A Lady of Notoriety. Diane Gaston
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Название: A Lady of Notoriety

Автор: Diane Gaston

Издательство: HarperCollins

Жанр: Сказки

Серия: Mills & Boon Historical

isbn: 9781472043986

isbn:

СКАЧАТЬ all day for the man. She rose. ‘Come with me.’

      Daphne heard the clock in Westleigh’s room chime the quarter-hour as she raised her hand to knock.

      ‘Please, come in.’ Westleigh sounded impatient.

      ‘Mr Westleigh, it is Mrs Asher,’ she said as she opened the door. ‘I have brought Mr Wynne, the surgeon, to see you.’

      Hugh had been seated in the rocking chair next to the window, which was open to the afternoon breeze. He stood and extended his hand almost in the surgeon’s direction. ‘Mr Wynne. I have been eager for your arrival.’

      Wynne clasped his hand. ‘Westleigh. Pleased to meet you. Mrs Asher has told me of your injuries.’

      ‘She has?’ His posture stiffened. ‘Perhaps you would be so kind as to tell me what she said.’

      ‘I told him you were in a fire,’ Daphne responded. ‘And that you were hit on the head and your eyes burned. I told him the other surgeon said you were concussed and that your eyes needed to remain bandaged for two weeks.’

      ‘I could have told him that,’ Westleigh remarked.

      ‘I agree.’ She had not wished to be this involved. Should she tell him the surgeon preferred her company to the duties that called him here?

      ‘A nasty business, eh?’ Wynne finally turned his attention to the patient. ‘Please do sit and I will bring a chair closer to you.’

      Westleigh lowered himself back into the rocking chair and Wynne brought the wooden chair over to him. Daphne stood near to the door.

      ‘Now,’ Wynne said, ‘tell me—do you have any difficulty breathing?’

      Westleigh took a breath. ‘No.’

      Wynne nodded, but from his bag pulled out a cylindrical tube. ‘Best to check, in any event.’ He placed one end of the tube on Westleigh’s chest, the other against his own ear. ‘Breathe deeply for me.’

      Westleigh did as requested and the surgeon moved the tube to various locations on his chest.

      ‘Your lungs are clear,’ Wynne said. ‘Have you experienced any dizziness?’

      ‘None now,’ Westleigh answered. ‘Not even if I walk. I am quite steady on my feet.’

      ‘Any pain?’ the man asked.

      Westleigh shrugged. ‘My throat feels a bit rough. My head aches still, but not excessively. It is my eyes—my eyes concern me the most. They ache with a dull sort of pain. Again, not excessive. If I try to move my eyelids, however, the pain sharpens a great deal.’

      ‘Best you not move your eyelids.’ Wynne chuckled.

      Westleigh frowned.

      This was not a joking matter to him, Daphne wanted to say.

      Wynne leaned forwards. ‘Let me have a look at you.’

      He placed his fingers on Hugh’s head. His fingers looked stubby, but his touch seemed sure.

      ‘It is most remarkable you were not more burned.’ Wynne moved his fingers around his head and looked closely at the exposed parts of his face. ‘The eyes can get the worst of it even if your skin’s damage is superficial. Your hair is singed in places and I cannot see under the bandage, but I suspect you are fairly unscathed.’

      Daphne had seen his eyes, though. His eyes had been alarmingly cloudy.

      Wynne leaned back. ‘I would like to examine under your bandages, but you must promise me something.’

      ‘What is that?’ Westleigh asked.

      ‘Keep your eyes closed.’ Wynne emphasised each word. ‘If you do not keep your eyes closed, you risk further injury and blindness. Do you understand me?’

      ‘I understand.’ Westleigh answered in a low voice.

      Wynne turned to Daphne. ‘Mrs Asher, may we close the window and draw the curtains?’

      ‘Certainly.’ She hurried to do as he asked.

      Westleigh remained still as Mr Wynne unwound his bandages. He was like a taut string vibrating with tension. The bandages seemed endless, but finally Wynne came down to the two round pieces of cloth that were pressed against Westleigh’s eyelids.

      ‘Remember, keep your eyes closed,’ he warned.

      He removed the last and moved even closer to peer at Westleigh’s eyelids. He touched one very gently with his thumb.

      Westleigh winced.

      ‘Does that pain you?’ Wynne asked.

      ‘Some,’ Westleigh responded tightly.

      Wynne held the lids closed, but turned to Daphne. ‘Will you bring me a lighted candle?’

      She took the candlestick from the bedside table and lit it with a taper from the fireplace.

      Wynne brought the candle close to Westleigh’s face.

      Westleigh’s eyelids were still red and a yellowish crust clung to his eyelashes. If he did open his eyes now and could see, he’d know instantly who she was, but Daphne thrust that thought aside. He was more important this moment than her pride...and shame.

      Westleigh remained like a statue.

      ‘Are you able to see the light?’ Wynne asked.

      ‘Yes!’ His voice filled with excitement. His eyelids twitched.

      ‘Keep them closed,’ Wynne warned again.

      ‘Does that mean I will be able to see?’ Westleigh asked.

      ‘I wish I could make that promise.’ Wynne leaned back and pulled out more bandages from his leather bag. ‘Your eyes need more time for us to be certain. Two weeks, like the other surgeon said. If you want a chance to heal completely, wait the two weeks. There is no infection now, but to open your eyes now—well, I cannot stress how urgent it is that you wait the two weeks. It is your only chance.’

      Westleigh’s chin set and his head remained erect.

      For some silly reason, Daphne felt proud of him for not giving in to emotion.

      He might yet be blind.

      Chapter Four

      Hugh was through with confinement. He was through giving in to his fears. He would see again. He must. He would not sit in one room for two weeks waiting. He’d move around, act as if he could see, no matter how many pieces of furniture he bumped into, no matter what came crashing to the floor. He’d pay for the damages.

      But he would not be confined.

      Mr Wynne did not require him to remain in bed. The only admonition the surgeon had made was СКАЧАТЬ