Chapter 73 - Seventy Three
A fever? The news sent a jolt through Suzy, scattering her thoughts like leaves in a storm. Why hadn’t Ryan mentioned anything last night? Was it serious? Her thoughts battled the lingering unease that Eleanor stirred within her.
Eleanor, sensing a shift in the atmosphere, rose from her seat, her purple dress swirling around her ankles. "Where is Ryan?" she demanded, her voice sharp with sudden urgency.
Davis, caught off guard, opened his mouth to speak, but Suzy interjected before he could. "Call Dr. Abernathy immediately," she commanded, her voice firm despite the tremor in her heart. "And tell him to see to the duke. I’m on my way."
Davis bowed, relief washing over his face as he hurried away to carry out her orders. Suzy turned back to Eleanor, her gaze unwavering.
"Ryan’s in his room, right?" Eleanor pressed, her voice a desperate plea. "Let me see him. Just a little bit of time..."
Suzy couldn’t help but notice the way Eleanor’s carefully constructed facade crumbled, revealing a raw desperation in her eyes. It was like watching a mask slip, exposing the turmoil beneath.
"Miss Montgomery," Suzy began, her voice laced with steel, "I don’t know what your game is, but it ends now. Please go home, as I won’t be available to host you anymore as you can see my presence is needed elsewhere."
Fury bubbled within Suzy as Eleanor continued. Even now, the woman dared to call Ryan by his first name, a blatant disregard for her position as Duchess.
"Give me the chance to take care of him," Eleanor pressed, her voice dripping with forced concern. "Let me nurse him back to health, be by his side."
Suzy stared at her, a mixture of puzzlement and outrage twisting her features. The sheer audacity of this woman!
"Nurse him back to health?" Suzy echoed, bewildered by Eleanor’s audacity. "Miss Montgomery," she continued, her voice laced with icy calm, "do you have any idea what you’re saying? do you have any idea how shameless you sound right now?"