Page 48 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

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.