Page 13 of To Seduce A Rake
The doctor looked as if he might argue, but Harrison didn’t budge and gripped Rebecca’s hand.
“Very well,” the doctor finally said, moving to the bed. “I need you to step back.”
Harrison climbed from the bed and stood behind the doctor, watching him work. He sent up silent pleas that she would open her big brown eyes and look at him.
After several moments, the doctor turned to face him. “Her pulse is strong, but she is still quite cold. We must get her warm. I don’t believe the blow to her head to be of great concern. The lump doesn’t seem to indicate major trauma. But we will do a few cognitive tests once we can warm and awaken her.”
As if on cue, there was another knock on the door. Harrison called them in, and it was a couple of servants bringing up the water for the bath.
“We mustn’t warm her too quickly,” the doctor warned. “Make the bath slightly warm and bring up more hot water. We will slowly get her to her proper temperature.”
The staff followed the doctor’s directions and brought the additional water, as requested. Once the bath was set, the servants departed.
“Help me get her into the bath,” the doctor said to Harrison.
Harrison quickly kicked off his boots and shrugged out of his coats, then cradled her in his arms again. “You’re going to be all right,” he whispered to her. It was more for his benefit. He trembled as he carried her. The fear that he might lose her terrified him more than anything ever had before in his life.
“Set her in the water,” the doctor instructed.
Ignoring the man, Harrison stepped over the side of the tub and sat down with her. He laid her longways down his body, so her back leaned against his front. The water was quite close to the top of the tub but didn’t overflow.
The doctor touched her forehead and then gripped her wrist to check her pulse. He seemed satisfied and then scooped a portion of water out of the tub using one of the empty buckets.
After several minutes, the doctor added some of the hot water to the tub. The water was noticeably warmer, while Harrison rubbed her arms.
“Come back to me,” he whispered against the top of her head. He wanted to say more, but his throat was thick with emotion. Memories of his mother lying lifeless in her bed came flooding back, and the pain he felt that day overtook him. He had pushed it aside for so long, refusing to feel any of it. And the fear that he might lose the woman he loved threatened to overtake him.
He loved her? He questioned if he could allow himself to do so, but he knew it was no use. His heart was lost to her the moment she first stumbled into his chamber. He was hers, whether or not she wanted him.
Harrison wasn’t certain if his mind was playing tricks on him, but he thought she mumbled something. “Angel?”
The doctor added a bit more hot water, and Harrison waited with bated breath, hoping she would say something. Give him some kind of sign that she would return to him.
“Please, Rebecca,” he whispered. “I need you.”
A small whimper escaped her pouty lips. “Harrison.”
“Yes. I’m here.”
The doctor stepped closer. “Let’s get her out of the water so I might examine her again.”
Several moments later, Harrison had dried her and changed her again into a fresh shirt, then settled her back into his bed.
Her eyes blinked open, and she looked right at him. “Harrison.”
“There you are,” he said, smiling at her. The smile was forced as he was still terrified that something might be wrong with her, but he didn’t wish to scare her.
“What happened?” she asked, her voice barely above a coarse whisper.
“I believe you were thrown from your carriage.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened, and she tried to sit up, but Harrison stopped her.
“But,” she started. “Is Maggie all right?”
“They were being brought in when I arrived,” the doctor said. “Everyone appeared to be in good shape. I’ll tend to them next.”
The doctor completed several tests and asked Rebecca a few questions.
