Free A Suitable Bride by Fenella J Miller

supported and she could stretch out her legs in front of her.
    A short while later there was a sharp knock on the door. Good heavens! The doctor had arrived far earlier than she’d anticipated and her maid would still be eating her breakfast. She was reluctant to ask him to enter without a chaperone but decided as a medical man he would be exempt from the usual rules governing such things.
    ‘Come in,’ she called.
    The door swung back and to her horror, instead of the gentleman she was expecting, Lord Sheldon opened the door. Before she could protest he stepped in and she scarcely had time to swing her feet to the floor before he began his tirade.
    ‘Have you no sense of decorum? No notion as to how a well brought up young lady should behave?’ His question was rhetorical and she made no attempt to answer him. ‘From the moment you arrived yesterday you’ve caused nothing but trouble and your wretched dogs are no better. As soon as you’re recovered I wish you to leave Silchester Court. When Lady Peabody arrives I’ll inform her of my decision. I suggest you remain in your apartment until you depart.’
    He stepped back and closed the door behind him leaving her aghast. Her head was spinning. There was only one reason he had evicted her – despite her precautions he had seen her lurking behind the hedge and knew she had broken all the rules this morning.
    How could she have been so stupid? Her plans were in ruin and she would have to return to DuPont Manor as she had nowhere else to go.
    Tears trickled unheeded down her cheeks and she collapsed onto the window seat and buried her head in her hands.
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    Bennett was on the stairs when he stopped. He’d barged into Miss DuPont’s apartment and yelled at her as if she was a raw recruit, not allowing her to respond. What the hell was wrong with him? Then his stomach clenched when he realised that the girl had a blood-soaked bandage around her head and she’d been without it when he’d seen her earlier.
    He bounded back up the stairs and ran to her sitting room. He didn’t knock but threw open the door. She was huddled on the window seat sobbing quietly.
    ‘Miss DuPont, please don’t cry. I beg your pardon most humbly. I have the most appalling temper…’
    She sniffed and slowly raised her tear-stained face. ‘I’m well aware of that fact, sir, there’s no need to state the obvious.’ Her voice was scarcely above a whisper but he could hear every word.
    He was somewhat taken aback by her comment but rallied and with a rueful smile handed her his handkerchief. ‘Here, blow your nose and dry your eyes. Crying will only aggravate your injury.’
    His brisk tone did the trick and her shoulders straightened. After a few minutes of mopping and blowing she was more composed. However, her wound was in urgent need of attention.
    ‘You have reopened your gash by your exertions this morning…’
    Again she interrupted him, but this time with a small smile. ‘Yet again, my lord, you are telling me something I already know.’
    ‘Miss DuPont, you are an impertinent young lady, but I’m sure that’s something you already know as well.’ Her gurgle of laughter was contagious and he couldn’t prevent his chuckle. ‘Doctor Adams’s not due to return until later this morning and this cannot be left until then. My valet has stitched me up a few times; I’ll send for him, he can repair the damage.’
    She didn’t look overly impressed by this suggestion. ‘If you don’t mind, I prefer to wait for the doctor.’
    He ignored her comment. She was looking decidedly pale and could be in trouble if the bleeding wasn’t stopped immediately. Instead of pulling the bell-strap he opened the door and yelled using his parade ground voice.
    As expected a footman hurtled around the corner and rushed off with the message. The fact that anyone within the vicinity would have heard him shouting bothered him not one jot. This was his home