Even more infuriating, Collin had recently returned to the Continent on the King’s business. Apparently, Derek had no intention of keeping him from his work as a spy. Even now that the wars were over. But at least Collin wouldn’t be here to argue with Adam when he told Derek there was no possible way he would take either his money or his bloody secretarial position.
As he marched, Adam repeated the words he planned to say in his head. It was never easy convincing Derek of anything, but Adam would see this through. He’d made his decision. He intended to make his own way in this world, thank you very much. Their army officer father had taught all three of his sons to stand on their own two feet. And by God, Adam would.
He turned the corner onto Green Street and glanced up to see a carriage barreling toward … a lady. A lady who faced away from both him and the carriage.
“Watch out!” he called. The woman turned, a look of horror on her face, and made to jump out of the way. The horses swerved but the side of the conveyance struck the woman, tossing her to the side of the road like a doll. A bundle of white papers she’d been carrying flew into the air and floated down into the dusty street like so many leaves from a snowy tree.
Adam ran over to the lady while the carriage that had hit her continued at its rapid pace, leaving the poor woman in a heap. Her eyes were closed. He placed two fingers on the pulse in her neck. She was alive, thank God. “Miss? Miss?”
No answer. She was lying on her side. Gingerly, he turned her onto her back. She remained insensible, a smudge of dirt across her cheek. She was dressed in a fine but worn gown of gray cotton with small, embroidered flowers on the bodice, and her dark hair had come undone. One side of the luxurious tresses spilled haphazardly over her shoulder.
She groaned, and Adam held his breath. He glanced around. She appeared quite alone. If she’d had a traveling companion, that person had fled, too. At least there was no one else in the street. Had her lady’s maid run off to find help? Odd that a lady would be traveling alone in the middle of the day.
There was no help for it. He couldn’t very well leave her here in the street. He must do what he could to make her comfortable and find a doctor. He scooped her into his arms, lifted her, and made his way as quickly as possible, without disturbing her, down the street and up the stairs to his brother’s house. He glanced down. She certainly was pretty. The image of her being tossed to the side of the road like a doll flashed through his mind again, making him wince. She weighed about as much as a doll too. What had brought her out today? And why had she been walking in the street?
Unable to knock, Adam kicked the front door with his booted foot.
Hughes, Derek’s regal butler, opened the door and promptly raised a judgmental eyebrow at the sight of his master’s younger brother holding a lifeless-looking woman in his arms.
“Sir?” The butler’s mouth formed a disapproving line, and a scowl was deeply etched into his forehead.
Adam didn’t pause to explain. He pushed past Hughes, into the magnificent high-ceilinged marble-floored foyer, and strode into the nearest drawing room. His sister-in-law, Lucy, was sitting at a writing desk, obviously seeing to her correspondence. She dunked her quill into the inkpot in front of her.
“Adam, is that you? Derek is still at the club and—” Lucy turned slightly and caught sight of him. “What in the world—”
Adam crossed quickly to the light-green velvet settee and gently laid the woman down. She let out a small breath that reminded Adam of a sleeping kitten. He carefully lifted her head to slide a small silken embroidered pillow underneath.
“She was hit by a coach in the street just now,” he said.
Lucy tossed her quill aside and jumped up from the desk. Plucking up her sapphire skirts, she rushed over to the settee to stare down at the young woman. Lucy pressed both hands to her cheeks. “Is she all right? Who is she?”
Still watching the young woman, Adam braced both hands on his hips and shook his head. “I’ve no idea. Please keep an eye on her.” Lucy nodded while Adam turned abruptly and left the room.
“Hughes,” he called across the foyer.
The butler materialized instantly. “Sir?”
“Send a footman for Dr. Archibald.”
Another judgmental brow arch ensued (the bloody man thought he was a duke), but the butler left to do as he was told.
Adam pushed open the front door and jogged down the steps. The lady had no reticule or anything else to identify her. If she didn’t wake soon, the only clue to her identity might be the papers she had lost in the street. He glanced around and exhaled. The traffic had already scattered many of them. He had to collect them quickly. He rolled up his sleeves and got to work.