The Heart's Companion (12 page)

Suddenly Jane felt an unreasoning jealously toward her young nephew. In her mind she felt the earl’s hand about her waist, pulling her securely against him. A prickly tingle began below her breasts where his hand would rest. It spread throughout her body. A warm rush of blood surged through her veins. She gasped and turned her head away before Elsbeth or Millicent could see and comment. She closed her eyes, willing her pulse and breathing to slow, waiting for the prickly tingling to subside.

What was wrong with her? Never had she allowed her mind such license! Never had she even imagined feelings like those that consumed her. Desire curled and coiled within her.

Wanton!

The word exploded in her head. She felt weak, boneless. This would never do! They were pulling up before the Folly. Desperately she pulled at remnants of her icy mantle. The Ice Witch would not be so consumed!

She breathed deeply, composing her face. By the time the carriage door opened and the steps were let down, she’d achieved a modicum of control. She hung onto it tightly, as a shipwrecked sailor hung on to flotsam and jetsam, praying for rescue. He was there, by the door, waiting to help them alight. Millicent, anxious to secure the earl for herself, pushed past Lady Elsbeth to take the earl’s hand. She remained by his side while he assisted Lady Elsbeth and finally Jane. Jane’s fingers trembled slightly when her hand touched his. He looked at her quizzically, but she refused to meet his dark gaze. When she was safely on the ground, she quickly pulled her hand from his and walked hurriedly toward the other carriage, ostensibly to greet the others.

Blankets were spread out in the shade of a tall, spreading elm. Hampers of food revealed delicacies to tempt everyone’s appetite, along with bottles of wine and jugs of lemonade. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves. Sounds of laughter and the ebb and flow of voices floated across the hillside and down into the valley. The boys ran after each other playing a game of tag. Giggling, Edward careened around Lady Serena, using her shoulder to pivot. Lady Serena screamed in surprise and jumped, spilling her glass of wine across the blanket, barely avoiding staining her pale yellow skirts.

"How dare you, you little—"

"Serena!" cut in Lady Elsbeth. "They are only playing a game. Boys, don’t play around here. You’re liable to hurt yourselves or someone else, not to mention the hazard of falling into a platter of food!"

The boys laughed. "Yes, by Jove, wouldn’t that be a sight! I can see you now, Edward, face first in one of Cook’s cream puffs," said Bertram. The picture he imagined sent him laughing harder and reeling backwards, clenching his sides.

"Oh, really? Well, I can see you in one of the jellies!" Edward countered. "All sticky and gooey, with ants crawling all over you!"

"I can see caterpillars falling on you from the trees," Bertram yelled, his chin thrusting forward pugnaciously.

"Yipes!" squealed Lady Serena, looking upward. Her skin crawled and she flicked at imaginary crawling insects.

"Children!" cried out Lady Elsbeth, a faint blush staining her cheeks.

"And getting stuck in all that cream, wriggling about," Bertram finished with a flourish.

"That’s nothing," began Edward, puffing out his small chest as he prepared to launch into an even more gruesome image.

"That’s enough," corrected the earl, laughter robbing his words of force. "Remember the ladies’ sensibilities."

Millicent, seated next to the earl, preened at what she considered his obvious attention to her.

"Why don’t you show me how that telescope of yours works," he continued, surging to his feet in one fluid motion.

"What—" protested Millicent. She clamped her lips shut, a determined look steeling over her features. She got to her feet and followed after the earl.

"Poor Millicent," said Jane to Lady Elsbeth, "I don’t think she knows how to handle children as rivals."

With a laugh, the Marquis of Conisbrough leaned back on his elbow next to Lady Elsbeth. "That’s not a contest she has a chance of winning, either. "

"Oh?" encouraged Jane.

The marquis sat up. He looked pointedly at Jane. "I don’t tell tales on another. If you want that story, you’ll have to ask him."

Jane flushed and bristled at the implied criticism. Lady Elsbeth took pity on her niece and patted her hand understanding. Jane released a long sigh and relaxed. No doubt the primary subject of numerous tales, the marquis had learned the consequences of gossip. When was she going to learn?

With his wineglass refilled, Sir Helmsdon sauntered back to Jane. In his other hand he carried a wine cork, which he absently tossed into the air, catching it as it fell. "I’d like to see this telescope, too. Would you be my guide, Miss Grantley?"

"Certainly, sir," she said, anxious to get away from the scene of her embarrassment and to give her aunt and the marquis a modicum of privacy. She held out her hand for Sir Helmsdon to help her rise.

He deftly caught the cork once again and, palming it in the same hand that held the wineglass, offered her his free hand. They walked slowly toward the Folly.

"Miss Grantley," he said when they were out of hearing. "What do you know of those Willoughbys?"

"Nothing much. They say they’re from the north. That they have houses in Northumbria and Yorkshire. Truthfully, I have not had time to sit and talk with them. Serena has seen to their entertainment. She is much in their company. I believe she met them in Margate. Why do you ask?"

"I do not recall seeing them before we all gathered to set out for Penwick Park. I had the opportunity when their carriage broke down to spend some time with them. They are a trifle crude. Mr. Burry does not like them, and he is a man given to easy camaraderie with everyone."

"Sir Helmsdon, if you are implying I should think badly of the Willoughbys without any justifiable reason, then I say bluntly that you should desist in this conversation. It has come to my attention that I have in the past given too much credence to just such suspicions and innuendos. I will not be subject to idle speculation and gossip. It is ruinous."

"My dear Miss Grantley, it is not my intention to slander without cause. I am merely asking that you exercise caution," protested Sir Helmsdon.

"Against what? See, you have no answer for me. Such vague suspicions are the stuff that do great damage. They prey upon the imagination, which is ripe for exaggeration. Now please, sir, I have of late given much thought to the effects of gossip. It is not worth my time. I refuse to be a party to scandal mongering. "

"A thousand apologies, Miss Grantley," Sir Helmsdon said tightly.

Jane looked up at his rigid face. "Come now," she said, cajoling, "let’s cry friends and be done with it. I, too, apologize. There was no need for me to harangue you as I did. My only defense is that I have lately been on the receiving end of just that sort of argument!"

He looked down at her then, his lips twitching upwards despite his best efforts. "You are a baggage, aren’t you?"

"Yes," she said with mock sorrow, her green eyes glinting with laughter. "I try hard to conceal it before society, but truth will out. I am not a comfortable person, sir. You are lucky I do not take your suit seriously."

"Ah, Miss Grantley, that is still a matter of opinion."

Jane, uncertain how to respond, was saved from saying anything by the disconcerting halloo Bertram bellowed.

"By Jove, there’s a bird’s nest up there!" exclaimed Bertram, pointing to the ledges near the ceiling of the replica temple. He climbed up on one of the stone benches to get a better view. Millicent, seated on another bench, didn’t even glance up.

"I shouldn’t be surprised if there were bats up there!" she said acidly. She was pouting because the earl was assisting Edward in making adjustments to the telescope.

"Hardly bats, Mrs. Hedgeworth," Royce drawled. He came to stand by Bertram. "Where do you see it?"

"There, my lord."

"Where? Where? I want to see, too!" demanded Edward. He dropped the telescope, sending it turning wildly on its swivel mount.

Jane gasped as she saw it come around. "No!" she cried, dropping Sir Helmsdon’s arm and running. The heavy instrument was coming about, wheeling directly for the back of Edward’s head. As Jane ran she clipped her shin on the corner of one of the benches, sending pain shooting up her leg. Ignoring it she reached for Edward’s little arm, stumbled and missed.

When Jane heard a smack instead of the thud she was expecting, she looked up. The earl had stopped the telescope with the palm of his hand mere inches from Edward’s head. A shuddering sigh convulsed her body. She gulped air and sank down on a bench. "Edward Litton," she said tersely when she could speak, "if you cannot handle the telescope properly, I shall refuse to allow you to touch it. I will not be forced to explain to my sister why you have a gash in your head or why the telescope is broken. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Aunt Jane. I’m sorry." Then he turned his attention back to the bird’s nest, forgetting her words and the telescope. "Where’s the nest? I can’t see it."

Sir Helmsdon came up beside her. "I believe you could use this wine more than I," he said ruefully.

Jane nodded and gratefully accepted the proffered glass. Sir Helmsdon began tossing the cork again.

Edward climbed up beside his brother on the stone bench and stood on tiptoes. "Where?" he demanded again, his brow furrowing.

"I do not understand all this nonsense over a little bird’s nest. One would think it was a rare gem," said Millicent.

The earl ignored her. He placed a hand on Edward’s shoulder and pointed up. Edward jumped up and down, trying to see. Royce laughed. "Here, none of that, or we’ll have an accident yet. Let me put you on my shoulders." He turned around and squatted down. Eagerly Edward put his legs over Royce’s shoulders and grabbed him about the neck. When the earl rose again Edward squealed with delight.

"I see it! I see it!"

Millicent rose from the bench, angry at the attention given the children. She brushed past Sir Helmsdon, jostling him. He missed catching his cork and it fell to the stone floor, rolling away.

Millicent sidled up to Lord Royce, sliding one arm through his while waving her fan before her with the other. "Oh, my lord, I feel faint," she moaned artfully, leaning heavily against him.

"Mrs. Hedgeworth, please!" snapped the earl, stepping backwards to steady his balance. His heel caught the cork. It rolled under his foot throwing him backward. With Millicent’s weight at his side he could not catch his balance. Suddenly he was falling and Edward, riding on his shoulders, was heading straight for a stone bench!

"Royce!" shouted Sir Helmsdon.

Jane screamed, spilling wine down the front of her gown.

Straining and bunching his muscles, the earl twisted, throwing himself sideways. He came down on his left side, landing on his leg. His face twisted in agony as pain shot up his leg. Edward fell forward from the force of the earl’s movement to save him, his little body sprawling across Millicent as she landed on Royce’s chest. The earl’s breath went out in a whoosh, leaving him stunned and gasping.

Millicent screamed hysterically and batted at Edward, pushing at him. "Get off, you little monster! Oh, you’ve smashed my bonnet! It’s all your fault, you miserable brat!" she sobbed, clasping the earl’s broad chest. The earl winced and gulped air, his head shaking negatively, though no words would come.

Edward scrambled off her. "I didn’t do anything!" he cried. His lower lip trembled.

"Of course you didn’t," Jane snapped, her face white, her eyes glittering angrily. She grabbed Millicent by the arm and yanked her off the earl.

"Wha—Oh, my arm! Stop that, you’re hurting me!" Millicent wailed.

Jane ignored her, finally letting go of her arm when she was clear of the earl. Millicent landed smartly on her posterior and let out another screech. Jane gathered her skirts and hunkered down next to Royce.

"My lord, don’t move," she said earnestly. "Are you hurt?" She quickly scanned his body.

He nodded. "My ankle. Sprain, I think," he rasped out.

"Let me see," said Lady Elsbeth, coming up behind Jane. "Jane, we need to get him to lie back. Put his head on your lap and support his shoulders." She knelt down next to him and began to gently prod his legs. With the marquis’s assistance, she carefully lifted one leg off the other, then straightened the left leg, which had taken the brunt of the fall. The earl stiffened, his face white. Jane bit her lower lip as she watched him stoically accept Lady Elsbeth’s ministrations.

"We’d best cut that boot off," Lady Elsbeth said, raising her head to call out to Jeremy to fetch a knife.

"No!" protested Royce. "Pull it off."

"But my lord, your leg is already beginning to swell."

"Don’t cut the boot, damn it! Pull it off! I’ll not die, woman."

Lady Elsbeth raised an eyebrow at his rough manner, then pursed her lips. "Very well. Bertram, Edward, fetch cloths from the picnic hampers then run down and dip them in the lake. We’ll need the cold water to relieve some of the swelling. Millicent, have Jeremy bring the barouche down here. Sir Helmsdon, please help Jane hold Lord Royce down while John and I pull the boot off."

Jane’s eyes flickered upward at the use of Lord Conisbrough’s Christian name, but she made no comment. She felt Lord Royce’s muscles bunch as he prepared himself for the agony of having his boot removed.

Millicent opened her mouth to protest, then thought better of it. She flounced out of the Folly, meeting Jeremy halfway as he came to ascertain if there was anything he could do. Rudely she ordered him to bring the carriage about, then flung herself at her mother, sobbing of her aches and pains.

Serena requested Burry to bring her daughter a glass of wine to settle her poor nerves. "A fine mess you’ve made of this," she hissed, perfunctorily patting Millicent’s shoulder.

"But Mama—" Millicent protested, her brown eyes wet with tears.

"Anyone can see he’s dotty for those boys. Probably out of guilt for the way he treated his own son. You’d have done better to pretend a similar interest."

"In those brats?!"

"Hush! Yes. Your behavior was disgraceful! You’ll never win Royce now. We’ll have to arrange another situation."

Millicent brightened and sat up. "When?"

"Not until we’ve taken care of Jane. In the meantime, I want you to very prettily apologize to Lord Royce and Edward. Probably to your cousin, as well. Play up ill health, or whatever."

Millicent slouched back, mutinous. "I told him I felt faint. That’s why I leaned on him."

"Good. We’ll use that. Here’s Burry with your wine. Drink this, then I want you to lay back here and look interestingly pale and wan. When we return to the manor, stay in your room for the rest of the evening."

Down in the little temple, everyone was slowly relaxing. The earl’s boot was off. Carefully Lady Elsbeth wrapped the cold cloths the boys had brought up from the lake around the swollen ankle. Jane used an extra cloth to wipe away the perspiration beading on the earl’s forehead.

"I advise you to rest for a moment before we jostle you further to get you into the carriage."

The earl smiled thinly. "At this point. Lady Elsbeth, I do not think I could do anything but rest."

Lady Elsbeth rolled back on her heels and allowed Lord Conisbrough to help her to her feet. She shook out her skirts. "I have some salves I should like to put on it when we get back to the house. They will help relieve the pain and take down some of the swelling. You will, of course, remain at Penwick overnight. Lord Conisbrough is welcome, as well. We shall send a groom to Royceland with a message to your people. They can send over anything you’ll need."

Lord Royce opened his mouth to protest, then closed it. He turned his head to look at Conisbrough. "Wellington could have used her on the peninsula," he observed, faintly smiling.

Everyone laughed, the tensions broken. Lady Elsbeth blushed.

Royce struggled up on his elbows. "If I must get up sometime, we might as well get it over with."

Helmsdon and Conisbrough each grabbed an arm and hoisted him up, then they put his arms about their shoulders and half carried, half led him to the carriage. Lady Elsbeth got in first and instructed Jane to get in as well and sit opposite her. "Do not try to get up on a seat, my lord. Just slide backwards on the floor. The less weight you try to place on the ankle, the better." She looked up at Conisbrough and Helmsdon. "Please see that the others get back safely. Give them our apologies, of course. We’ll meet you back at Penwick," she said, waving her arm at the groom and signaling him to set off.

At Penwick two strapping grooms carried the earl into the house. Lady Elsbeth directed them to take him to the third bedroom in the ground floor family apartments. Jane looked at her quizzically.

"It is fortunate we had these rooms cleaned. The stairs would be much too difficult to maneuver," her aunt responded.

"I agree. But won’t the others think it a trifle. . .odd?"

"I am more concerned with Lord Royce’s speedy recovery than I am the glib tongues of our guests."

Jane laughed. "Just remember the quote about gossip you copied in your journal and made me read."

"Touché, my dear. It is always easier to preach than to practice. But what would they expect a man with a game leg to be able to do? Let alone wish to do, under the circumstances," she said, a hint of acerbic humor coloring her words. "I have to go to the stillroom for my salves. Would you please request Mrs. Phibbs to get some clean linens to wrap the ankle in? Then you’d best see about taking his lordship a large medicinal glass of port. After the jarring the ankle has taken already, it will hurt when I touch it, but we have no choice."

"Lord Royce was correct. You would have been an able commander!" Jane wryly observed before she went off to do her aunt’s bidding.

The guests and the children arrived at Penwick as Elsbeth was preparing to slather one of her salves on the earl’s ankle. Lady Serena insisted on visiting with the earl to offer her sympathies. The rest of the picnic party followed, trooping through the small bedroom in order to see for themselves that he was not seriously hurt and that Lady Elsbeth could be trusted to bandage his ankle. While their questions ruffled Lady Elsbeth, they served to amuse the earl. Soon he was laughing and exchanging quips with the marquis and promising Sir Helmsdon he’d serve him a like turn.

Lady Serena came up beside her younger sister, her back pointedly to the earl. "Elsbeth, a word, please." she said, sotto voce.

"Not now." Elsbeth turned toward Jane, who stood at the side of the bed cutting linen bandages. "Hand me that piece of cloth, would you please? I want to put it over the bedclothes before I put the salve on. This mixture stains dreadfully."

"Elsbeth! This is important!"

"Then talk to me while I rub salve over Lord Royce’s ankle," Lady Elsbeth returned, her attention on her work.

Lady Serena looked at her, disgusted. "I don’t think the earl should be in this isolated wing with you and Jane. It’s unseemly! He should be moved upstairs with the rest of the guests. Frankly, I can’t see why you stay down in this drafty old set of rooms. There are plenty of rooms upstairs."

"Why do you want the earl upstairs?" Jane asked softly, not caring if her aunt knew she eavesdropped. She made a mental note to chastise herself later for succumbing to Jeremy’s failing. "Would it be so Millicent can conveniently walk in her sleep again?"

Lady Serena glanced disdainfully at Jane, as if she were unworthy of notice. Lady Elsbeth looked at her sister, and then at Jane. "Mr. Hedgeworth?" she asked, amused. She suddenly understood how Millicent had captured her husband.

Her sister’s nostrils flared and her jaw grew rigid. "Don’t be ridiculous!" she snapped. She spun away and stood stiffly by Mr. Burry.

With mock gruffness, Lady Elsbeth shooed everyone toward the door so that she could bandage the earl’s ankle.

Ignoring her sister, Lady Serena folded her hands in front of her and sighed theatrically for the benefit of the others. "Two invalids from an outdoor entertainment. I warned you how it would be, Elsbeth." She was outwardly calm, but anger colored her words.

"Two?" Elsbeth repeated, puzzled.

"My poor dear Millicent is right now upstairs, alone, prostrate from the heat."

Jane glanced up, astonished. She exchanged smiles of surprised amusement with the earl.

Lady Serena saw Jane’s astonishment turning to laughter. "Millicent is a delicate, refined creature," she said archly, implying that Jane was not. "She is devastated by the accident her fainting spell caused. Though I understand, after listening to the boys' ceaseless chatter, that the actual fault must lie with you, Sir Helmsdon. It was your toy that Lord Royce so unfortunately slipped on. Ah, well," she continued quickly, refusing to allow Sir Helmsdon an answer, "there is no coin in consideration of what might have been. Now my poor Millicent bears two burdens: her ill health and her guilt. Not to mention the dreadful bruises I fear will show by morning. Poor child. Elsbeth, do you have some medicine that might also relieve my daughter’s suffering?"

Lady Elsbeth nodded. "When I’ve finished here," she said shortly, not trusting herself to say more.

Lady Serena smiled. "Of course. Now, everyone out so my sister may tend to Lord Royce and afterward, dear Millicent." She held the door open and looked pointedly at the others. All but Jane and Lord Conisbrough moved to obey. She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow. "Do you think it wise, Elsbeth, for Jane to stay in a man’s room?" she said for all to hear.

"I have need of Jane’s assistance. The only problems I could foresee would be those created by malicious, unwarranted gossip. Be that as it may, Serena, what is it you expect the earl to do in his present state?"

Lady Serena spasmodically opened and closed her mouth like a landed fish. Then color rose up her neck and her eyebrows pulled together. "There is no need to be crude, Elsbeth," she said austerely, tossing her head in the air and leaving the room. The door closed smartly behind her.

Those left in the room were silent a moment, then burst into laughter.

"We should not laugh," Lady Elsbeth said, taking a strip of cloth from Jane and winding it around the earl’s ankle. "Millicent may indeed be ill."

"Elsbeth, I can assure you the only illnesses Millicent is suffering from are jealousy and embarrassment. "

"You should be flattered, Miss Grantley," said the earl, toasting her silently with his port glass.

Jane flushed. "Oh, not of me, my lord. Of my nephews. You were paying more attention to two ‘scrubby schoolroom brats’ than to her."

The earl sighed heavily. "I knew it would somehow come around to being my fault," he said ruefully.

"You would have done better to hit your ankle with a cricket bat," Lord Conisbrough offered as he held up the injured member to allow Lady Elsbeth to bandage it.

"Oh, but this was so much more dramatic, I think!" Jane declared, her green eyes glinting. "I do have a complaint with you over this, Lord Royce. You have quite spoiled my plans for tomorrow’s entertainments. We were planning games and recreations for tomorrow. My brother-in-law is a great sport and game enthusiast, consequently Penwick is furnished with all manner of equipment. Court tennis, pall mall, battledore and shuttlecock, shovelboard, archery—"

"Enough, Miss Grantley!" Royce said, laughing. "I perceive my clumsiness was well-timed. Lady Elsbeth, how long will you have me trussed up in this manner?" he asked, waving his hand to indicate the thick bandage wrapped about his ankle.

Lady Elsbeth rinsed her hands of the salve. "Not for long, my lord. You will be surprised, come morning, to discover that the ankle will begin to bear weight, though it will be best to avoid walking and to keep it as immobile as possible. The salve will take down most of the swelling and should soothe the ankle. I must apply the salve twice a day as long as any swelling exists, then once a day for two to three days more. Now I suggest you rest. Come, Jane, we’ve left our guests to their own devices far too long."

Jane nodded and began to move away from the bed only to feel her hand captured by a strong, masculine one. She looked around in confusion.

Royce smiled. It was a smile that reached his eyes, lighting the darkest, shadow-haunted, corners. It was the roguish smile that gave truth to his sobriquet, the Devil’s Disciple. Jane felt a rush of liquid warmth surging through her body. It was followed by those strange, prickly tingles.

"Thank you," he said softly. He grinned, then released her hand.

She nodded and turned to follow her aunt out the door, an unreasoning disappointment settling in the vicinity of her heart.