Chapter 40

Gabriel came back into the room soon afterwards, bathed, changed and rested, the lines carved in his face by worry and exhaustion largely smoothed away. He smiled when he heard that she had been sitting up and taking refreshment, and was even more reassured when the doctor returned and, after talking with her, taking her pulse and examining her wound, pronounced her securely on the mend. That gentleman commended her upon her heroism and her extraordinary fortitude, congratulations which she received in embarrassed silence.

As soon as she was alone with her husband, she said urgently, ‘I have been on pins in case I said something wrong to the doctor! Quickly, tell me what is supposed to have happened! You did not say before, but I am quite sure you cannot have told anyone the actual truth.'

‘Indeed not. The story I have put about, my dear, is that Mrs Aubrey was an acquaintance of yours who, upon hearing of your marriage, wrote you a most piteous letter begging you for aid. Because you are all compassion and trusting innocence…' Georgie pulled a face and his lips twitched, but he continued, ‘Because, as I say you are known to be so extraordinarily good, if a little impulsive, you agreed to meet the lady, to see what assistance you could offer her in her time of trial. I, not being anywhere near so trusting nor so generous, accompanied you and stood close by in case you should need my help. Providentially so, for the meeting was nothing but a trap, as Mrs Aubrey was, all unknown to us, the half-sister of a rascally suitor whom your family had rejected some time past. Imagine our horror when he appeared, plainly intent on kidnapping you, whether for ransom or for some more nefarious purpose we cannot know. I knocked him down. But then his sister, deranged at being thwarted, filled with savage passion for revenge, produced a pistol, and you, heroine that you are, flung yourself upon it without a second's thought to save your newly-wed husband's life. You fell at my feet, insensible, bleeding. I clasped you in my arms, distraught. The villainess fled. And here we are.'

‘It sounds exactly like something that would be set forth upon the stage.'

‘It does. I am reasonably confident that it will be, and quite soon. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the company at the Theatre Royal is already in rehearsal. The house is full of flowers, by the way, brought by your many admirers. I am given to understand that next time you drive out you are in severe danger of the horses being taken from the poles and sturdy citizens taking their place, to pull you in triumph through the streets.'

‘I may just stay here, in that case, and never go outside again. That sounds terrifying.'

‘I don't blame you in the least. I should add that I believe the local civic worthies are having a declaration in your praise written out on a roll of parchment and illuminated, and intend to present it to you in some small ceremony. There is talk of choirs. Prints are being?—'

Georgie put up her hand. ‘I can't tell if you are inventing all or some of this. I hope it is all a jest. It still hurts to laugh, you know.'

He crossed to the bed and sat by her, and said with sudden seriousness, his voice cracking a little, ‘My dearest?—'

But she was never to know what he might have said, for at the most inconvenient moment possible a wild-eyed Hal burst into the room, still dressed in his mud-splattered many-caped driving coat, followed closely by Cassandra, white-faced and tense, both of them clearly suffering the greatest possible anxiety, and in her brother's demanding what the devil had happened to her now, the moment was lost for ever.