Chapter Nine
Faith Carter was standing behind the nurses counter, finishing her reports and trying to organize her paperwork before leaving after a long twelve hour shift. She glanced in the direction of Elizabeth Thatcher's room and paused, holding her gaze while she silently contemplated the suspicious behaviour that she had noticed over the past 48 hours. The latest assessment by Dr. Baker indicated that Elizabeth suffered from retrograde amnesia as she could not recall any memories since the spring of 1910. Although rare, the condition was not permanent, and Dr. Baker cautioned her parents that they were to treat their daughter gently and not force her into trying to remember this blank time. The effects could shock her already rattled nerves and could, potentially, lead to a legitimate case of hysteria.
Faith jumped a little upon hearing a recently familiar voice. "Ahhh...there you are. I was hoping I would be able to see you." Faith's attention was immediately startled by the man she had met only once before.
"Good evening…Sorry, I don't think I got your name the other night. Something about an emergency…? She smiled and looked at him warmly, feeling instantly comfortable in his presence.
"Please. Just call me Henry I'm a friend of Miss Thatcher's. I'm glad I've had the chance to run into you as I would like to thank-you for your help the other night. It was rather heroic, if you don't mind me saying..." Henry paused, intonating that he had yet to hear her name in reply.
"Faith Carter. Or Nurse Carter, as I'm currently referred to." Faith felt a slight warming on her cheeks from the feeling of his gaze on her. "And it was no trouble...helping out...it's what I do." She lightly stammered, feeling the a profound sense of shyness starting to come over her, realizing how handsome the Duke was up close in person.
"How is she?" Henry asked in all seriousness.
"Besides a bad bump, she is physically fine. But she's suffering from amnesia...can't remember anything since last year." Faith sadly replied.
"You don't say...well, has anyone tried simply telling her what she can't remember, maybe spark some recollection?"
"We've been advised by Dr. Baker that doing so could cause more harm than good, in the long run. It's recommended she recover her memories naturally, without any pressure from those around her." She replied.
"So...if I asked to see her, what would you say?" Henry winked and pulled the right side of his mouth into an inquisitive smirk.
"I would have to say no. There are only three people allowed to visit Miss Thatcher and you, unfortunately, are not one of them." Faith recomposed herself and replied as seriously as a Nurse should, ensuring nothing wrong could occur on her watch.
"Three? You mean her parents and...Jack? Has he already arrived?" The Duke was now quite perplexed as, even though he had personally asked that Jack Thornton be summoned on this case, he wasn't expecting him to arrive until later that afternoon.
"No. Not Jack. Wait...So Jack's still in the picture?" Faith's eyes were wide now, showing how much more this situation was becoming complex. "I thought perhaps something had happened between those two…" She spoke her thoughts aloud, oblivious to her current guest. Then she added "The only people permitted to visit Elizabeth are her parents and a man called Charles Kensington, her now fiance."
"Hold on for a second...Now I'm utterly confused. They're engaged? Impossible! How could a woman who is suffering amnesia become engaged with a man who…" The Duke held his tongue, relieved that he didn't continue on his rant against Charles Kensington. Anything he said could potentially jeopardize the case that was currently being made against him.
"Who….what?" Faith replied, eager to hear what Henry had to spill on the brooding man.
"Oh, nothing. I forgot what I was going to say." He flashed Faith another genuine grin and asked hesitantly. "It appears I'm obviously out of sorts and could use your help getting up to speed on what's been going on around here. Would you care to join me for a coffee when you are done your shift?" His eyebrows were raised as he waited for her response.
"Ummm...sure. I'm just finishing up. I could meet you at Ruby's Diner, just down the street, in say...half an hour?" Faith was suddenly becoming nervous at the prospect of spending more time with this man, even if it was over something as innocent as coffee.
"Yes. I will see you then." Henry then nodded his head in his exit, as he strode out the unit's doors, leaving a wide-eyed blonde nurse in his wake.
Nurse Carter was standing, staring at the door Henry had walked out when she was interrupted by two people approaching Elizabeth's room. She could clearly recognize the form of Charles, however, the short doctor huddled beside him wasn't someone she recognized at all.
"Ummm...Excuse me. Doctor?" Faith resumed her professional role by monitoring all people who were allowed to be in this room.
The dark-haired man turned and looked at the Nurse who summoning him from behind the counter. "Oh yes. I am Doctor Hughes. I've been personally appointed as Miss Thatcher's doctor by her Father and Mr. Kensington." He smiled smugly and looked from Faith to the large man in his company, who was staring menacingly towards the young nurse.
"Oh. Okay…just needed to know. Thanks." Faith spoke quietly and looked down to the ground, clearly uncomfortable with this encounter. Luckily, the next Nurse arrived, relieving Faith of her duties and allowing her enough time to hit the change room to get ready for her meeting with Henry.
"Excuse me, Miss Thatcher?" Elizabeth's turned her head to the unfamiliar voice and found Charles standing beside an unfamiliar doctor.
"Yes?" Elizabeth asked.
The doctor walked briskly to her side and extended his hand for her to shake "I'm Dr. Hughes. You're newly appointed doctor."
Elizabeth brought her hand up to shake his and felt a sudden impression of uneasiness spread across her body as her skin was against his. "Doctor Hughes." Elizabeth nodded. "Are you here to magically cure me of my missing memories?" She asked, not understanding why he was replacing someone she considered perfectly capable, Dr. Baker
All attentions were suddenly drawn to the the doorway, where, the remaining approved guests on Elizabeth's VIP list entered the room. Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher exchanged introductions with the new doctor and stood, anticipating the reason behind his sudden referral.
"Now...I'm not sure what I'm about to offer you would be considered magic, Miss Thatcher, but it is a new cutting edge treatment that may just be the key to unlocking your memories." The weasley face of the doctor looked upon Elizabeth directly.
"And what would that be?" Elizabeth replied curtly, unable to fully trust this man before her.
"It's called Electroshock therapy. And it has quite a good success rate for those in your precarious position. Now...I know the name sounds a bit jarring, but, let me assure you I am a well-trained expert with this new therapy. You are in good hands." Dr. Hughes brought his hands together, hanging them in front of legs, as he finished his sentence.
"You can't be serious!" William Thatcher exclaimed, his voice reverberating off the four walls as his wife, Grace Thatcher, tightened her grasp on her husband's arm.
Charles intercepted William's cry delicately. "Mr. Thatcher. You know I would never recommend or support anything that could potentially harm our Elizabeth." He looked softly at the woman who was now sitting straight up in her bed, imaginary hackles standing on end.
"No. No way...I do not consent! I will not be your guinea pig and subject myself to such a heinous act!" Elizabeth spoke, agitated by the discussion happening around her.
"Miss Thatcher, what if you never recover your memories? It's entirely possible, contrary to what other Doctors would have you believe. I'm offering you an opportunity to increase the odds of that happening exponentially." Dr. Hughes, dutifully carrying out his ruse, was suddenly becoming antsy with Elizabeth's stance.
"Father, Mother...Charles...Please! I can't believe you could possibly think this is ok!" Elizabeth exclaimed, exasperated. Alarm bells were loudly wailing in her soul and she felt a sudden urge to run. Away from this madness.
Grace managed to speak up. "Of course not dear. You do not have agree to this."
"Of course not darling. It's merely a suggestion...something you may have wished to consider" Charles chimed in. "However, I see that you are very upset and I'm sorry. I guess I'm just as anxious as you for you regain your memories and thought anything was worth a shot." He then stole a look to the doctor, their eyes meeting in silent agreement, and pushed a stray lock of hair from Elizabeth's face. "I just love you so much…" He whispered, unaware that the sentiment was spoken at all.
Jack Thornton had been in Hamilton all of thirty minutes before he found himself seated in a small, stuffy office, sitting directly across from Inspector Jones, the Mountie currently in charge of the investigation into the counterfeiting ring. Jack still found himself suffering from profound bitterness at being called away from Hope Valley a mere few days before Elizabeth's scheduled return. That and the fact he had had no chance to send her a telegram asking for her to reschedule her plans, even if it was to spend a couple of minutes together. Instead, he had to settle for nominal comfort of arriving in a city that had recently been graced with her presence. It was the only thing that made Hamilton bearable.
"Constable Thornton. Thank-you for making the trek out here to assist in this investigation." Investigator Jones nodded in Jack's direction. "As you may be aware, recent events have brought to light a potential key suspect in the counterfeiting case, and...if it weren't for the fact that he is also being considered as a suspect of attempted kidnapping, perhaps we wouldn't have gotten the break that we did."
Jack dutifully nodded in attentiveness, having been briefed on these vague facts already by Constable O'Leary. "Yes. I'm somewhat aware of the specifics. A British nobleman brought in to Headquarters some plates he said he recovered from the suspect's car, which had just been involved in a vehicular crash? And...something about a passenger, a woman, being involved as well?"
Inspector Jones inhaled deeply as the subject of the victim of the crash was brought up. He had been mulling this conversation around in his mind and still did not know how to bring about such a potentially devastating topic to the Constable. Even though he was told Jack Thornton was an excellent Mountie with promising investigative and special projects skills, he wasn't quite sure he was the best person to ask to be a part of this assignment. It hit too close to home. Inspector Jones carefully proceeded. "Along with the plates, a rope and rag which tested positive for chloroform, were recovered from the back seat. A local wealthy heiress was sitting in the front seat when the crash occurred and we believe she may be able to provide more information into the events of the night."
Jack sat silently and thought about the information that had just been shared. He finally spoke "Okay. Well it seems you have probable cause of kidnapping...holding the wealthy woman for ransom. But why would you need her if you are supposedly generating your own wealth illegally? Hmmm...seems quite strange. Haven't you spoken to the woman yet?"
Inspector Jones looked down at the report in front of him, his hands clasped as his arms stretched out on the desk. Dreading his next move, he turned and opened his desk drawer and withdrew a newspaper, holding the page folded in half. "That's the tricky part. You see...the woman suffered a concussion resulting in amnesia. Seems she can't remember the events preceding the accident. So much so that she's now convinced the man who tried to harm her is her fiance." Inspector Jones shook his head at the absurdity of it all.
Adjusting himself in his seat, Jack brought himself forward slightly to ask, "I hear what you're saying Inspector but, where do I come into all of this? Why am I here?" Feeling useful was one of the motivating factors that propelled Jack to became a Mountie, and sitting here listening to a case so far removed from his regular jurisdiction had him feeling completely out of his element.
"We need you to pay a visit to the victim in the hospital. Ask her some questions. See if she really has no memories. Determine if she's playing along with his ruse. To protect him"
"OK. Very well. Tell me Inspector, who are these people? I think I should at least know who I am to be dealing with?" Resolved to comply with the agency's request Jack was attempting to get this case over with quickly to enable him return home.
Inspector Jones breathed heavily and spread the paper out before Jack, letting him take in the sight of the two individuals currently requiring further investigation. He braced himself the young Mountie's reaction.
Jack's eyes widened and his breathing completely stopped as he took in the picture before him. It was Elizabeth. His Elizabeth. He momentarily forgot the implication that she was the one injured in the accident and, instead, his stomach roiled at the sight of her in such a close encounter with a man he was beginning to hate with an intensity he had never known before. Jack wanted to believe that Charles had forced her into this kiss, however, his prior insecurities helped fuel the negative thoughts that told him Elizabeth could have been a willing participant. Either way, Jack's world had been flipped completely upside down with the revelation that Inspector Jones had thrown at him. He felt like he had been punched in the gut.
Jack used all of his resolve to compose himself in the professional manner which was expected of him and stood up, his legs unsure of the weight they were asked to bear. He looked directly at the inspector with a stone-cold face and replied. "I will talk to Miss Thatcher in the morning." He then turned and walked away.