Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(47)

George shook his head. “No.”

“Then our original plan still stands.”

“This is ridiculous,” George bit out.

Father shrugged his shoulders. “It’s my wish, and the future of the Kingdom.”

“You’re forcing all of us in an awkward position,” I blurted. “Ava doesn’t want to be locked into this life. George doesn’t want to do it either.”

“And what is it that you want, son?” he asked, locking his eyes on me.

“Not Sophia Chitwood.”

Father chuckled and shook his head. “That ship has already sailed, Garr.”

“Father, you don’t want her anywhere near the crown. She’s a snake; something isn’t right about her. Who the hell wants to marry a bastard and not the prince?” George said. He looked over his shoulder at me. “No offense.”

“Lord Chitwood knows the way of things. He wouldn’t set his standards too high as to approach me about it. Everyone knows I love Garr as much as you. It’d be an honor.”

“I’m not honored,” I snapped. “She is a pain in the ass.”

The door slammed open suddenly, and John stumbled in. His face looked like Mr. Liason’s did; full of fear and concern.

“My Lord!” he exclaimed, trying his best to catch his breath. “It’s Lady Barlow.”

I dropped my glass and walked over to him. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“She collapsed. I sent for the doctor.”

I didn’t hear anything else; I was already out the door. I ran down the hall and up a flight of stairs. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t fathom a single thought other than if she was well. I didn’t leave her long and she looked fine. What if—

She did drink some of the coffee. Oh God.

I busted through Ava’s bedroom door and searched for her instantly. She was laying on her bed with Lucy and Miranda sitting next to her, a wet towel on her forehead.

“What happened?” I asked frantically.

“She said she wanted some fresh air and went to open the doors to the garden. She suddenly fell to her knees and started to revolt all her food out, my Lord. After Miranda and I cleaned her up, she fainted. Thankfully, we had a good grip on her. She almost hit her head on the corner table by the bed.”

I appraised her; she looked like a ghost and her breathing was shallow. I didn’t know what to do. Memories of the night I found her, after she had been attacked, flooded me. I got through that scenario, but I didn’t how I would be able to help a sickness.

“How long has it been since the doctor was called for?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“Your man, John, called for him right away before calling for you. He was on his toes, knew exactly what to do,” Lucy replied.

I made a mental note to pay him more. John was one of the smartest men I knew, and the most trustworthy. I placed a hand on Lucy, to silently have her move aside, when the door swung open violently again.

It was George and my father, looking completely besides themselves. George beelined to Ava’s side and looked her over.

“Where is that blasted doctor?!” George roared. Lucy and Miranda flinched, and I stepped in front of him, blocking his view of Ava.

“He is on his way,” I replied as calmly as I could. The helplessness I felt overwhelmed me, and now my brother was being a tyrant.

“He lives in the palace; how long could it really take?!”

I looked over my shoulder to my father for assistance. I couldn’t calm George down without his help. George’s fiancée, well ex-fiancée, was dead, and now Ava was lying lifeless on this bed.

“Miranda, my dear.” I motioned to my brother. “Pour His Grace some brandy, and bring a chair over here, please.”

Miranda did as she was told, and I proceeded to relax my brother.

“Sit here,” I said to George, walking him to the chair. “And when the doctor comes, you’ll be readily available.”

George nodded and silently drank his spirits, leaving his loud voice at bay…for now.

The doctor showed up minutes later, in haste. He asked everyone to leave the room, but I insisted that myself and George stay. Father asked to have word sent to him immediately while he oversaw Madelyn’s funeral arrangements for George.

For moments, the doctor didn’t speak. I took the glass right out of George’s hand and swallowed the contents, needing courage. Ava groaned when the doctor pushed on her stomach, and both of us ran to the foot of her bed.

“What is it?” I asked. The old doctor looked at me and then George.

“You both need to leave.” He continued his examination.

“We will not leave, I—” George stuttered.

“I am not going to have the two of you gawking at me while I pursue my duties. I also don’t think the young lady would appreciate while I looked under her garments, with the two of you in the same room. Now…off with you.”

And with that, he silently dismissed us.

∞∞∞





It was an hour of watching Miranda and Lucy run in and out of Ava’s room chamber. They went in with towels, basins of water, more towels, and more water. When they didn’t come out of the room after ten minutes, I started to worry. It was like clockwork, one would come out and go back in. Then the other would do the same. It wasn’t until Lucy came out with red-stained towels that I quickly approached the door.