How to Heal the Marquess by Sally Forbes
Chapter Ten
Tobias bit down on his tongue as the young woman stared at the mess she had made. It was all he could do to not scold her and remind her that it was for such reasons that women should never be allowed to practice medicine.
However, with her father in the room, he felt it would not be wise to admonish her in that moment. He decided he would speak with Dr. Gibson later and more firmly express his displeasure at Miss Gibson having anything to do with his grandfather’s treatment. For the time being, he settled for giving her a cold, disapproving look.
As he glared at her, however, he could not help noticing how crimson her cheeks were. She was staring down at the mess helplessly, as though she was paralyzed with embarrassment. For a moment, he felt his heart soften toward the young woman.
It occurred to him, though only briefly, that perhaps he was making the physician and his daughter uncomfortable and nervous with his presence. But that was his right as the relative of one of Dr. Gibson’s patients.
His sympathy for the woman was cut short when she, at last, unfroze and stooped down to begin picking up shards of the shattered bowl. He took a step toward her, clearing his throat loudly.
“Leave it,” he said, perhaps a bit too sharply. “We cannot have you cutting your fingers while picking up broken glass. I will send for one of the housemaids to take care of it.”
As he turned sharply on his heel and stepped into the hall to call to the servants, Tobias told himself that he was only, as he had stated, trying to prevent a stranger from being injured in his home. He ignored the nagging feeling in his stomach at the idea of the lovely young woman cutting her soft, delicate fingers on all the shattered glass. A moment later, he managed to catch a maid who was exiting one of the guest rooms just down the hallway, and he beckoned her inside to tend to the mess.
As he stepped back into the room with the maid, he saw at once that Miss Gibson was just finishing up preparing another bowl of the lavender-infused water. Tobias clenched his jaw, swallowing a lecture about how she hardly needed to be handling more glass when she had already proven herself so clumsy.
But he merely held his breath as she carried the fresh bowl of lavender water, more expertly this time, over to his grandfather’s bedside and put it effortlessly down on the table. He silently scolded himself for being so hard on the woman. Whatever his opinions of her, it was clear she only wanted to help. Still, he was resolved to speak to her father before they left for the evening.
Miss Gibson stood behind the physician while he finished the morning’s exam. A moment later, the doctor turned to his daughter, putting gentle hands on her shoulders.
“Take over for me and see to the duke’s fever,” he said. His words to his daughter were warm and calm, but his expression was grave, causing Tobias’s heart to race. He stepped forward, with the intention of addressing the physician. But before he could speak, the physician turned to him, offering a weak smile.
“May I have a word with you in private, Lord Penwell?” he asked.
Tobias swallowed, every word he had been thinking to say to the doctor vanishing in a flood of terror and worry. He nodded, gesturing for the physician to lead the way out into the hallway, which he did promptly. Tobias fumbled with the door as he attempted to close it behind him. As he did so, he caught another glimpse of Miss Gibson.
She was delicately dipping a cloth in the lavender water and dabbing the duke’s face with it ever so gently. For a brief moment, he let himself forget about his grandfather’s condition and focus on her kind attentiveness and her beauty. Then, at last, he did close the door, and he braced himself as he turned to face the physician.
“Well?” he asked, his voice as tight and strained as he felt. “I can only surmise that your news is not good. What is happening to my grandfather?”
Dr. Gibson looked at Tobias with a mixture of pity and guilt. Only then did Tobias begin to appreciate how seriously the physician took his job. He was not merely fearful of delivering bad news. He was also genuinely upset that he was struggling to make the duke well again.
“I am afraid that your grandfather’s condition is very serious,” he said. The fact that he did not say duke further confirmed Tobias’s theory about the doctor’s feelings. “He is running a terribly high fever, one that must be constantly monitored and maintained at all costs. But there is more.” He paused, rubbing his thinning hair and glancing at the door, despite it being closed. “His chest is still weak, which is another grave concern. He is not as yet responding to the treatments as I had hoped.”
Tobias let out a heavy, shaky breath. He did not quite understand what the doctor was saying about the duke’s weak chest, but if the coughing fits were any indication, it was as grave as the doctor made it sound. The fever, however, he did understand, and it renewed his fear for his grandfather’s life.
“What else can be done?” Tobias asked. “Cost is no matter. Whatever you feel is best to treat my grandfather is what we shall do. We will try any new treatments, too, if you think they might improve his condition.”
The physician sighed, giving his head a sympathetic shake.
“I am afraid it is not that simple,” he said. “There are very few treatments for conditions of the chest, and those that are available are only more extreme in their effects. We must try to continue to treat him as we have been, at least a little while longer. If it fails after a few more days, I will be forced to keep him sedated much of the time to prevent him from causing damage to his lungs with the worsening coughing spells.”
Tobias nodded numbly, his shoulders sagging. After a long hesitation, he blurted out the only thing he could.
“What will you do for him now?” he asked. “Will you begin a more aggressive approach with his current treatment?”
The doctor put a reassuring hand on Tobias’s shoulder.
“I give you my word that Daisy and I will do everything we can for your grandfather,” he said. “I shall leave some very specific instructions for her, in fact.”
Tobias nodded, then realized what the physician had said.
“Leave instructions?” he asked. “What do you mean?”
“I must go see to other patients,” he said, taking a step back. “But I will leave Daisy to tend to your grandfather. She truly is quite capable, and she knows exactly what to do.”
Tobias’s eyes widened in alarm, recalling the piercing sound of the bowl of water shattering.
“When will you return?” he asked. “I would really prefer that you be here as well.”
Dr. Gibson looked up at him, and Tobias noticed he looked exceptionally fatigued. Tobias felt instant guilt. Of course, the doctor had more patients than just the duke. He could not expect Dr. Gibson to devote all his time just to his grandfather, even though the duke meant so much to him.
“Your grandfather will be fine in Daisy’s care, I assure you,” he said again. “She knows to send for me, should his condition take a sudden turn. Until then, I shall be sending her on her own every morning. She will care for him throughout the days, monitor his progress, and report to me. And I myself plan to call in once a week or so, barring any unexpected changes in his condition.”
Tobias felt a vice grip his heart. The very mention of any changes in the duke’s illness reminded him of just how very precarious the situation was. He understood very well that he was dangerously close to losing his grandfather, and it was thought almost too much to bear. As much as he wanted the physician himself to be present when Miss Gibson called in, he knew he would have to accept help for his grandfather, in whatever form it came.
“Very well,” Tobias said, his voice as heavy as his soul. “I will agree to those terms.” Though I do not agree to see your daughter as medically capable as you are, sir, he added silently.
The doctor studied him for a moment, almost as though he could read Tobias’s thoughts. Then, he nodded, shaking Tobias’s hand and bidding him a good day. Tobias swallowed tears as he watched the doctor go, as though Dr. Gibson’s leaving meant that every chance for the duke to get well was leaving with him. Tobias knew how foolish that was, but he could not help the small wave of panic and renewed sadness which filled him as the doctor left.
As he composed himself, Tobias vowed that, no matter what happened, he would fulfill the promise he had made to his grandfather. He could not fully accept that the duke was likely going to die, but nor could he afford the risk of dawdling about seeking a wife and still being unwed if his grandfather did pass. No, he would do everything he possibly could to keep his word. Even if it was the last thing he could ever do for the duke, he would be sure to make him proud. He would grant his grandfather his final wish, his own desires be damned.
As Tobias reentered the room, he saw that Miss Gibson was wiping the duke’s forehead with a cloth. His heart rose to his throat as his grandfather had his eyes closed, and his entire face appeared to be wet with sweat. But then, Miss Gibson giggled, and Tobias saw that the duke was wiggling his nose. She reached for a dry cloth and wiped his face once more.
Tobias instantly realized that it had only been water and that his grandfather had only closed his eyes so that she could properly wash his face. At the duke’s expression, Tobias could not help snorting. The sound alerted the pair to his presence, and Miss Gibson smiled at him, looking puzzled.
“Did my father need to go into town?” she asked.
Tobias blinked with surprise. Was she unaware that she would be caring for the duke alone?
“He said he needed to see other patients,” he said. “Forgive me. I assumed you knew he would be leaving.”
Miss Gibson looked equally surprised, but she shook her head.
“He said nothing to me,” she said. “But I do not mind. And I am fully prepared to take care of the duke.”
“I wholeheartedly agree,” Lord Berbrook said, smiling fondly at the young woman, who eagerly returned the smile.
Tobias stared in wonder. To hear his grandfather say that he believed a woman capable of medical care was astounding. And after she had spilled the water and smashed the crystal bowl earlier, he might have completely refused to leave the duke in her care. But there was something about her that Tobias found charming, even when she was making messes all over the floor. And it was clear that his grandfather had quickly grown to like her. Before he could stop himself, he smiled.
“If my grandfather can place his faith in you, then perhaps, I can, as well, Miss Gibson,” he said.
