A Matchmaking Miss (20 page)

"Self-preservation! Any confirmed bachelor grows impossible when he sees one of his brethren caught tight in the parson's mousetrap," Joss teased, his manner deliberately casual as he glanced about him. "Speaking of your companion, where is she? I've not caught so much as a glimpse of her all day."

"Neither have I," Louisa admitted with a slight frown. "Not since this morning, at any rate."

A
frisson
of alarm stole down Joss's back. "What of you?" he asked Raj. "Have you seen her?"

Raj shook his head. "I have been with Louisa, so it is only logical that if she hasn't seen her, neither have I. Why?" His eyes narrowed on Joss's face. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure," Joss admitted, doing his best to suppress the cold feeling of worry creeping into him. "I only know I'll feel much better when I know where she is."

He rang for the valet and asked that a message be sent to Miss Stone's rooms requesting she come to the drawing room at once. The footman paused, his brow wrinkling in thought. "Don't know as she's here, my lord," he said slowly. "Her maid Polly was just belowstairs, and she was fretting because Miss Stone wasn't back and it was almost time for the ball."

"Back from where?" Joss demanded, forcing himself to remain calm. "Where did she go?"

"The Delvaynes', your lordship." The boy suddenly turned a bright red. "Mrs. Delvayne had twins, and Miss Stone went to see if she needed anything. I — I was to tell you about it when you got back from your picnic, but I — "

"What time was this?" Joss interrupted impatiently, deciding recriminations could wait until later.

"Just after lunch, sir."

Joss cast a frantic look at the clock on the mantel. It was approaching eight o'clock, which meant Matty had been missing for almost seven hours. He refused to think of what that could mean. Shoving aside his own fears,
Joss concentrated on what needed to be done. The first order of business was to learn if her horse had returned, and he sent a message out to the stable. The return message, when it came, only increased his anxiety.

"What the devil do you mean, she walked?" he demanded of the hapless footman. "Where was her horse?"

"That . . . that Miss Mulroy had her, my lord," the footman replied, having taken the time to get the full story from the stable-hands. "Miss Stone didn't seem too pleased about it, and set out on foot for the Delvaynes'."

"Never mind that now." Raj gave Joss a warning look when he began cursing like the dockhand he once was. "I want you to gather up all the men and meet us out front. We'll start searching at once."

"What about the ball, sir?" the footman asked, torn between his anxiety for Miss Stone and his desire to be seen in his handsome new livery. "The guests will be here soon, and — "

"The devil with the ball, and the devil with the guests!" Joss snarled, tearing Linton's masterpiece from his throat with an impatient tug. "Matty is worth a dozen of them, and I shan't rest until she is safe!"

"Blast, damnation, hell!" Matty uttered the curses in a voice that was hoarse from shouting. She'd been lying in the damp grass fighting off inquisitive sheep for hours, and now it looked as if she'd be spending the night there as well. Wincing against the pain she raised her head and called out again, only to have the wind throw her feeble cries back in her face. She could smell rain in the cool breeze, and her frustration turned to unease. If she were to lie out in the rain all night . . . she couldn't complete the harrowing thought.

Well, if help wouldn't come to her, then she would simply have to save herself, she decided grimly, ignoring the fact that she'd already spent several hours attempting to do just that. Her ankle was clearly sprained, and her head spun sickeningly every time she raised it, but she would simply have to bear it. She wasn't about to lie here and die.

It took several uncomfortable minutes, but she finally managed to push herself to her knees. She couldn't see much beyond the grass and the sheep, which, for reasons known only to them, had decided to flock about her, but as she recalled the estate lay some quarter mile over the ridge. She could crawl a quarter mile if need be, she told herself — but before she could even begin, the sheep nearest her began bleating nervously.

The sound reverberated painfully in her head, and in an anguished voice she implored the sheep to be still. Instead of obeying, it uttered an even louder bleat and bounded off, causing its companions to follow suit. Matty ducked and covered her head with her arms, praying she would be spared the humiliation of being trampled to death by a flock of sheep. She was lying like that when she felt the earth shake beneath her, and even as she recognized the sensation as the hoofbeats of an approaching horse she could hear a voice calling out her name. Seconds later she felt gentle hands turning her over.

"Matty? Oh God, Matty, are you all right?"

The anguished voice sounded vaguely familiar to Matty, but she couldn't quite place the owner. Her heavy lashes fluttered open, and she found herself gazing into a pair of green eyes laced with silver. Her brows gathered in a frown. "What kept you?" she asked crossly, and then knew no more, as unconsciousness claimed her for a second time.

"And see that you stay there, young lady," the doctor said in a jovial voice, giving Matty's hand a condescending pat. "A blow to the head is nothing to fool with, and of course that ankle is going to require some time be
fore it's mended."

"Nonsense, doctor," Matty denied, glowering up at him from her nest of pillows. "I am perfectly fine, and I should be up and about within a day. I have a wedding to plan; I can't be lolling about in bed!"

"Patients." The doctor shook his grizzled head. "Never met one yet who didn't argue, regardless of what I tell them. I can't tie you down, miss, but I'd heed my warning was I you. Only get one set of brains, you know, and you just did your best to dash 'em out."

Matty winced at his bluntness. When she fell she'd struck her head on a rock, and the blow had left her badly concussed. It had also bled a great deal, and she was feeling decidedly weak. Not that she intended admitting as much, of course, she decided, turning her face toward the wall.

"Miss Stone will do as you suggest, Doctor." Lady Louisa spoke from the doorway, her arms folded beneath her breasts as she frowned at Matty. "You have my word on it."

"Good, good." The old man gave a warm chuckle as he pushed himself to his feet. "I'll just be on my way, then. And mind you drink that tonic I prescribed for you," he added, waggling an admonishing finger beneath Matty's nose. "Your blood wants building up." And he slipped from the room, grumbling to
himself about stubborn females.

Louisa watched him go, and then her eyes flashed back to Matty's face. "He's right, you know," she said sternly. "You have been unforgivably stubborn from the moment Joss carried you into the house."

Matty's pale cheeks grew rosy as she recalled the embarrassing scene. She'd come to during the ride back to Kirkswood to find Joss's arms locked about her. Her breathless reassurances that she was all right had gone unheeded, as had her demands that he put her down. He'd ridden Leipzig right up to the front steps of the house, ignoring the gasps and stares of the guests as he carried her through the crowd and up the grand staircase. She'd caught a quick glimpse of one or two familiar faces, and decided it was probably just as well she'd decided to leave Kirkswood. After tonight her reputation would be well and truly shredded.

"I am sorry for ruining your ball," she said instead, deciding the less said about those moments in Joss's arms, the better. "I hope the guests weren't ignored."

"I can't say whether they were, as I have spent the better part of the evening up here, trying to keep you alive and Joss from killing that brattish cousin of yours," Louisa snapped, more than a little disenchanted with
Matty.

"Juliana?"

Louisa gave a terse nod at Matty's question. "When he learned she'd taken your mare without your permission he rang a peal over her head, saying your being injured was her fault, and ordering her to stay away from the stables. She became hysterical and dashed upstairs, and I had to leave it to Lady Sarah to pour oil on the troubled waters. I only hope some of us have a reputation left when all this is over."

Matty had the good grace to flush. "I am sorry," she began in a penitent voice. "I never meant to cause such consternation."

Louisa believed her at once, although for her own purposes she clung to her facade of anger. "Well, be that as it may, you are still hurt, and I don't want you moving a spot from that bed without Dr. Hagood's permission. Is that understood?"

She looked so forbidding that Matty raised the crisp sheets up to her chin. "Yes, my lady," she said, the meekness in her voice not wholly faked. "As you say."

Louisa wasn't so big a fool as to believe her, but having done all that she could, she decided it was time to go and work her wiles on Joss. There was just one more thing that needed doing. "By the way," she said slowly,
her eyes not quite meeting Matty's. "I meant to congratulate you on your foresight."

"My foresight?"

"Certainly." Louisa gave her a vague smile. "You must know that Lady Sarah and Joss are as thick as two inkleweavers, and I must say I am pleased. She will make him the perfect wife."

The spinning sickness, which had just faded, returned tenfold. "Joss . . . Joss has already offered for her?" she asked, hating the weak sound in her voice.

"Not yet." Louisa mentally crossed her fingers. "But I see no reason why he should wait, do you? Raj and I are marrying within the month, and he will have need of a hostess."

"Yes, there is that." Matty's shoulders drooped. "If you will pardon me, my lady, I believe I should like to lie down now. My head is beginning to ache quite dreadfully."

"Of course, Stone." Having achieved her goal, Louisa was anxious to be gone. "Have a good night's sleep, and if you begin feeling worse you have only to call out for Polly."

After closing the door quietly behind her, she hurried over to where Joss was waiting with visible impatience. "How is she?" he demanded anxiously, his eyes scouring her face for some sign. "Is she all right?"

"She's resting now." Louisa wasn't so cava
lier that she could ignore his suffering. "She was worried the guests weren't being attended to properly, so you must know she can't be hurt too badly."

That brought a reluctant smile to Joss's lips. "She could be lying on her deathbed and still barking out commands like Nelson," he said, the emotion in his voice revealing more than he realized. "Did she say anything else?"

"Only to ask if Mr. Stallings was here," Louisa said, all wide-eyed innocence. "I think she may be reconsidering his offer, and one cannot blame her. She will make an excellent vicar's wife, don't you agree?"

"Stallings has proposed?" The words forced themselves out of Joss's throat with painful effort.

"That is for Matty to tell you." Louisa would only endanger her immortal soul so far. "Now, I'm going to go and check on our guests, although I don't doubt that Lady Sarah is keeping them in line. That reminds me, did you know Sir Valen is in love with her?"

"What?" Joss tore his thoughts from Matty to give his sister-in-law an incredulous look. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." Louisa paused to press a kiss to his cheek. "Why else do you think he has been glowering at you as if he'd
like nothing better than to put a knife in your back? Don't look so shocked. You must realize she is better suited to him than she is to you." And with that remark, she left him alone with his troubling thoughts.

He stared at the closed door leading to Matty's rooms, feeling as lost and alone as he did during the long voyage to India. He remembered railing against his parents for not loving him; remembered thinking that perhaps he wasn't worthy of their love. He'd spent ten long years trying to earn that love, and even though they were dead, he realized that was still what he was trying to do. Wasn't that why he'd returned to Kirkswood, despite his reluctance? Why he was courting a woman he admired but did not love? The realization left him reeling, along with another, even more dazzling revelation. He stood there for several seconds, quietly absorbing the truth that had been there all along. Then he was moving toward the door, his jaw set purposefully.

Matty had just gotten comfortable when the sound of the door hitting the wall brought her sitting up with a startled cry. The sight of Joss advancing toward her with his fists clenched and his eyes blazing did little to reassure her.

"My lord, what is it?" she asked, too shocked to wonder at the impropriety of his presence in her bedchamber. "Is something
wrong?"

"Wrong?" He struggled with his temper, mastering his emotions as he decided it was time this managing miss was taught a lesson. "What makes you think something is wrong?" he asked, striving for a light tone. "I have only come to see if you are all right."

"I was doing fine until you came through my door like the Mongolian horde," she retorted, her eyes narrowing as she studied his face. When he'd first come into her room he looked fit to murder, but now he looked . . . she wasn't precisely sure how he looked, and knew only that she didn't trust him for a single second.

He saw her suspicion and repressed a grin. "Actually, Stone, there is a reason for my presence in your room," he said, advancing toward her bed. "I am about to take myself a bride. Does that make you happy?"

"Happy?" She wondered how she could talk when her heart was shattering. "That's . . . that is wonderful, my lord. I know the two of you will be very happy."

"I am glad you approve." His lips twitched slightly. "She is a rather difficult female, but I shall prove master of her."

Matty found it difficult to think Lady Sarah would ever be difficult, but still, she supposed he knew his prospective bride better than she
could. "I am sure you will, my lord," she said miserably, wondering why God had spared her only to expose her to this wrenching pain. It hardly seemed fair.

"You don't sound all that certain, Miss Stone." He inched closer until he was actually standing beside her bed, the mischief in his eyes obvious as he bent over her. "Perhaps I should do something to convince you." And without warning he bent and pressed a passionate kiss to her lips.