"None of which is her fault! Even if she were mad, who could blame her with such an odd fish for a half-brother. Such a tragic family. I know it is not an ideal prospect, but any doubts I had about the marriage were quelled as soon as I saw her in such dire distress," Clifford said.
"I could not live with myself if I let any harm befall her when Fate has sent her to me in such a manner. Were it not for us doubling back to retrieve your birthday gift to Josephine, who knows how long she might have languished in the road without assistance. Or who might have found her? Perhaps people far less scrupulous than ourselves."
Henry and Malcolm both nodded.
"Aye, those highwaymen hereabouts, for example. She would have been lucky if they had just left her to die peacefully. Yet I fear that alone and vulnerable she might have met an even more terrifying end," Henry said with a sigh.
Malcolm sat knitting his brows and said devoutly, "God forbid. But let's not allow our imaginations to run away with us, either about what has happened, or about what might have done had we not come along in so timely a manner.
"The fact is that Vanessa has been violently ill. Oysters are notorious for being impure, especially if consumed raw. There is also no point in thinking what might have been, when we have the practicalities of her predicament to deal with. It is fruitless and foolhardy to pick a fight with Gerald or make wild accusations of neglect at this point. I would advise you both to keep your tempers in check. Righteous indignation is all very well and fine, but there could be some perfectly harmless explanation for all this."
Clifford gave one short, abrupt nod. "You're right. He maybe rough and ready, and an inveterate gambler and poacher, but that doesn't mean he is responsible for every crime in the district. Or for neglect. He might not even have been home when she had supper and got taken ill."
"Rest assured if there is anything even remotely suspect, my father will get to the bottom of it," he promised. "But for now, let's bring her to Dr. Gold, make her as comfortable as possible, and get her some chaperones. Then we can get to the heart of this matter."
"Thank you, Malcolm. I do appreciate it."
"And I shall do whatever I can to help, Brother. You have only to ask."
CHAPTER NINE
Clifford clapped Henry on the shoulder gratefully at his generous offer to help with Vanessa, not in the least reluctant to demonstrate their warm fraternal affection. It was one of the things Malcolm admired most about Clifford, his decent, upright character and complete lack of concern with what most people outside of their Rakehell set thought of him.
The three men lapsed into silence until the carriage pulled up the drive to Dr. Gold's house.
Clifford leapt out immediately, leaving Malcolm, the more muscular of the remaining two men, to lower her out of the vehicle into Clifford's arms. He wasted no time in charging up to the front door and ringing on the bell pull.
The doctor, a tall, gaunt man in his late forties, answered his own door. "I'm just on my way out to a confinement," he said hurriedly.
But upon viewing Clifford with his burden, he waved him into a room to the right of the door. "Put her on the bed, dear boy. My goodness, what on earth has happened here?"
"I'm hoping you'll be able to tell us, John."
Clifford laid her down on the leather-covered table and proceeded to recount the chance meeting with Vanessa on the road, and all she had said. He reiterated his suspicions of poison, much to the doctor's horror.
"My dear Clifford, I think perhaps your low opinion of Gerald Hawkesworth has led you to this monstrous conclusion," John Gold said with a shake of his head. "A much more simple explanation would be a bad oyster. Or undercooked pork loin. In any case, whatever it is, she has hopefully purged herself with all of her vomiting. I shall give her some medicine, and make her repeat the process once more. Then, apart from flushing out her system with a good deal of water and milk, and making her rest, I'm afraid there's not much we can do for the poor girl."
"Anything you suggest, we shall do. I've sent Henry for Josephine and Emma Jerome to help with the nursing. Leave us instructions, and we'll see that they are carried out. You can go off to your confinement."
"Not until I'm sure she's out of danger. I must admit, she looks just about done in, poor child." He shook his head pityingly.
"She's young and strong. I can recall her out-running and out-riding most of the chaps in the district, Gerald and Henry included. I feel confident she will recover, in time."
Dr. Gold looked at Clifford sharply. "Forgive my asking, but do you have more than just a Good Samaritan's interest in Vanessa?"