‘Would a sling help?’
‘No. Thank you.’ He had turned a nasty shade of beige and his voice was clipped. ‘Possibly a mallet to the head would. Best take me to the Park Ranger’s cottage, although I am afraid it is somewhat out of your way.’
‘For goodness sake,’ she snapped, then got a rein on her nerves. ‘As if my convenience matters. I will go direct to our doctor’s house, it will be faster. He lives just off St James’s Street.’
‘Bossy, Miss Wilmott.’
‘Sensible, Duke.’
‘Call me Cal.’
Moonstone had settled into a steady walk. Sophie risked a sideways glance. ‘That would be most improper.’
‘And being proper is a prime consideration with you, of course, Sophie. I had noticed.’
Sarcastic beast. ‘Mama would be shocked.’ Thomas’s ears must be flapping. She could almost feel the draught.
‘Your mama, unless she is a completely unnatural parent, would be delighted to have you on terms of intimacy with a duke and we both know it.’
A suppressed snort behind them confirmed the suspicion that Thomas was following the conversation. ‘Terms, possibly,’ Sophie said repressively. ‘Intimacy, certainly not.’
‘W, W, I, G, G,’ he murmured. ‘With excellent endowments, so I have always been told.’
The gurgle of laughter escaped her before she could catch it. Brave, handsome and amusing. Oh dear. Another glance showed that his lips had relaxed into a smile, but his eyes were closed.
‘We are about to turn out of the park. There may be a lurch and a bump.’ They negotiated the turn to the accompaniment of a hiss of pain. ‘Your hat was beyond saving, I fear.’ Distraction might help.
‘It was old. I need to visit my hatter, but, call me weak-willed, I am not calling in at Lock’s for a new one as we pass.’
‘Here we are, just turning into Park Place now. Thomas, get ready to jump down and knock.’
It seemed an age as they sat in silence waiting for the groom to return, but he came back at last, accompanied by the doctor’s man who, thankfully, seemed to know just how to extract an injured man from a phaeton with the least possible fuss.
‘Stay here and walk the carriage, Thomas.’ Sophie jumped down and followed the men up the steps and into the house.
‘But Miss W – ’ The closing door shut off the groom’s protests.
‘Miss Wilmott, good afternoon.’ Doctor Felbrigg emerged from his study, tugging down his cuffs. ‘This is a surprise. You are not unwell, I trust?’
‘No, I am in perfect health, thank you. But this is the Duke of Calderbrook, Doctor. There was an accident in the park.’
‘Good day to you, sir. I’ve put my shoulder out.’ The Duke… Cal… held out his good hand to the doctor. ‘Miss Wilmott assures me you are the very man to put it back.’
‘Of course. Will you come through, Your Grace? Perkins, make Miss Wilmott comfortable in the drawing room and fetch her refreshments.’ The study door closed firmly behind them.
It all seemed to take a very long time. Sophie sipped too-hot tea. Getting his coat off must be difficult. She nibbled at a biscuit, reducing it to crumbs, and eyed the door, listening. A swear word penetrated two layers of oak and made her blink. Then there was silence again. What horrible things was Doctor Felbrigg doing to Cal? Toby had refused to tell her what putting a shoulder joint back in place involved, but he had looked sick even thinking about it.
Voices in the hall…Thank goodness. The doctor opened the drawing room door and smiled. ‘His Grace is back together again now, Miss Wilmott. As he resides just across St James’s in the square I will send my man for his carriage. Do give my regards to Lord and Lady Elmham.’
‘I am sure the sooner the Duke is back at home the better, Doctor. My carriage is outside.’
‘You should not be seen driving a man about in St James’s, Miss Wilmott. I thank you for your care of me, but I am quite recovered.’ The Duke sauntered out of the study in his shirtsleeves, his right arm strapped to his body and supported by a sling. Otherwise he appeared perfectly restored again, the colour back in his face, the tight lines of agony gone from around his lips and eyes.
‘But – ’
‘The relief of pain once the joint is back in the socket is miraculous. I am quite all right now.’
‘Piffle.’ The doctor gasped, the Duke raised one dark brow. ‘You should be resting and you know it. Goodness knows why men are so stubborn, but you are all the same. And I have yet to hear that a lady, accompanied by her groom, might not drive anywhere in an open carriage in broad daylight with a respectable gentleman at her side.’ Cal opened his mouth and she added sweetly, ‘And you are respectable, Duke, aren’t you?’