Pascale Duguay (5 page)

“Of course!” Patience retrieved the article from under the bed and placed it next to him on the floor. “Will you need assistance?”

“No, that will do,” he replied sharply.

“Then I will get you something to eat.”

Patience stood up and hurried to the door. She headed to the main room where the family was already assembled around a long wooden table and eating bowls of porridge.

“Good morning, Belinda. How is your husband today?” asked Mrs. Marlow, getting to her feet with some difficulty. If she were not carrying twins, then it would certainly be another large lad from the looks of it. “I thought I heard voices coming from your room.”

“Yes, Edward has finally decided to awaken. But please do sit down. I will take him a bowl of your wonderful porridge. I am sure it will serve to put him back on his feet in no time.”

“We’re right glad to hear such good news,” Mr. Marlow said, his thin face showing his relief. “I must say I was getting a tad worried, him being knocked out for so long. I still don’t understand how Jessup here could have been such a fool as to try to hold up a carriage!”

The strapping boy sitting on his right blushed but kept his eyes lowered to his bowl.

“No need to bring it all up again, John.” Mr. Marlow’s father joined in from the other end of the table. “If anyone’s to blame ’tis I for filling up the young cub’s head with me coachman stories. But I’ve hidden me old gun well, so he won’t be putting his clumsy paws on it ever again, you may be sure of that!”

“Please, you must all stop worrying and blaming yourselves now,” Patience said patting the old man on the shoulder. “All is well, and we will be out of your way in no time.”

Mrs. Marlow gasped. “How can you talk so, Belinda, when you have done so much for us? Why, John’s cough is nearly gone! Even Daddy Marlow stopped complaining about his leg since you made him that salve.”

Patience felt a tug on her skirt and looked down into two pleading blue eyes.

“Are you leaving now?” the little girl asked. “We’re not finished with Ruby’s clothes yet.”

“Do not worry, pet. We will finish them this morning, right after I feed Mr. Brown some porridge.” Patience bent to give the five-year-old and her ragged doll a hug.

Two more days passed before the Earl could stand up without losing his balance and falling over. He was not the type of person to dawdle his time away doing nothing, and he did not take kindly to being bedridden. If the days seemed long, the nights were almost beyond bearing. It was all he could do to force himself to stay on his side of the lumpy mattress.

The woman’s real identity was still an enigma to him. However, he learned a great deal more about her personality during the next few days. He may not have been able to see all that she did, confined as he was to the cramped bedroom, but keeping track of her activities proved easy enough as her clear voice carried effortlessly throughout the small cottage or the bedroom’s open window. She was forever bustling about sharing her time between helping Marlow’s wife with household chores, entertaining the four children, and tending to the sick or injured. When she was in his presence, her short frame with its boundless energy and determination seemed to permeate every corner of the small room. She never sat still for more than two minutes at a time, making the Earl wonder how she had managed to remain seated in his phaeton for so long. That ill-advised innkeeper did not know what a bargain he was missing. One small Belinda Fairchild could have replaced his entire staff.

Of all her talents however, it was her knowledge of herbal remedies that stood out the most. This discovery put to rest the Earl’s fear that she was addicted to liquor when he found out that her valise contained an impressive collection of jars filled with salves and concoctions of all kinds. Her ministrations had certainly done wonders for all of them. Mrs. Marlow had exclaimed more than once that had it not been for Belinda, her husband would have joined the good Lord by now.

As for the children, they were completely enraptured by the red-haired goddess who never tired of telling them stories or playing games with them. Even the sullen Jessup could not help lighting up when she was around.

It had not taken the Earl long to figure out that Jessup thoroughly disliked farm work and longed for adventure, hence the reason for their first encounter. He was forever getting into trouble, it seemed. Just yesterday, he had been caught plucking feathers out of some fancy pheasant and had come home displaying a very red ear.

“Jessup’s not a bad boy, you understand, just a bit restless,” Daddy Marlow had told him. “But this is not a good time for him to be caught at such tricks seeing as we’re new to these parts and not quite known to the local folk yet. But with his Daddy sick the way he was and me not being much use with me bad leg, Jessup’s been left pretty much to his own devices.”

“I trust he will have learned his lesson and will not attempt to hold up any more carriages,” said the Earl with feeling.

When Jessup had come to offer his apologies, the Earl found he had a difficult time remaining upset at him. The tall, stocky boy looked anything but adorable wearing worn out clothing that was at least two sizes too small for him, and sporting smudges of dirt on both cheeks. But the Earl had responded immediately to the child’s keen, intelligent eyes. Jessup even offered him a carved horse as a peace offering.

“Did you make this yourself?” asked the Earl, admiring the craftsmanship.

“Aye, sir! I used your horses as models. I would’ve painted it, but me dad said as how we couldn’t afford the paint.”

“Why don’t you look in my travelling case over there. You’ll find a tin of boot blacking. Yes, that’s the one. Would that work as a replacement?”

Jessup’s eyes lit up. “Aye, sir!”

“Then take it. It is yours.”

The boy did not need to be told twice. “I’ll bring back the horse as soon as it’s finished.”

The Earl watched the boy run out of the room, wondering what his valet would have said had he known that his master had just given away his precious boot blacking to such a scruffy youth and for such an unworthy cause. Hopefully, Wilkin would never find out the truth. He’d have to make up a good story for the tin’s disappearance when he returned to London where his valet awaited him. Maybe he should ask Belinda for advice. She would be sure to know what to say. The Earl smiled as he tried to find a more comfortable position on the lumpy bed.

Much to her dismay, Lady Henrietta Rutherford found herself pacing the length of her boudoir. She had never been one to exert herself in physical activity nor could she understand those who were not happy unless they had their daily regimen of walking or riding all over the countryside. Under normal circumstances, she would gladly have retired to her reading couch, but at the moment, she found she could not remain still. She was thankful for the thick rug that muffled her heavy tread as her large size made it difficult to pace lightly. She had no wish to alert the entire staff of her agitation.

Every five minutes or so, she would glare at the clock as if it were at the root of all her troubles. Had her friend, Louisa, been here to witness her strange behaviour, she would certainly have told her to stop frowning so since at their age they could not afford to encourage wrinkles to settle in. But wrinkles were the least of her worries right now.

She and Louisa had spent three whole days planning this matchmaking. The only things missing for the completion of their plan were the two people concerned. She had no doubt that Louisa would be back before long with her charge. She expected the pair to arrive within the hour, in time for a late dinner. But where was Julius? Her missive had been sent by one of her own people so she knew for a fact that he had received it. He should have arrived this afternoon. They had timed it so that Julius would be present to welcome Patience to his home. As her son never deviated from his customary habits, it had not been difficult to predict his arrival. Whenever he travelled from London to Hawkridge, he could always be counted on to leave precisely at nine in the morning, stop for a midday meal at the Blue Boar in Ventley, and reach the Manor in the middle of the afternoon.

The sound of carriage wheels on the driveway had Lady Rutherford almost running to the window. Recognizing Lady Westbury’s carriage in the gathering dusk, she hurried downstairs to meet her friend and, if all went well, her future daughter-in-law.

Lady Rutherford reached the front door just as the butler was opening it. The two ladies nearly collided when Lady Westbury rushed in, her fashionable hat askew and her eyes blazing with fury.

“Henrietta, has your son arrived?”

“No — not — yet,” gasped Lady Rutherford struggling to catch her breath. When she could trust herself to speak normally again she added, “Where is your niece?” She peered over Lady Westbury’s head but could see no one following in her wake.

“I am afraid things are not going quite according to plan. We need to have a word. In private.”

Lady Rutherford followed Lady Westbury’s meaningful gaze and noticed the eager look on her butler’s face. Reaching for her friend’s arm, she guided her into a nearby room before closing the door firmly behind them. Sinking into the nearest chair, she grabbed her fan lying conveniently by her elbow. She snapped it open and proceeded to cool her flushed cheeks.

“Now tell me what has made you so upset. You look angry enough to thrash a pack of louts senseless.”

“One would be more than sufficient, let me tell you! Had I had time to spare to throttle that brother of mine, I would gladly have done so. Henrietta, you will not believe it! I can scarce believe it myself!” The purple ostrich plume on Lady Westbury’s hat trembled, mirroring its owner’s indignation. “Robert had the gall to inform me that he would not allow me to take Patience away. When I demanded to see her, he would not let me do so either.”

“But why ever not?”

“Oh, he would not tell me anything other than that his reasons did not concern me. However, I know my brother better than he knows himself, and I am well aware that when he has that shifty look in his eyes, it means he is trying to hide something from me. Before I left his house however, I managed to learn what had happened from the butler. It would seem that as soon as my letter reached Robert, Miss Thimble was sent away and Patience was told she would have to marry an old crony of his.”

Lady Rutherford gave a gasp and shot to her feet. “Surely she has not been forced to marry this man?”

“Of course not. My niece did the only sensible thing — she ran away!”

“Oh my goodness.” Lady Rutherford dropped back into her chair causing it to creak loudly in protest, her fan now dangling limply from her hand.

“Did I not tell you that she was a determined girl?” Lady Westbury beamed proudly.

“Sh-She certainly is! Where has she gone?”

“Unfortunately, no one knows. She was on her way here, but obviously, when the butler saw me, he realized her plan must have gone awry.”

“What of your brother? Has he not done anything to find her?”

“Robert, I gathered, has no more idea where to look for her than we do. From what the butler overheard during a discussion between Robert and his crony, she was last seen in Ventley at the Blue Boar inn. Since she intended to get on the stagecoach, this makes perfect sense. What happened to her after that, however, is a complete mystery.”

No sooner had Lady Westbury uttered these words than a knock sounded at the door followed by the entrance of the butler. With his long nose stuck in the air, he projected the image of someone bearing news of the utmost importance.

“What is it, Simmons?” asked Lady Rutherford.

The butler puffed up his scrawny chest and sniffed before declaring with a nasal voice, “We think there might be news of your son, my lady. I have just heard of the matter myself and thought you might like to know.”

“Well, don’t just stand there gloating! Out with it, man!” snapped Lady Westbury in a most unladylike fashion.

The butler, taken aback by this sharp rebuke, recovered sufficiently to say, “The Marlow boy came to the house to deliver eggs earlier today.”

“The Marlow boy?” inquired Lady Rutherford.

“He is the young scoundrel who keeps plucking my lord’s pheasants.”

“Ah, yes. Now what does he have to do with my son?”

“He has let drop the information that a Mr. Edward Brown has spent the last few days with the Marlows recovering from an injury.” Catching sight of Lady Westbury’s impatient gaze, the butler rushed on. “It would seem that this Mr. Brown matches your son’s description exactly, my lady!”

“Oh!” gasped Lady Rutherford. “Could it be Julius? Was he badly hurt?”

“He appears to have suffered a head injury, which left him unconscious for a few days. However, he is doing much better now, according to young Marlow.”

“Come now!” intervened Lady Westbury. “Half the men in England are called Edward, and Brown is certainly common enough! What I would like to know is if this man who happens to own two of Julius’ long string of names was indeed our own Lord Rutherford, why have these Marlows not recognized him?”

Simmons thrust his chest forward once more, “As they are new to the district, I imagine they would not know the Earl’s identity unless someone were to tell them. May I add that perhaps the Earl did not wish to be found, seeing as he was not exactly alone?”

“What do you mean?” asked Lady Rutherford.

“There is supposedly a Mrs. Brown accompanying him, and I should also mention, sharing a room with him.” Simmons adopted a confiding tone. “The lady in question has striking red hair.”

Lady Westbury brushed off that remark with a wave of her bejewelled hand. “Mark my words, this is no more than a coincidence. If you have nothing more to add, you may leave us now.”

After he had gone, Lady Westbury jumped to her feet.

“Good gracious!” she cried. “We may have just solved both of our mysteries! Come Henrietta, we must go visit these Marlows at once. Thank goodness I left my coach waiting at the front door.”

Lady Rutherford became confused by her friend’s sudden change of mind.

“Do you believe Julius is to be found at the Marlows then?”

“I do not know, but I certainly mean to find out before the servants spread any more silliness over the matter!”

They were soon settled inside Lady Westbury’s coach. Night had fallen and as the moon was not yet up, they made their way slowly through the countryside.

“Louisa,” Lady Rutherford said after a moment, “what if it does turn out to be your niece and my son?”

“We had better hope it is them! For one thing, it will save me the trouble and worry of looking for Patience.”

“But if they have been sharing a room, won’t that put them in a compromising situation?”

“Of course! That is the beauty of it, Henrietta. Just think. We will not have to do anything to bring them together. It will already be a
fait accompli
!”

“That’s what is worrying me. Will it not be as bad as a forced marriage?”

“Stop fretting, dear. These two are made for each other even if they may not yet know it themselves. And I very much doubt that your son would be sharing a room with my niece unless he found her very much to his liking. Besides, Patience is much better off with your son than with my brother’s crony — or your son with Miss Arlington for that matter!”

“God grant me patience!”

Patience nearly jumped out of her skin at the mention of her name. Edward had been at his most unpleasant this evening. Maybe she should have agreed to their leaving today after all. She had opted for another day of rest, as she had been worried that his painful headaches would return if he were to be jostled about the bad country roads. At least he would have had something really to grumble about, she reflected as she joined him on the bed. As usual, she kept as far away from him as possible, at least as far as the narrow bed would allow.

She lay on her side, facing the door. She drew the rough sheet up to her chin and tried to relax her tense muscles. What a ninny she was being. She should be used to his presence by now. Hadn’t she taken care of him all by herself these last few days? She had had several opportunities to examine every inch of his body. But somehow, his unconscious and unresponsive form had not affected her in this way. Oh, she had not been immune to his muscular and well-proportioned physique; however, since he had regained his senses, she found that whenever she got too close to him, her heartbeat accelerated and every fibre of her being became attuned to his presence. At this precise moment, a treacherous part of her longed to lean against his warm body, to snuggle against his chest, to feel his hands on her breasts just one more time.

Think of something else,
she told herself sternly, forcing her muscles to relax and taking a long, deep breath before letting the air out of her lungs slowly.

“Must we go to bed so damn early?”

Patience tensed up again when she felt the force his words hit the back of her head. She sighed. “You know very well that Mr. Marlow gets up shortly before dawn to take care of his chores. We cannot walk about keeping him awake all night.”

“You call this night! It is barely the middle of the evening!”

“Hush! Try to get some rest, or we will not leave tomorrow.”

The threat was enough to make him settle down. To think he was being bossed around by a chit of a girl! To be truthful, his head still hurt a lot more than he allowed her to see, and he did tire easily. But he was dammed if he was going to spend another night in this cramped bed with Belinda. He had had to use all of his willpower to keep from touching her since that first morning when he had had the inexcusable pleasure of touching her breasts. He had not been able to think of anything else since. Didn’t she know that she was driving him mad with desire? He inhaled deeply to calm himself down, but only succeeded in feeling more aggravated as her smell filled his nostrils.

“How do you do it?” he asked before he could stop himself.

“Do what?”

“Smell so wonderful. We have not had a proper bath in a week.”

“I assume you must be referring to my soap.”

“Let me guess, you made it yourself?”

“Why yes. I must admit to be particularly fond of that recipe. It is made out of the wildflowers that grow in abundance near my home.”

“And where is that?”

“It is, ah, time to sleep I believe.”

Was there nothing the girl could not make or do he wondered? Whether it was making up stories, herbal remedies, or soap? What other talents was she hiding? Was she as good in bed as in everything else? An image of her naked body writhing underneath him filled his mind. He grunted before firmly shutting it out of his consciousness. He would not be long enough with her to find out. Just one more night, he consoled himself, and then he could be rid of her for good. A small pang of regret settled around his heart. Oh, no! He was getting rid of the chit and that was that! He had never bedded a female from the serving class, and he was not about to start now, no matter how tempting this particular servant may be.