Devoted to You

Jerry nodded enthusiastically, and followed him into the house.

Once inside, their satisfaction with life exploded at the horrifying sight of Petal lying at the bottom of the steps, her body twisted, and resting on her neck, which was bent at an unnatural angle.

Aidan’s cry when he saw his wife was soul-wrenching.

Jerry swore and raced past his brother, whose stiffness prevented him from moving so fast.

“Ring for Rollo,” Jerry ordered. He glared at Aidan, whose wide eyes and ashen face portrayed his total shock and horror. “Now, Aidan.”

The scene that greeted them brought forth so many memories for Jerry that his hands trembled uncontrollably as he searched Petal for signs of life. Thankfully, she still appeared to be breathing, but there was no indication how much damage she had sustained from her fall.

“How,” Aidan whispered. “What the hell is going on, Jerry?”

Jerry pointed at his brother. “You, go and ring the bell. Shout for the staff. Get help here. Someone has to go to fetch the doctor. Now, Aidan. Your wife needs help.”

“Is she still -” he couldn’t finish the question, or tear his gaze away from his beloved.

“Just – now move.” Jerry knew he was babbling incoherently, but his mind was racing.

Thankfully, Aidan understood and hurried to the bell pull and tugged fiercely numerous times before he raced to the servants’ door. Shoving it open he yelled at the top of his lungs for help and was rewarded by the immediate clatter of feet on the tiled floor.

“Get the doctor, and quickly,” he ordered one of the footmen who appeared ahead of the charge.

Rollo appeared at that moment followed by Mrs Kempton, and several other members of staff.

“What is it? What’s happened?” Rollo snapped.

“Petal has fallen down the stairs,” Aidan replied. “Did nobody hear her?”

Mrs Kempton and Rollo looked at each other. Both of them shook their heads.

“I have been outside talking to the gardener about some flowers for the dinner table tonight,” Rollo explained.

“I have been busy in the kitchens, but I didn’t hear anything,” Mrs Kempton replied. “Is she alive?”

Aidan nodded. “She needs to see a doctor.”

“Burton is already on his way. The doctor should be here in a thrice. Where is she now?”

Rather than wait for Aidan to answer, Rollo stalked past him and hurried over to where Jerry was still kneeling protectively over her.

“Get a blanket. She needs covering over.”

> “We need to get her upstairs. She can’t stay like this,” Rollo advised concernedly.

“We don’t know what damage she has done. Moving her could hurt her even more,” Aidan protested, thinking about his own injuries.

The thought of Petal going through the same pain left him distraught.

“Well, she can’t stay like that. It looks painful. It could be hurting her,” Rollo argued. “Let’s see if we can get her to wake up.”

“You are best to leave her until the doctor gets here,” Mrs Kempton argued. “Neither of you are doctors. I will go and put some tea on.”

Aidan stepped to one side to allow the housekeeper to leave. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell the woman that he didn’t want tea, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away from his wife.

Why is it that every time there is a crisis everyone always makes a cup of tea? Aidan thought desperately, but let the woman go.

“Go and sit down, Aidan. There is nothing you can do at the moment,” Jerry murmured.