“Actually, no, I can’t. And please don’t ask me to.” There would probably come a time when Constantine would feel the need to break his father’s confidence, but for now, he would keep the man’s secrets.
As they made their way to the Phoenix Club, Constantine’s chest threatened to burst with emotion. Unfortunately, when they arrived, it was to learn that Lady Aldington had already returned home.
“Go,” Lucien said. “I look forward to when we can spend time together here at the club, but tonight is not that night.”
“No, it is not.” Constantine caught a hack and when they arrived on Curzon Street, he practically jumped from the vehicle. As they neared the house, he saw an unfamiliar gig outside.
Constantine bounded into the house where Haddock met him with a pinched expression.
“What’s the matter?” Constantine demanded, his blood running inexplicably cold at the worry in Haddock’s eyes. “Whose gig is that outside?”
“Her ladyship sent for a physician. He is upstairs with her now.”
The world tilted sideways. Constantine couldn’t breathe. He rushed upstairs, raced to their sitting room, and came face to face with her maid. “Where is Lady Aldington?” he demanded.
Charity paled as she pointed toward the closed door to her bedchamber. “She’s in there with Dr. Montbourne.”
Oh God, what if he was too late to stop whatever treatment the man had probably forced upon her? Who was this Dr. Montbourne anyway? Constantine didn’t know him, had never heard of him. And holy hell, why was his wife seeing a bloody doctor?
Constantine stormed into the room to find Sabrina perched on her bed and the charlatan Dr. Montbourne standing beside her. The man was too handsome to have serious medical credentials and certainly didn’t look old enough to have the requisite experience. Except none of that was regulated, which was why they needed the damn apothecaries bill.
“Back away from my wife,” Constantine shouted. “Don’t you dare touch her.”
Chapter 22
Sabrina almost didn’t recognize the wild-eyed gentleman who’d burst into her chamber. Constantine looked like some sort of beast, his teeth bared, his hands fisted at his sides as if he were going to launch himself at Dr. Montbourne and pummel him to bits.
“Er, good evening, Lord Aldington. I am Dr. Xavier Montbourne.” Holding out his hand with an engaging smile, he stepped toward Constantine.
Glaring at the physician, Constantine moved around him and put himself between the man and Sabrina. “Get out.”
“Constantine, stop. Please.” Sabrina reached for his hand, but he jerked away from her.
“I said get out. Now.” He advanced on the physician with a terrifying menace.
Sabrina jumped up from the bed and inserted herself in front of Dr. Montbourne. “Stop this nonsense right now. Dr. Montbourne was just leaving anyway. Even so, there’s no call to be rude.”
“Why is he here? What did he do to you?” The bleak distress in his gaze at last prompted her understanding. Finding her with a doctor would be upsetting to him.
Sabrina moved closer and took his hand again, squeezing it tightly so he wouldn’t let her go. This time, he did not. “Dr. Montbourne merely performed a simple examination. I experienced a few odd pains earlier, and I was hoping he would allay my concerns.”
Constantine had watched her as she spoke, but now he sent a suspicious glance toward the physician. “What sort of pains?”
“The sort that normally accompany a woman who is likely with child. I’m fine. Dr. Montbourne is lovely. And since he will return at a later time to check my progress, you should apologize.”
He stared at her, frozen for a long moment, so she squeezed his hand again and whispered his name. At last, he blinked and turned to face Dr. Montbourne.
“I apologize for my outburst. I require documentation of your education, your age, and how long you have practiced in your profession, and a list of no fewer than five—no, ten—references who can attest to your knowledge and expertise. References with medical backgrounds, from the Royal College and the like, not your neighbor or your mother.”
He sounded so very cross but also concerned, and Sabrina wanted to ease all of his pain.
Dr. Montbourne inclined his head. “I would be pleased to provide this information, my lord.”
“At the earliest opportunity,” Constantine practically growled.
Sabrina let go of Constantine’s hand. “I’ll see you out, Dr. Montbourne.” She led him from her bedchamber into the sitting room where Charity stood, her eyes wide.
“You may go, Charity,” she said with a smile before turning to Dr. Montbourne.
“Please accept my deepest apologies for my husband’s behavior. He lost his mother due to the care of an inept surgeon, and I’m afraid he has a grave distrust for medical practitioners.”
“That is understandable. I shall do my best to alleviate his concerns.” He took her hand and bowed. “Take good care, my lady. I’ll see you soon.”
“Thank you, Dr. Montbourne.” She watched him depart the sitting room, then turned to see her husband standing in the doorway wearing an extremely disgruntled expression.
“You shouldn’t tell him my personal history. It’s none of his business.”
Sabrina longed to smooth the worry from his forehead and from his very soul. “Why not, if it helps him understand his patients—you and me—better.”
Constantine grunted. “He is not my physician. Nor is he yours yet.”
She took a step toward him. “My dear Constantine, you must be willing to share things, to open up about your emotions—your fears and desires—if you want to get on in this life. I have only recently learned this lesson myself.”
He ran his hand through his hair, exhaling. “That’s why I’m here, actually.” He started forward but stopped a few feet away, his gaze dropping to her belly. “Is it really true? That you’re with child?”
She nodded, tears pricking the backs of her eyes and clogging her throat. “It seems so. My courses are extremely regular, and they are quite late. When I described my symptoms to Dr. Montbourne, he did a brief examination, and he believes that I am carrying. We will know for certain, of course, in the coming weeks.” Was he happy? Shocked? Terrified?
“I can hardly believe it,” he whispered. “What if something goes wrong?” His gaze lifted to hers, and she realized he was terrified.
“We will face it together,” she said. “I hope so anyway.”
He blinked, his features opening as if he’d just remembered something vitally important. “Yes, together. I don’t want to do anything without you. I thought I could go back to the way things were, that I preferred that—I think I even convinced myself that you wanted that too. But you came here looking for a change, determined to be someone different.” He shook his head, a faint smile teasing his lips. “Not someone different, but you.”
How had he come to understand her so perfectly? “Exactly. I’ve been who everyone wanted or expected me to be.”
“Including me. I assumed you loathed me because you didn’t want to marry me. I didn’t give you a chance. I didn’t give us a chance.”