Bedford Street Brigade 01 - Where the Lady Belongs by Laura Landon Read Free Book Online Page B

doctor?”
    “He should be here shortly.”
    Cora helped Quinn and the other two men undress Mack, then put a clean nightshirt over his head. Several ugly red marks and purple bruises were already forming on his middle. He probably had some cracked or broken ribs.
    She hoped it wasn’t anything more serious.
    “Briggs,” Quinn ordered. “Watch the front with Hugh. Keep an eye on the street and everyone who goes by. Roarke, help Jack in the back.”
    The two men left the room as Harper entered with the doctor.
    “What have we here?” the doctor said, looking to where Mack lay on the bed. “I see Mr. Wallace had a disagreement with some nasty fellows.”
    Cora’s glare darted to the doctor. How could he be so glib? She knew her expression contained a look of incredulity.
    “Well, miss. Usually when I get called to Mr. Wallace’s residence, it’s to take out a bullet or sew up a knife wound. This isn’t a routine wound.”
    Cora swallowed. “I see.”
    “Yes, well let’s have a look here. Wash his face while I look at the rest of him.”
    Cora rinsed a cloth in water and gently dabbed at Mack’s face. The blood was easy to wash off. The bruises, however, didn’t disappear.
    Once or twice Mack moaned, then shifted as if trying to escape the pain. Cora quickly lifted her cloth, thinking she was the cause of his agony.
    “It’s not you who’s causing him pain, miss. It’s me.” The doctor straightened, then pulled the covers back over Mack’s torso. “Mr. Wallace has some cracked ribs. They’ll have to be bound. As to the rest of him, there’s not much I can do except leave some salve that will help his cuts and bruises.”
    The doctor checked Mack’s face, then felt his head. “He has a nasty bump on the back of his head. When he wakes he’ll have one hell of an aching head. None of the cuts on his face are bad enough, though, that they need sewing.”
    A wave of relief washed over her. It wasn’t until she swayed that she realized Quinn had his hand at her elbow.
    “Thank you, Doctor,” she said. “I’ll go below and get fresh water while you and Quinn bind Mr. Wallace’s ribs. Mrs. Ramesdale will have tea and dessert waiting for you.”
    “Thank you, miss. It shouldn’t take long. I’ll leave the salve you’re to use on Mr. Wallace. Call if you need me further.”
    “Yes. Thank you, Doctor.”
    Cora quickly left the room. She had to before Quinn saw her tears. To see Mack hurt so badly was more than she was able to handle. To know that when he awoke he would be in a great deal of pain wasn’t something she wanted to consider.
    Usually when I get called to Mr. Wallace’s residence, it’s to take out a bullet or sew up a knife wound.
    Cora didn’t go to the kitchen like she intended but made her way to Mack’s study, then out the doors onto the terrace, and down the pathway to the bench where she and Mack sat each night. The bench where they talked about their pasts. And shared their hopes for the future.
    Mack hadn’t mentioned that they had a future together. She’d been the one to dream they might. Now she wasn’t so sure.
    But how could she rise each morning knowing that when he left the house there was a chance he’d come home beaten, or shot, or stabbed? Or that someone would bring his dead body home?
    She hadn’t searched for a perfect love only to tragically lose it because of the man’s occupation.
    Cora swiped a tear that spilled from her eye, then another. She was being silly—she knew she was—but she couldn’t help but relive the terror she’d felt when she saw Mack’s unconscious body being carried up the stairs. She wasn’t sure she could go through that again.
    “Are you all right?”
    Cora swept the moisture from her face, then turned to see Quinn walking toward her. “I’m fine. I just needed a moment.”
    “That’s all right, Cora. Knowing what can happen in our line of work is never easy.”
    “No wonder none of you have married.”
    Quinn smiled.