Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

Spalding was frowning as he looked from the young Englishman to the prone form of a girl. “What happened, young man?”

“She was attacked on the street by two British regulars. My arrival frightened the two men off. I don’t know how badly she’s injured. I brought her directly back here and then had Waddington send for you.”

“Has she regained consciousness at all?”

“No. She’s been like this since I found her.”

The doctor nodded as he approached the bed.

“Do you recognize her, Dr. Spalding?”

“No, can’t say as I do.” The doctor took her pulse and then examined her forehead. “I’ll need to do a more extensive examination, and I’d like you to step from the room, please.”

Matt hesitated, not wanting to leave her alone, but common sense won out. “I’ll be right out in the hall.”

“Fine.”

As Matt went outside, he found two serving girls coming down the hall with heated water and supplies for the physician, and he admitted them to the room.

Noah, roused by all the commotion, emerged from his room just as the servants headed back downstairs. “Matthew?” The graveness of the younger man’s expression troubled him.

Matt glanced up as Noah came to join him. “Noah…”

“What is it? What happened?” He looked worriedly toward the closed door to his room.

“After I left you earlier, I couldn’t sleep, so I went out for a walk.”

“Yes…so?” he prodded impatiently.

“There were two soldiers abusing a girl in one of the back alleys. I managed to frighten them off, but the girl was injured. I brought her back here and had Waddington summon the doctor. He’s with her now…” Matt glanced solemnly at the portal.

“How badly was she injured?” Noah wondered at Matt’s foolhardiness in charging into an unknown, dangerous situation unarmed, but he knew, as a gentleman of honor, he could have done no less. He was proud of him

“I don’t know. She’s unconscious. She has a bad bruise on her brow, and they’d…” Revulsion raged through him at the thought of the vile men tearing her clothing from her and assaulting her while she lay helpless beneath them. He said a silent prayer, hoping that he had arrived in time to save her virtue. Noah’s hand on his shoulder comforted him as he imagined her terror, and Matt knew a sudden, driving need to be back by her side.

“Lord Kincade?” Waddington called from the foot of the stairs.

Matt and Noah exchanged glances as they hurried to see what the innkeeper wanted. “Yes?”

“The constable has arrived…”

Matt nodded and went down to meet him. “I’m Lord Matthew Kincade.”

“Jeremy Roberts.” The constable, a tall, thin, harried-looking man, introduced himself. “Waddington here tells me that you had some trouble tonight?”

“I was out for a late walk and came across a young woman being assaulted by two British regulars. The soldiers fled, but not before they’d injured the girl. I brought her back here. She’s in my room, and the doctor is with her now.”

“I see. Would you be able to identify the soldiers were you to see them again?” he questioned.

“No,” he replied, his tone deadly. “The cowards ran when they heard me coming, and I only got a look at their backs.”

“I’m afraid there’s not much for me to do then, other than to notify the young woman’s family. Do you know her name?”

“She hasn’t regained consciousness yet. I’m sure when she does, she’ll be able to give you a full accounting of the incident.”

“I see,” Roberts nodded. “Then I shall check back with you first thing in the morning. Perhaps by then we’ll have more information to go on.”

“Indeed.”

After the constable had gone, Matt and Noah sat together in the empty taproom. Though Noah tried to initiate a conversation, Matt was too concerned about his mysterious lady’s condition to carry on a decent discussion. He responded in distracted, monosyllabic answers to all of his brother’s questions. Noah finally gave up the attempt, and they remained in silent vigil, awaiting the physician’s reappearance and his prognosis for the injured girl’s recovery.

It was a long while before the doctor appeared at the top of the staircase. “Lord Kincade?”

Both Matt and Noah came to their feet at the sound of his voice.

“Yes, Doctor? How is she?” Matt went hastily to meet him at the foot of the steps.

The physician’s mood was somber. “She still hasn’t recovered consciousness yet, I’m afraid, but her general health seems good enough.”

Matt breathed a deep sigh of relief. Her condition was not life-threatening.

“As you know, she’s had a bad bump on the head, and has a few other bruises from their obvious mistreatment of her, but she should be fine.”

Matt’s throat tightened as he forced himself to ask, “Did they…”

“No,” Spalding answered firmly.

“Thank God…I got there in time…” He spoke softly, his distress greatly eased by the doctor’s pronouncement.

“Indeed you did, and I’m sure the young lady will be very grateful to you for your rescue.” He clapped Matt on the back. “Her clothing was filthy and in shreds, so I took the liberty of doing away with it.”

“Yes, I know,” Matt ground out. “The damned savages…”

“She’s going to be just fine,” Dr. Spalding quietly assured him again, “and I’m sure Waddington can help find something suitable for her to wear. Perhaps one of his servants…?”

Matt nodded.

“Someone should stay with her through the night, just in case she should awaken and be frightened by her unfamiliar surroundings.”

“I’ll stay with her,” Matt declared quickly.

“I’m sure Waddington employs a female servant who could-”

“I said, I’ll sit with her,” he stated with regal authority. “I have no designs on her person. I only want to see that she makes a full recovery.”

“Well…” he hedged.

“It’s done. Say no more. How much do I owe you for your services?”

The doctor quoted a price.

“Does that include a return visit tomorrow to make sure she’s well?”

“Of course, my lord. I’ll check back with you shortly before noon, if that suits you.”

“It does.” Matt was firm. “You’ll be compensated for your help tomorrow when I’m certain she’s recovering. Until then, Doctor, good night.”

Noah listened to the conversation with nothing short of amazement. This was his little brother issuing orders as if he were born to it? The thought amused him. Matt had indeed grown up.

“You handled that very well, Matt, but are you certain you want to sit up the night with the girl? Surely there’s a serving wench qualified-”

“No. This is something I’ve got to do myself,” Matt told him seriously as he headed upstairs.

“Shall I sit with you?” Noah asked as they came to Matt’s room.

“There’s really no need for the both of us to lose a night’s sleep. You can go to bed, and if there’s been no change by midmorning, you can relieve me then,” he responded. Matt led the way into the room and they found the lovely girl lying unmoving on the vast white expanse of his bed, the blankets discreetly covering her.

“She’s beautiful, Matt…” Noah was surprised. He had not expected a woman rescued from the streets to be so comely.

“I know.” Matt glanced up at Noah quickly, his troubled gaze showing how deeply he’d been affected by the unknown woman’s plight. There was a long pause before he added, “You may as well go on back to bed. I’ll be right here for the rest of the night.”

“All right. If you need anything…”

“I’ll be fine,” he insisted. “I just hope she is.”