Page 45 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

This is not a healthy man.

He used a finger to push one of the Duke’s eyelids open. He couldn’t see very clearly, but he didn’t see dilation. The man wasn’t in shock. He placed his hand around his neck.

He sure is colder than normal.

“Is there any physical or behavioural manifestation that pricks your notice?” Dr Frederick asked.

The Duchess squeezed her eyes. She looked strangely at Dr Frederick.

“I don’t understand.”

“Any different characteristic, change in colour of stool, does he bed wet now, is there any secretion anywhere? I need you to tell me everything, Your Grace,” Dr Frederick said.

“No, nothing of that sort, at least that I know of. About the colour of his stool, or nature, I’d have to ask the steward that cleans this room. He changes his chamber pot,” the Duchess said.

Dr Frederick moved away from the Duke. He put his hand into his pocket and brought out his small notepad and a pen. He’d always carried that around since he started his research.

“You never know when the great revelation would come or when you’ll need to record an importance occurrence,” he had told himself when he started taking it about.

He jotted down the few observations he had.

“Has he been like this throughout today? When did this particular bout start?”

The Duchess looked surprised.

“I thought, didn’t you see us start the ball with our celebratory dance?” she asked.

“No, I didn’t. I had to attend to someone outside,” he replied.

“Oh, he was alright till a few minutes after our dance. I think the stress and noise got to him. A lot of people wanted to talk to him, a lot of handshakes, things like that,” she said.

“Let’s avoid such occurrences from now, at least till we get a grip of what exactly is wrong. I imagine His Grace surely has a lot of public appearances looming, but I will suggest that Lord Jeffrey takes his place.”

The Duchess whitened when he said that.

Is that such a shocking proposition?

“I’ll represent him,” the Duchess said. She was back to normal, her tone just as cheery. Dr Frederick smiled to himself.

“For now, I am yet to point to one defining symptom or sign that indicates one overriding ailment. But I have noted the individual symptoms; there are things that can be done to avail those symptoms and make his,” Dr Frederick looked at the Duke’s face, “state far better.”

“I’ll go home now. I will be back on the morrow or next with either medicine that will help or lifestyle change suggestions. Either way, Your Grace, he will get better,” Dr Frederick said.

The Duchess nodded. She seemed satisfied. She walked to the door and signalled Dr Frederick to follow her. He did. When she got out, she looked to the steward at the table beside the door.

“Roman, you have my package prepared?”

“Yes, I do, Your Grace,” the steward replied.

He ran his fingers through the mop of hair on his head and scratched rapidly before placing that hand inside a locker in the table. He brought out a brown envelope and gave it to the Duchess. The Duchess gave it to Dr Frederick.

“Please Dr Frederick, we will be expecting you. My husband’s life depends on it,” she said.

Dr Frederick nodded his head. He turned to leave then turned back.

“Did your physician advise that the Duke be fed with fluids?”

“No, he never mentioned that,” Duchess Mona said, shaking her head.