Chapter 13

“Doctor Cohen! What are you doing here?” Jeffrey asked as he raced into the foyer.

“I left my medical bag here when I examined Kimberly earlier.”

“Well, we are in need of your assistance again.” Jeffrey breathed raggedly, gasping for air.

“What is the problem, M’lord?”

“Kimberly. She fell and hit her head. She is unconscious.”

Jeffrey motioned for the doctor to follow him and stopped when he saw Patrick carrying Kimberly’s limp body inside. “Put her in the parlor,” he said as he opened the door for Patrick.

Patrick gazed at Jeffrey, curious how he had found help so quickly. He took a step back after he placed Kimberly on the sofa. His heart was beating furiously and he felt an ache to his core at the thought of losing Kimberly forever.

“What happened, Lord Patrick?” the doctor asked.

“She fell and hit her head on the stone footpath in our garden, Doctor,” he replied with a shaky voice. “Is she going to be all right?”

“Give me a few minutes to examine her, Patrick. I will need my medical bag, which I left in your bedchamber.”

Jeffrey raced out of parlor and up the stairs to fetch the doctor’s bag. Penelope stood quietly in the doorway of the parlor, watching intently as the doctor continued asking Patrick questions about Kimberly’s fall while they waited for Jeffrey to return. Tears filled her eyes as the thought of losing her sister as quickly as she’d found her wrenched at her stomach.

“Here!” Jeffrey said, pushing past Penelope and shoving the bag at the doctor.

“I will need to transport her to my office immediately, M’lord,” Doctor Cohen said to Patrick as he took his bag from Jeffrey. “She needs medical attention I cannot provide here.”

Patrick nodded and carefully picked Kimberly up, cradling her to his chest. He waved Penelope and Jeffrey aside as Doctor Cohen rushed out ahead of him and they made their way to the entrance.

“How is she?” Penelope asked.

“As I told Lord Patrick,” the doctor started, “I need to transport her to my office for a proper examination.”

Penelope and Jeffrey followed Patrick and the doctor out to the carriage and rode with them to the doctor’s office. Patrick carried Kimberly inside and laid her down on the examination table that Doctor Cohen pointed to.

Doctor Cohen directed everyone to leave the room, but Patrick refused. He insisted on staying to learn of Kimberly’s condition as well as that of the fetus inside her. “Very well,” the doctor said. “Sit quietly in that chair while I examine her.”

Marcus sat in William Summerfield’s study, a snifter of brandy in one hand. He’d spent the last few hours undertaking the task of convincing William to make amends with Kimberly, no matter how much she protested.

“I cannot force her to forgive me, Marcus.”

“You must try, William. You must prove to her that you are truly sorry for your behavior and attempt to win her approval and acceptance of you.”

“How shall I go about doing that?”

“I do not know, my friend. Perhaps write her a letter expressing how you feel?”

“I suppose it could not hurt to try,” William replied as he took a seat at his desk.

Marcus rose to his feet to leave, giving William his privacy. “Do your best to win your daughter’s heart, William. I am happy you found each other. You need to make things right with her.”

“Thank you, Marcus,” William replied with sincerity. Marcus gave his friend a warm smile, then turned and left his study.

William pulled out a sheet of parchment and a quill pen from its holder then with a vacant stare, gazed at the surface of the paper. No matter what I say, she will not accept me, he thought sadly. After several minutes of gathering his thoughts, he placed the pen to the paper and began writing.

_My dearest Kimberly,

Please accept my sincerest apologies for my behavior towards you over the years. I wish to explain why I acted as I did and I do hope you can find it in your heart to one day forgive a foolish old man.

Your mother was just barely eighteen when she came to work at Summerfield Castle. I became smitten with her immediately and we were often left alone together. One evening when my wife was visiting Ainsworth Castle, we consummated our love. We kept our relationship a secret for obvious reasons.

I loved your mother more than I loved my own wife but I could not disgrace the family name, you must understand this, my daughter. As much as I wanted to be with your mother, I could not.

Your mother confronted my wife and told her of our affair, but she never mentioned anything but that single night in which you were conceived. I saw the pain in her eyes and felt the sorrow in her heart when we sent her to live in America.

When your mother came to England eight years ago, I did not know how to react. A part of me felt guilty for casting you aside and wanted terribly to embrace you and make up for all those lost years. But another part of me was still more concerned of how other’s would see me if they had learned of my secret. I could not bear the thought of disgracing the family name.

Although Penelope’s mother could not bring herself to accept the affair I had with your mother, she had suggested I take care of my responsibilities and bring you in as a family member, perhaps a child of one of my brothers. However, I did not wish to scar the family name by admitting you were my flesh and blood. I was ashamed and at a loss of how I would explain you to Penelope. She loved her mother dearly and I, in my haste, imagined she would have hated me for all my remaining days. If I were to see the look of disappointment in her young eyes, I could not have lived with that.

I realize now, I was only protecting myself and the harm I have caused you would most likely never be forgiven. I do not blame you if you never wish to be in my presence again, much less accepting me as your flesh and blood, as your father.

I am truly sorry for my actions all those years ago and beg of you to please forgive me. This will be the last contact I will have with you if you choose to not forgive me, but I will hold you close to my heart, right beside Penelope and your mother. I would like to make up for the many lost years and show you and any children you may have with Patrick all the love that I forbade you.

I love you my child, my darling daughter, Kimberly. Can you find it in your heart to ever forgive me?

William Summerfield_

William let out a heavy sigh and read over his letter before folding it in thirds then sealing it with wax. After he wrote Kimberly’s name along the front, he summoned one of his servants and told him to have it delivered to Ainsworth Castle immediately.

Doctor Cohen turned to Patrick and smiled softly before he spoke. “Lady Kimberly will be just fine, M’lord,” he said. “She indeed has suffered a concussion, but with proper care she should recover fully.”

“Thank you, Doctor. May I take her home now?”

“Not yet,” he replied. “I gave her something to help her headache and dizziness. I will need to watch her closely for the next few hours. I must insist that she remain here overnight for observation.”

Patrick clenched his fists and sighed heavily. “I thought you said she would be all right?”

“She will, but with a head injury, even a minor one, we need to take all the precautions we can to ensure her a speedy recovery and that there are no lingering effects to the unborn child,” the doctor replied.

“Patrick?” Kimberly called out. “Where am I? What is happening?” Kimberly attempted to sit up on the thin mattress and grabbed her head as she fell back into the pillows that had been placed behind her for support.

“You fell and hit your head, Love. Doctor Cohen insisted you stay here for observations tonight and I agree,” Patrick added that last comment to ease her mind and avoid any stubbornness from her insisting she was fine and able to return to the castle.

“May I stay with her?”

The doctor paused a moment and saw the look of determination in Patrick’s eyes. “I can only allow you to stay for a few hours, Lord Patrick. It is best she get her rest. You may return in the morning to take her home.”

Patrick grunted and turned to leave the office. “Where are you going?” the doctor asked.

“I am going to tell Penelope and Jeffery of your findings. They have been waiting patiently all this time.” He looked around for Jeffrey and Penelope, curious as to why they weren’t in the waiting room. He stepped outside and saw them both in the carriage.

“We wanted to wait inside, but Penelope was insistent on joining you in the room with Kimberly, so to avoid a scene, I brought her out here,” Jeffrey said at Patrick’s questioning look. “How is Kimberly?”

“She will be fine.” Patrick continued with the update as Jeffery stepped from the carriage.

Penelope and Jeffrey both let out a relieved sigh at the good news. “Let us get her home then, Patrick,” Jeffrey replied.

“We cannot. Doctor Cohen is keeping her overnight for observation.”

“Can we see her?” Penelope asked.

“Yes,” Patrick replied. “But do not expect much, as I said, she has a painful headache and she does not recall the accident.”

Jeffrey sat in the waiting room while Patrick took Penelope in to see Kimberly. She smiled softly when she saw some of the color had returned to her sister’s cheeks. “She will be all right?” Penelope asked. “And her unborn chi -- “ Penelope had appeared brave until the moment she thought about the new life inside Kimberly and it was then her eyes welled with tears.

“Yes, M’lady, as far as I can tell, the unborn child was unharmed, but only time will tell for certain,” Doctor Cohen replied. “She just needs rest and --- Lady Penelope, I cannot help but notice you do not look well.”

“I have been feeling a bit under the weather,” she admitted quietly.

Doctor Cohen shared this building with another doctor who usually worked the overnight hours. He directed Penelope into another exam room with Jeffrey hot on his heels.

“What’s wrong?” Jeffrey asked nervously as he took a seat in the small room, not far from Kimberly’s.

“I told Doctor Cohen I was not feeling well, Jeffrey and he told me that because Doctor Martin will not be in for another hour or so, he would do an examination,” Penelope answered sweetly.

“Why did you not tell me you were ill?”

“I did not want to worry you. I am sure it is nothing serious, Jeffrey.”

“Lord Jeffrey, I will have to ask you to step outside for just a few moments.”

After much protest, Jeffrey returned to the waiting room to find Patrick pacing nervously. “Sit down, brother,” he said. “Kimberly will be fine.”

“I cannot help it, Jeffrey,” Patrick started. “She has been through so much these last few weeks.”

Patrick reluctantly took a seat beside his brother. He sighed heavily and kept his gaze fixed on the door of the room where Kimberly lay confused, yet resting quietly. “You do not seem happy,” he said to Jeffrey. “Is Penelope all right?”

“The doctor insisted I wait out here,” Jeffrey grumbled.

After about twenty minutes, Doctor Cohen emerged from the second exam room. “I would like to keep Lady Penelope overnight.”

Jeffrey’s heart sank. “Why? What is wrong?”

“I need to do a few tests, Lord Jeffrey. I cannot determine what ails her with just a basic examination.”

Patrick and Jeffrey glanced at each other before turning their attention back to the doctor. Before either of them could speak, the doctor added, “You are both welcome to stay until Lady Kimberly and Lady Penelope are released. Unfortunately, there is nowhere but these benches for you to sleep,” he finished then turned and went back into the exam room where Penelope waited.

“Patrick?” Kimberly said quietly as she woke from a light sleep. There was only one small lantern burning in the room she was in. She glanced around and felt panic rise within her when she failed to recognize her surroundings a second time. “Patrick?” she called out louder.

“He is sleeping,” a soft female voice said from the corner of the room.

“Penelope?”

“Yes,” she replied. “I am so glad you are awake. How do you feel?”

“My head is throbbing. Where am I?”

“You are in Doctor Cohen’s office, Kimberly. Do you remember what happened in the gardens earlier?”

Kimberly thought for a moment then felt a tear in her eye as she recalled the events that led to her being here. “Yes,” she said quietly. “What are you doing here?”

“Jeffrey and I accompanied Patrick when he brought you here. I was not feeling well myself so Doctor Cohen told me he wanted to keep me for observation until Doctor Martin arrived and could do some tests.”