Page 44 of Pretending to Love a Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

T hey had two whole days of peace. They suspended all engagements. Visitors came knocking and were efficiently turned away. Flowers filled the drawing room, Amelia and Graham’s room, and Sam’s room. They made love as much as they could.

Her brother still lived, but there was no change in his condition. He did not move or respond to anything they did or said. Dr. Sloan monitored him closely, but it was more like Sam was an experiment gone awry, not a patient. Amelia kept her distance from the odd doctor to keep from scratching his eyes out.

They’d just finished breakfast at Sam’s side on the third day after the wedding, when Mrs. Keen came to inform them that Amelia’s aunt and cousin were downstairs and would not be turned away. Mr. Crest was with them, along with another unknown man. Graham sent an urgent message for his own legal counsel to come at once. Then he took Amelia’s hand, and they went downstairs to confront her aunt together.

Before entering the drawing room, Amelia requested tea for the visitors. She did not want to appear inhospitable and distressed, like her aunt claimed her to be. The more composed she was, the more crazed her aunt would become. She steeled herself and put on her most benign expression as she stepped into the room.

“Aunt Ruth, Cousin Nelson, who are your friends?”

Mr. Crest introduced the stranger as Dr. Williams.

“How do you do, Dr. Williams?” Amelia asked politely.

“Very well, Lady Amelia,” Dr. Williams said. “Why don’t we cut straight to the heart of the matter? I’ve been summoned to oversee some concerning questions about Lord Alston’s state of health and your wellbeing and mental state.”

Amelia wanted to roll her eyes at the sheer audacity of her aunt to bring a doctor here to question her sanity, but didn’t. Appearing contrary wouldn’t be in her favor.

“Indeed. I’m sure you will find everything as it should be. Dr. Williams, this is my husband, Mr. Graham Blakewood.”

Aunt Ruth shook her head aggressively, and Nelson puffed out his cheeks in anger.

“Impossible.” Aunt Ruth said. “You weren’t married three days ago!”

“Amelia and I married by special license three nights ago.” Graham handed the license and marriage certificate to Mr. Crest. They’d both known they’d need ready proof of their marriage as soon as Ruth and Nelson arrived.

Mr. Crest opened the document, frowning down his nose as he perused it. “This looks quite official and appears legitimate.”

Amelia narrowed her eyes at him. “Clearly.”

“How did you attain such a license so swiftly?” Nelson asked with disdain. “This cannot be a legal marriage.”

Mr. Crest frowned at him. “Are you implying I cannot distinguish between a proper license and a forgery? Have you even set eyes on a special license?”

Nelson flushed. “I’ve never had cause to do so. It’s scandalous.”

“How did you come by this license?” Mr. Crest asked. “It takes powerful figure to reach the Archbishop so swiftly.”

“Mrs. Dove-Lyon procured the license for us.” Graham said.

Mr. Crest’s eyes widened for an instant, then the expression passed.

“Oh, very well, then. Next, Dr. Willams shall need to see Lord Alston. Is he available to join us?”

Amelia pressed her lips together. “He is resting in bed. You will have to follow me to his rooms.” Amelia turned toward her aunt. “You will remain here. The last time you came to speak with him, you made him worse.”

“He was dying as of three days ago,” Nelson spat. “And you were hysterical beyond reason.”

“If my wife says you are not permitted to leave this room, then you will not leave it,” Graham said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Nelson threw up his hands. “This is preposterous! You have no right to order me about in what will soon be my home. If Lady Amelia is indeed your wife, then she resides with you and is no longer living here.”

Amelia turned to Dr. Williams. “As you can see, my brother has had difficulty recovering from his injury due to their hostile interference. They upset him greatly on their last visit and set him back. We had to call in a special doctor to care for him.”

“Lies, Dr. Williams, do you see how disturbed my niece is by her brother’s accident?” Aunt Ruth exclaimed. “She cannot think clearly, let alone marry a man without the consult of her family!”

“What sort of accident was this?” Dr. Williams asked.

“A riding accident,” Graham replied. “He took a fall and landed on his side on a boulder. To verify the information, Dr. Bradley will arrive shortly, and you may confer with Dr. Sloan who is residing here to see to Lord Alston’s recovery process.”

Dr. Williams faced Nelson and Aunt Ruth. “I must agree with Lady Amelia. You should remain here unless called for.”

Nelson threw up his arms and turned to face a window, pouting.

Amelia hid her smile. She still had to bring the interloping doctor and Mr. Crest to Sam’s bedside and convince him her brother was not going to die.

“Please follow me,” Graham said.

Dr. Sloan was present when they arrived. Graham made Dr. Williams wait while he consulted Dr. Sloan before allowing the men inside. For once, Amelia was glad of Dr. Sloan’s intimidatingly intense stare and his sharp, blunt method for discussing his patient’s condition.

“What are the odds of him surviving the outcome?” Dr. Willams asked.

Dr. Sloan folded his hands behind his back and paced slowly like he was giving a lecture to students. “It’s impossible to say. This is a groundbreaking case study. The first of its kind.” He smiled.

Amelia’s stomach rolled at that smile. He didn’t have to be so excited about watching her brother live or die.

“What is this?” Dr. Williams strolled closer to Sam, and there on his nightstand was an open notebook with drawings on the visible pages.

“I must document every step of the procedure performed so that other physicians can learn from my efforts.”

Amelia peeked past Dr. Williams—it was a roughly drawn sketch of Sam’s upper body, his belly cut open and displayed in pencil. Amelia covered her mouth and stepped back into Graham’s chest.

“You don’t have to stay for this,” Graham whispered.

“Yes, I do.”

“Not for the weak, is it, Lady Amelia?” Dr. Sloan commented. “But rest assured, whatever the outcome, your brother will be recorded in medical history.”

Amelia stared at him. “I cannot adequately convey how comforting that is. Thank you, Dr. Sloan.”

His lips twitched in amusement.

Dr. Williams set the book down and leaned over Sam. “Lord Alston, can you hear me?”

Amelia fisted her hands, praying Sam would move, open his eyes, or do something to give them hope.

“I do not expect such a rapid return to consciousness,” Dr. Sloan said. “But his present state does not determine the final outcome.”

“Then what does it mean?” Mr. Crest waved a hand at Sam. “The succession of an earldom is dependent on him.”

Dr. Sloan cocked his eyebrow. “This isn’t my business, but if you’re looking for a medical opinion, at present, the Earl of Alston is alive.”

Amelia wanted to double over and lose her breakfast. His callous words were a punch to her stomach. Maybe she ought to step out. She was going to either be sick or hurt someone. But he made a very valid point in Sam’s favor. Her brother was alive.

“What is your specialty, Dr. Williams?” Dr. Sloan asked with a predatory gleam.

Amelia straightened. “Apparently, he’s here to determine my sanity.”

Dr. Sloan folded his arms. “She’s sane enough for a woman.”

Amelia grit her teeth.

“I have dedicated my time to studying diseases of the mind,” Dr. Williams said, answering the question and ignoring both their comments.

Dr. Sloan smiled slyly. “Ah, I see. You’re not a doctor at all.”

Dr. Williams blustered. “And just who do you think you are, young man? What experience could you have to lend to the medical community?”

Now Sloan smiled with all his teeth. “I’m so glad you asked. Come have a look at my notes, and I’ll show you just what I intend to bring to the medical community.”

Amelia moved forward, ready to remove Dr. Williams from the room herself if needed. There would be no more raised voices in Sam’s room, whatever it cost her in that man’s eyes. But Graham touched Amelia’s elbow and pulled her back. “Wait, I want to see him eviscerate Dr. Williams.”

Sure enough, after two pages of Sloan flipping through his drawings and explaining them in detail, Dr. Williams was turning green and covering his mouth.

Dr. Sloan gave him a disgusted look. “I won’t have you getting sick in my patient’s room. Get out.”

“You’re a butcher!” Dr. Williams said as he hurried away.

“I’m the pinnacle of current surgical medicine,” Dr. Sloan gloated unabashedly as Dr. Williams closed the door behind himself.

Amelia shook her head at Dr. Sloan, and he winked at her.

She rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Mr. Crest, who had lurked silently near the door through the entire exchange. “Well, as Dr. Sloan has said, he is alive. You may go now.”

Mr. Crest straightened his jacket. “Lady Amelia, Mr. Blakewood, thank you for allowing us to see his lordship. If Lord Alston should pass or never improve, please do not hesitate to summon me.

“He will recover,” Amelia declared.

Graham left to escort Dr. Williams and Mr. Crest back downstairs, and Amelia went to Sam’s side. “Sam, if you can hear me, you need to get better fast.” She peered at Dr. Sloan, who watched her from Sam’s other side. “Do you think he can hear me?”

He shrugged. “My only interest is piecing his body back together. I’ve made it my life’s purpose. I am aware you disagree with my—”

“You speak like he isn’t a person. You gleefully describe his insides like it’s art.”

“It is art, my lady.”

That stunned her. “I beg your pardon?”

He snapped his book closed and set it down. “The human body is a fantastical mystery. Its workings are stunning in their variety. There is so much to discover, and yes, I find it beautiful to look upon its internal structures and marvel. I want to find better ways to save lives.”

Amelia tried not to balk under his dark stare. “I hope you do.”

“I’m certain I will.”

Amelia sat next to her brother while Dr. Sloan resumed his notes.

Graham returned. “They’re gone.”

“My Aunt Ruth left that easily?”

“Indeed—it was surprising. However, we have another guest.”

“Oh, who is it now?”

Mr. Chase strolled in, hands in his pockets. “Good afternoon, Lady Amelia. I see Lord Alston is still lingering.”

“Don’t say it like that.”

“I brought someone to introduce to you. She is waiting in the corridor. Mrs. Dove-Lyon thinks she will be beneficial in helping with Lord Alston’s recovery.”

Amelia could feel Sloan bristling with insult.

“Is this one of her contractual requests?” Graham asked.

Mr. Chase smirked. “Yes, it is. She goes by the name of Miss Smith, and she has experience tending to the ill and infirm.”

“I’ll decide that,” Dr. Sloan murmured, pointedly looking down at his notes.

Mr. Chase glared at the top of his head. “She’s a bit shy and quiet. Be kind, or I’ll be forced to express my displeasure.”

Dr. Sloan glanced up at Mr. Chase, and they held a battle of stares before Dr. Sloan shrugged one shoulder and dismissed him as inconsequential.

“You are welcome to enter, Miss Smith,” Mr. Chase beckoned.

His tone had softened. Who was this woman he was so protective of? Amelia wondered.

A slight woman wearing a robin’s egg-blue gown and carrying a satchel shuffled in. To Amelia’s surprise, she was young and quite beautiful. She had rich brown hair mostly covered by a white cap. Her eyes were a deep brown, and she was almost as tall as Amelia. Her knuckles were white as she gripped the handle of her satchel and looked around the room. Her gaze paused on each of the men with a slight alarm.

Amelia stood. “Welcome, Miss Smith.” She approached her with a friendly smile. If there was one word to describe Miss Smith, it was skittish. Amelia touched her back and escorted her to Sam’s side. As she passed Mr. Chase, she threw a confused frown at him.

“This is my brother, Lord Alston. His name is Sam, and as you can see, we’re twins.” Amelia glanced at Dr. Sloan to see if he might want to take charge of the nurse, but he only stared at Miss Smith with no discernable expression. This might be a serious issue if Mrs. Dove-Lyon demanded Miss Smith’s presence but Sloan refused her help.

Amelia cleared her throat to summarize Sam’s history. “He fell from his horse and landed on his side. He has a broken rib, but his worst injury occurred inside his body. He was slowly bleeding inside for days. Dr. Sloan performed a surgery to stop that bleeding, and we’re hoping in a little while he will wake up.”

Miss Smith’s shyness lessened as she examined Sam. But she flinched when Dr. Sloan stood.

“The present concern is infection.” He flipped back the sheet, exposing Sam’s chest and the ugly incision on the right side of his abdomen. “Are you familiar with the signs of infection?”

“Yes, Doctor,” she said timidly.

She spoke so softly, Amelia struggled to hear her.

Dr. Sloan nodded. “Good. I could use another set of hands for tending the wound.”

She nodded, and to Amelia’s surprise, Dr. Sloan backed away to his chair at Sam’s desk and resumed his notes. He was almost... nice... to Miss Smith. He was perceptive to her delicacy in a way Amelia did not expect him to be.

“Will you be staying here? Should I prepare a room?” Amelia asked.

“No,” Mr. Chase responded. “She will come back to the Den every evening. I will escort her to and from the residence and check in frequently.”

Amelia frowned at him. “That seems tiresome. She can stay here easily enough.”

“Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s orders were clear.”

Amelia shared a glance with Graham.

Graham said to Chase, “Can we speak outside?”

Mr. Chase nodded and they stepped out of the room and into the hall.

It was clear that Graham didn’t like Tristan Chase one bit or how they’d been forced to allow him to come and go as he pleased to check in on Sam, and she couldn’t help but agree. Amelia gave Miss Smith a speculative look. That young woman was clearly uncomfortable. Was she here of her own volition? Amelia walked quietly to the doorway to listen. This was a conversation she wanted to hear for herself.

“What’s going on? There was said nothing before about being required to have a nurse at Alston’s side.” Graham’s voice was calm, but his annoyance was plain.

Mr. Chase feigned innocence. “Whatever could you mean? This is a most benevolent gift to encourage Lord Alston’s speedy recovery.”

“Who is that woman? Why does she seem terrified to be here? And why are you her keeper?”

Mr. Chase straightened, and real anger slipped through. “She is who I say she is. She stays at the club because that is where she’s been living the last three weeks.”

“As?” Graham asked pointedly.

“As a guest. She doesn’t work there. She’s one of the Widow’s charity cases.”

“Mrs. Dove-Lyon has charity cases?”

“Would it surprise you to learn she has a soft spot for women in need?”

Graham frowned. “No, but I’ve never seen it firsthand.”

“Why would you? As I said, she doesn’t work in the Den. She stays in the living areas.”

“She’s frightened of Sloan. How is this supposed to work?” Graham asked.

“He’s a frightening fellow, but she’ll get used to him. He’s not the type to leer. He seems too obsessed with Alston’s innards to take notice of a pretty girl. But I’ll be here watching. Don’t you fret. How is the marriage? Any regrets?”

Graham rolled his eyes. “Only that you’re here so bloody often.”

“You can be rid of me as soon as Lord Alston wakes up and can marry.”

“Do you know the bride?”

Mr. Chase shrugged. “Not likely.”

“I thought you knew everything?”

“I know what I need to know.”

“Can we trust this girl?”

“As much as you can trust me,” Chase said with a grin.

“We don’t trust you,” Amelia said from the doorway, unable to remain quiet any longer.

Mr. Chase touched his chest. “Why not? I’ve been nothing but truthful and came to your aid in a desperate hour of need.”

“You’re doing it for the Widow. It’s transactional,” Graham retorted.

Mr. Chase straightened. “Exactly. You don’t need to trust me or like me. This is business. Clear, cut, and dry. You’ll hardly notice when I’m here, unless I want you to.”