How to Heal the Marquess by Sally Forbes

Chapter Eighteen

 

Tobias startled awake at the sound of soft voices around him. It took him a moment to remember he had fallen fast asleep in his grandfather’s bedside chair the night before. He flushed instantly, sure the voices he had heard must be the duke’s, and perhaps his mother’s, admonishing him for hovering over his grandfather so. But as he came to full wakefulness and looked around, he saw he was only half correct.

His grandfather was, indeed, awake and speaking. However, it was not the dowager marchioness to whom he was talking. Tobias rubbed his eyes and blinked until the woman conversing with the duke came into focus. As soon as she did, Tobias was wide awake. And when he saw what was happening, he froze with surprise.

Miss Gibson was tending to the duke, as she had been every morning since the physician had spoken with Tobias. The marquess glanced out of the window and saw the sun had already risen past the tops of the trees, which meant he had slept fairly late into the morning.

But what amazed Tobias was what was unfolding before him. Miss Gibson was not only caring for the duke, but she was also helping him to sit upright against pillows which she had carefully repositioned. And, from what Tobias could see, his grandfather was able to sit up with more ease and comfort than he had since he fell ill.

But most astounding of all was when Miss Gibson fetched a bottle of tonic from her medical bag. Tobias started to rise and warn the young woman how difficult it would likely be to convince the duke to take the medicine.

He was even sure he would have to try to talk his grandfather into cooperating with the physician’s daughter. But just as he prepared to do so, he caught part of the conversation between the pair.

“Is it time again for one of your tonics?” the duke asked.

Miss Gibson giggled and nodded.

“It is, your lordship,” she said, opening the bottle and preparing to measure out the proper dose. “Although I must warn you that this one is not quite as pleasant as the last one I gave you.”

The duke chuckled heartily, and Tobias was glad to hear his chest sounded considerably better than it had.

“Well, that is quite all right, my dear,” he said. “Not everything in life can be pleasant. But it does not mean it will not do me some good.”

The young woman laughed again and nodded.

“That is correct,” she said. “And, perhaps, if you are still feeling well later today, I shall prepare more of the brew you enjoy so much.”

At this, Lord Berbrook clapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously.

“With such promises, I shall do anything you ask, Miss Gibson,” he said cheerfully.

Tobias watched in amazement as the duke did, in fact, take the tonic the young woman gave to him. He drank down the medicine, handing her back the empty spoon without so much as a bitter face.

She took it, still smiling, and she gave his arm a soft touch.

“Now, if you are feeling up to it, I would like to prepare some soap and water to clean your hands and face,” she said.

Once more, the duke surprised Tobias. He beamed up at the young woman, his eyes sparkling, almost like those of a young boy.

“Anything you say, Miss Gibson,” he repeated.

Tobias could not help the mounting disbelief at his grandfather’s compliance. He would never have thought the duke would ever take so kindly to following the orders of a woman. It was then that Tobias realized just how badly he had misjudged Miss Gibson.

The young woman, who had been turning to cross the room, gazed fondly at the duke, giving her head an imperceptible shake.

“My lord, if we are to be friends, I must insist you call me Daisy,” she said.

Instantly, Lord Berbrook nodded decisively.

“Daisy, then,” he said.

The young woman smiled, clearly pleased, and turned again to walk toward the washbasin. At that moment, she saw Tobias was awake, and she gave him one of her now-famous, sweet smiles. Tobias flushed at having been caught staring at her, failing to look away. The young woman seemed completely unflustered, however. She simply gave him a brief, polite curtsey, holding his gaze firmly.

“Good morning, Lord Penwell,” she said in a polite but warm tone.

Tobias felt thrills of awareness course through him as she held his gaze with firm confidence. With great willpower, he suppressed the shiver of delight threatening to wrack his spine as he smiled back at her.

“Good morning, Miss Gibson,” he said, almost forgetting to bow until her gaze intensified. He thought she would say something more, so he waited, holding his breath. But when she raised her eyebrow gently and gave him a pointed smirk, he flushed. “I mean, good morning, Daisy.”

At this, she smiled brightly once more.

“That is much better,” she said, at last taking her eyes off Tobias to fetch a small bowl of water and some soap and a cloth.

Seizing his opportunity, Tobias followed her across the room, glancing once more in awe at his grandfather before addressing the young woman.

“Forgive me for interrupting,” he said, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. “But I wish to speak with you about my grandfather’s health.”

Daisy looked up at him with sweet, innocent eyes as she took the items she needed from the table.

“Of course, my lord,” she said. “I will tell you anything you wish to know, to the best of my ability.”

Tobias nodded, a crooked smirk twitching on his face.

“Has there been any improvement in his condition?” he asked. The moment he had finished speaking, he regretted the words. But, of course, there was an improvement, as he himself had witnessed. He cursed himself, wondering if she found him as foolish as he suddenly found himself.

To his amazement, however, Daisy merely smiled at him sweetly. In a single instant, her eyes seemed to convey to him that she understood exactly what he wished to know, and it was not at all a silly thing to ask. Tobias wondered as tingles raced up his spine, how many times she had answered that very same question. He also wondered what it would be like to kiss her and look into those brilliant, sweet, green eyes, with his face only inches from hers.

“Well, he seems to be getting his appetite back,” she said, her smile widening. “In fact, he ate almost an entire plate of breakfast this morning.”

“That is a very good sign,” Tobias said, realizing only after he had finished speaking she had said the same thing at the very same time. The two of them stared at each other for a moment, and Tobias could feel the same redness creeping into his face as was pinking her olive-toned cheeks. He searched his brain, trying to find any words to break through the strange, sudden silence. Then, Daisy giggled, causing Tobias’s heart to stop.

“It is, indeed, Lord Penwell,” she said, turning her face away to continue with her task of preparing the water and soap. “However, do not fret if your grandfather does not wish to eat much more today. Of course, it will be wonderful if he does. But it is not uncommon for a single meal to last a sick patient an entire day, especially when they have eaten little in the days previous.”

Tobias nodded, pretending to be thoughtful, though he was truly just trying to collect himself. Not only were her beautiful lips delivering him terrific news, but he could not stop staring at her.

“Very good,” he said, flushing again as his voice cracked. “Do you think that means he is finally on the mend?”

Daisy worked thoughtfully for a moment. Then, she glanced back at Tobias.

“I think he still needs plenty of rest,” she said slowly, as though choosing her words carefully. “And we must be sure that his chest is strong, as it should be, once more, before we go drawing any conclusions. I must also ensure that his fever does not return. But I do think this is serious progress.” She paused, looking at Tobias intensely before continuing. “It is still too early to say when we can expect the duke to be back to normal, but if things continue this way, it should not be too much longer.”

Tobias nodded, impressed at her ability to read the questions on his face before he had even asked them and taking careful note as she spoke. She had emphasized the word if, despite her optimism about the duke’s health. He supposed she had seen many patients seem to improve and then take another sudden bad turn.

He desperately wished to ask her if she believed his grandfather would be one such case, but he realized he was not sure if he wanted to hear the answer. He wanted to be happy with any good news he received.

Besides, he did not wish to press her. She was doing so well, and she was extremely tolerant of Tobias’s apparent ignorance of medicine. He did not wish to upset her. So, instead, he gave her a bright, fond smile.

“I do not know what we would do without you, Miss . . . Daisy,” he said, blushing once more at having almost insulted her by disregarding her previous request to use her given name. “I noticed how easily he does all you ask of him. I must say, I am most impressed.”

Daisy giggled again, and Tobias found himself marveling at how he melted at the sound. But before she could respond, the duke cleared his throat loudly, capturing the attention of the pair immediately.

“You do realize I am still in the room, yes?” he asked, raising an eyebrow sternly.

Tobias and Daisy exchanged glances. Tobias turned to his grandfather to apologize for offending him, but he then noticed the duke’s mouth was twitching, and his eyes were softly lit with mild humor. Tobias laughed, and Daisy joined along with him.

“Forgive me, my lord,” she said, taking the soapy cloth and small bowl of water over to his bedside. “I should have allowed you to answer the questions your grandson was asking.”

The duke patted her with a gentle hand, still glowering teasingly at Tobias.

“Not at all, my dear,” he said. “You were merely giving my overbearing grandson what he wanted. I am nothing but pleased with you.”

Tobias chuckled, walking over to the duke’s side.

“Well, if you had your way, you would tell us all that you were fine, even as you drew your final breath,” he said.

The duke waved his hand dismissively, completely ignoring Tobias’s statement. He looked up at Daisy and smiled hopefully.

“I would not mind having a fruit ice from Gunter’s,” he said.

Tobias stared at his grandfather, stunned. Not only had he eaten breakfast, but he was now asking for a treat! Truly, it seemed Daisy had performed a miracle. However, he now believed she had been too modest when she said they should not get their hopes up.

Thrilled, Tobias smiled at the duke.

“I shall arrange that at once, Grandfather,” he said.

But before he could leave the room, Lord Berbrook stopped him.

“Why don’t you go yourself?” he asked. “You have spent far too much time hovering over me. It would do you some good to get out and breathe some fresh London air.” The duke paused, leaning closer to Daisy and lowering his voice slightly. “It would do me a fair bit of good, too.”

Daisy giggled once again, and Tobias could not help smiling, despite his grandfather’s stubbornness. He did wish to stay, but he knew he must do as the duke requested.

“Very well, Grandfather,” he said. “I shall return shortly.