. Freddie was up to something, but it would have to wait for later. Alex then turned to Officer O’Connell as he entered the doorway. “Can you make it up the stairs?”

He lifted Lucien a little higher. “Of course. This fellow’s as light as a feather.”

Alex couldn’t help smiling. She would have to tease Lucien about that later.

If he ever wakes up.

But Alex pushed the awful thought aside. “Follow me.”

She marched up the staircase and down the hall, doling out orders to every member of staff she came across: bandages, hot water, a tea tray, and refreshments for Officer O’Connell.

Everyone dutifully nodded and scampered off, but Alex couldn’t ignore the curious looks on their faces. This would be the talk of the neighborhood before sunrise.

Well, at least her family wasn’t here. Alex didn’t think she could handle answering their incessant questions at the moment.

“Here we are,” she said once they reached the blue room.

It was the guest room closest to her own, just down the hall, and named for the light blue toile wallpaper and matching linens.

Her mother had never found a surface she didn’t immediately want to cover in toile.

But since Father didn’t share her love of the print, it was relegated to only this room.

Alex turned on the bedside lamp and pulled back the bedcovers.

Officer O’Connell laid Lucien down and Alex immediately set to work removing his shoes.

She wanted him to be as comfortable as possible.

Once his shoes were off, she worked on his coat.

Lucien groaned a little as she slipped it from his shoulders and Alex winced.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered and tried to move more slowly.

Eventually, she was able to remove the garment and she eased him back against the pillows. Alex let out a sigh and closed her eyes until someone behind her cleared their throat.

“If that’s all, ma’am, I will be on my way,” Officer O’Connell said.

Alex turned around sharply and blinked. She had forgotten about him. “Of course,” she said briskly as she got to her feet. “Thank you so much for your help. Cook will make you something, if you’re hungry.”

But Officer O’Connell shook his head. “That is very kind, but not necessary. It’s my job to help.” Then he nodded at Lucien, tucked in bed. “He’ll be all right. Lucky to have a woman like you fussing over him.”

Alex looked down as her cheeks flushed. “It’s my fault this happened to him in the first place.”

“I’d say it’s the fault of the fellow who attacked him,” Officer O’Connell said. “But don’t worry. Inspector Holland will get to the bottom of this. I’ve served for a long time and there is no one else I’d want investigating a case than the inspector.”

Alex managed a small smile. “Yes, he is very good.”

Officer O’Connell shot her a knowing look. “You didn’t hear it from me, but he’s the most honorable detective on the force. Remember that.”

Then he gave her a nod and left the room just as a maid came in with the supplies she had requested.

Alex swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Thank you, Sadie,” she rasped. “You can set that all down right here.”

“Munson said the doctor is on his way.”

“Send him up as soon as he arrives,” she said, just barely holding on to her stoic veneer.

The maid bobbed her head and closed the door gently behind her.

Alex immediately set to work pouring the warm water into a bowl and wetting the corner of a cloth.

She then eased down beside Lucien and began to clean the dried blood from his face.

But her guilt wasn’t kept at bay for long.

After she had cleaned most of the blood from Lucien’s jaw, she dipped the soiled cloth into the bowl and wrung it out, then set about cleaning the rest of his poor bruised face.

If only she had listened to Inspector Holland and taken more care. Was it so terrible to stay home while he sorted things out? Did she really value her own safety and the safety of those around her so little?

Alex’s lower lip began to tremble. How foolish she had been. How careless. If Lucien suffered any permanent injury, she would never forgive herself. Just as hot tears gathered in her eyes, a soft knock came at the door.

“Come in,” Alex croaked as she set the cloth aside and hastily wiped her face. The door swung open, but it wasn’t Dr. Mosley who hurried into the room. It was Freddie . Relief swept through her while Freddie’s shocked gaze raked over Lucien.

Then she turned to Alex. “Oh, my dear,” she said as she rushed to the bedside, her face softening with concern. “What on earth has happened?”

Alex opened her mouth to respond then promptly burst into tears.