REGENCY: Loved by the Duke (Historical Billionaire Military Romance) (19th Century Victorian Short Stories) Read Online Free Page B

some confidence and he smiled encouragingly. She washed her hands in the steaming hot water and Doctor Seymour waited patiently to show her what to do. She breathed deeply, peering curiously over his shoulder, observing the manner in which he cleaned away the blood. He smiled over at her every now and then until finally he offered her the clean cloth.
    Emma looked to him for some faith once more and he urged her on. She took the hot cloth within her fingers and shuffled closer to his side. He murmured in his agitated sleep and winced against every touch. Emma softly dragged the moist cloth against the spongy flesh of his weeping lesion. She shivered in disgust but it did not cause her panic. The white cloth began to stain with vivid colours of red, brown and yellow. Swapping the dirty cloth for a new one, she gained some more belief in her ability and studied the wound with some attention, cleaning out particular areas more thoroughly.
    “Here, Your Grace,” she heard the doctor whisper beside her. “This ointment will help heal the wound.”
    He passed her a new square piece of cloth and a small bottle of some healing lotion. She dabbed it carefully on the cloth and sealed it on his chest. Doctor Seymour grasped her hands gently and guided her to fasten the bandage securely around her husband.
    “Well done Your Grace,” he commended her. “That took courage.”
    She smiled somewhat embarrassed by his sincere praise. “Thank you.”
    “If you would like, you may repeat this process in a couple of hours?”
    Emma gazed at him thoughtfully and then at her husband. Something about him seemed to raise hope within her and he looked somewhat healthier.
    “If you trust me enough to tend to him alone, I shall be happy to oblige, Doctor.”
    He nodded content. “Very well, Your Grace, I trust you completely.” He made his exit toward the door and turned before leaving. “I shall bring back some clean instruments and cloths later.”
    “Thank you, Doctor.”
    Lady Hadlington stared after as he left and then turned back to her husband, smiling to herself as pride soared through her. Charles’ face was consumed with a sort of equanimity and it was calming to look at. She wished he possessed the same serenity in real life as he did in his dreams. She had long spent her time trying to come up some solution to his predicaments; the trust he had placed in her intelligence and wit now felt like she owed him some useful answer to his plights but she had been dissatisfied with every outcome she thought of.
    As she cleansed the revolting gunk away from his chest, hours later, she was made to jump by an abrupt flinch from his body. He looked at her, startled and in pain.
    “I’m sorry,” she apologised quickly. “Did I hurt you?”
    Charles’ breaths were quick and laborious but he shook his head swiftly.
    “What are you doing?” he whispered breathlessly.
    She smiled and sighed, returning her attention to her task. “I hope I am being useful.” She commented. “If not, then I might be ending your life,” she jested.
    His chest shook slightly as he chuckled at her. “I always knew you would kill me.”
    She smiled. “How are you?” she implored of him.
    Charles scoffed slightly. “I am fine.”
    “I wish you would have told me of your pressing matters sooner.” She mentioned quietly.
    His eyes bore upon her and she couldn’t bear to look but kept herself occupied in cleaning the wound.
    “I should have, I’m sorry.” He whispered. “I was angry with you yet you had the right to know.”
    “I am more sorry for my foolishness and my disregard toward you.” She gulped. “I fear it is unforgiveable.”
    “No,” he shook his head and took one of her hands. “I claim to see what other men don’t, but I did not act upon it in a way you deserve perhaps then we could have been spared the sorrow.”
    “Nevertheless,” replied Emma, now quite sure of the meaning in her actions. “I require your