The earl was alone in the galleried library when she arrived, and he looked oddly out of place among the sedate shelves of leather-bound volumes, for the room was elegant and tasteful, which James Grenville, Earl of Langford, most certainly was not.
His corpulent shape was unfortunately emphasized by his fashionably tight turquoise coat and by the Apollo corset he quite obviously wore beneath. The corset attempted unsuccessfully to draw in his vanished waist and to puff out his chest, but the effect was alarming, as if at any moment his restrained figure would burst free of the confines which held it. He wore Cossack trousers, a fashion he had eagerly adopted in 1814, two years previously, when the czar had visited England. Their loose, baggy style was decidedly at odds with his tightly corseted upper half, making him look as if everything that was squeezed so much above his waist had somehow sagged beneath to fill out his posterior and his legs. What hair he had was arranged in hyacinthine curls through which gleamed a great deal of pink scalp, the backs of his hands were blanched, there was rouge on his cheeks and lips, and he surveyed her critically through a quizzing glass. He looked quite ridiculous, although she knew he was far from being that in actual fact.
His shrewd, sharp eyes moved slowly over her, his lips curled disagreeably, and he did not offer her any civility, neither greeting her cordially nor asking her to be seated. They stood facing each other.
“Madam, I wish to make things abundantly clear to you from the outset. In your husband’s incapacity, I am legally the master here.”
“I am aware of that.”
“I’ll warrant you are. By God, madam, you astound me. You come here, no doubt expecting to be treated like a lady, and then you subject Miss Townsend and her mother to a quite appalling display of ill humor and vulgarity!”
Laura stiffened, not bothering to hide the loathing she felt for him.
“A lady!” he went on. “When it is quite obvious that that is the last thing you are.”
“And what do you mean by that remark?” she asked coldly, loathing him more and more with each passing second.
“I mean that your actions hitherto have hardly been those of a person of quality, have they? You brazenly contrived to marry a man who was believed to be on his deathbed, and who may yet die, simply to ensure for yourself the comforts of a wealthy life!”
“How dare you, you of all lamentable creatures, dare to point a finger at me when your own conduct is far more iniquitous! You made no secret of your delight when you heard that Nicholas was dead, which fact is a clear indication that you are a very base coin, sirrah! As to my conduct with Miss Townsend and her mother, all I can say is that when it comes to vulgarity, they leave me at the post! All three of you are the most despicable insects it has ever been my misfortune to encounter, for I swear that I did not believe anyone could be as low as you.”
“Hold your tongue!” he cried, his rage erupting viciously as he raised his hand to strike her.
She held her ground. “Strike me if you wish, for that would be further proof of your cowardly nature.”
His whole body trembled, gripped by powerful, barely controlled emotion, and his small eyes were very bright and dangerous, but he did not strike her; instead he vented his wrath upon a vase, sweeping it from the table so that it shattered against the shelves.
She was frightened, but she did not move or show that he had any effect upon her. Looking into his eyes at that moment, however, she knew that he was capable of sinking to any depth, of committing any crime in order to have what he wanted. She found herself wondering again what it was that he had done that so frightened Augustine and her mother now.
After a long, tense moment, he recovered, assuming his former arrogant stance. “This interview is at an end, madam. Remember only that although you bear my cousin’s name, as far as I am concerned, and as far as Miss Townsend and her mother are concerned, you have no rights at all.”
She said nothing, turning on her heel and leaving the library without a backward glance.
She had not reached Nicholas’s room before she found her way barred by Augustine. A cool smile touched the perfect lips. “I trust you enjoyed your interview, my lady.”
Laura did not deign to reply, she was so filled with disgust still after her encounter with James Grenville. She began to walk on.
Augustine’s yellow muslin gown hissed a little as she turned, and the ribbons moved against the shining red hair. “You cannot hope to succeed, you know; any plan you may have is doomed from the outset. I already know from Nicholas’s own tips that he doesn’t want you, that he wishes he had never, in a moment of great stress, taken you as his wife.”
Laura halted, hiding the pain that stabbed through her. “You seem certain that he will remain ignorant about you, Miss Townsend. It could be that you underestimate him.”
“It is you who underestimates me. I play my cards with great skill, I assure you, and I simply cannot lose with the excellent hand I have. If Nicholas survives, then he and this house are mine. If he dies, then there is the earl, who wants me so very much and who is also providentially Nicholas’s heir.”
“You are sure of the earl, are you?” asked Laura, not daring to be too clever, for that might convey to Augustine that she had maybe overheard something she should not.
“I am sure of my ability to gain whatever end I wish, whether it be your husband, or his cousin.”
“Are you not fearful that you may be overheard?”
“Who is there here but yourself, my lady? And of what consequence are you? None whatsoever. Good day, my lady.” With a swish of costly muslin, she continued on her way, leaving Laura to gaze after her.
Unbidden, Augustine’s taunting words returned. I already know from Nicholas’s own lips that he doesn’t want you, that he wishes he had never, in a moment of great stress, taken you as his wife…. She bit her lip, fighting back the tears. Let it not be true that he had said that, please let it not be true….
Slowly she walked on. What else could she in her heart expect, though? It was Augustine he loved, and it was Augustine he would want at his side. She hesitated at his door, dreading that she would see in his eyes that he had indeed said those words. Taking a deep breath then, she forced herself to go inside.
Daniel was inspecting the dressing on Nicholas’s arm. “I will endeavor to cause as little distress as possible,” he said, beginning to undo the bandage.
Nicholas nodded slightly, turning his head to look at Laura as she went to the bedside. She saw how he shivered still, but not as violently as before. His eyes were so very tired and dull, but although they bore witness to the great strain he had been under over the past weeks, she could read nothing else in them. Carefully, Daniel tried to remove the final portion of bandage, but he inevitably disturbed the wound so that Nicholas gasped as an excruciating pain washed over him, draining his face of what little color it had and bringing the perspiration instantly to his forehead.
Daniel worked as swiftly as possible, putting on a fresh dressing and fastening it firmly. He straightened then. “Forgive me, I did my best.”
“I know.” Nicholas began to shiver again, and his voice was a whisper.
“You must take some more bark.”
“I’m awash with the stuff.”
“You won’t drown, I promise you.” Daniel smiled as he poured some liquid from the jug and held the cup to Nicholas’s pale lips. “The fever is down a little, and in a day or so it will be gone.”
“And then?”
“Then we consider removing the ball from your arm. You know that I would not attempt anything unless I thought it vital.”
Nicholas nodded a little, looking at Laura. “Is all well?”
She felt Daniel’s warning look and smiled. “Yes, Nicholas.”
He seemed to relax then, and Daniel took up a phial of laudanum, “I think that I should administer some more of this, Nicholas.”
“Do your worst.”
Nicholas closed his eyes when he had taken the laudanum, and a little later Daniel drew Laura out into the passageway, closing the door.
“How was the noble earl?”
“Odious in the extreme.”
“What had he to say?”
“That he was master of the house for the time being and that I had no rights whatsoever as far as he was concerned.”
He nodded. “From what Charles Dodswell says, he is within his rights to say that.”
“And there is nothing which can be done about it?”
“Only if we risk telling Nicholas how bad things are, and as his doctor I cannot allow that to happen. You do understand, don’t you, Lady Grenville?”
She smiled up into his dark eyes. “Of course I do.”
He kissed her hand. “I wonder if Nicholas Grenville knows how lucky a man he is?”
She drew her hand away slowly. “You do my bruised pride much good, Dr. Tregarron.” She turned then as Hawkins approached. “Yes?”
“My lady, the ledgers and books you requested from Mr. Dodswell have arrived. Where do you wish them to be placed?”
“In my room.”
“Very well, my lady.”
Daniel looked at her. “Charles was right, you know, you will find them dry reading.”
“Maybe.”
“Positively.”
She smiled.
“You are too pale, Lady Grenville; I prescribe an invigorating ride this afternoon. And as your doctor, I will ride with you to make certain the treatment works.” He held up a strict finger. “No, I will not hear any argument. We ride together this afternoon.”
“But—”
“This afternoon.” He left her, going back into Nicholas’s room.
“But I haven’t a riding habit,” she said to the closed door.
* * *
Luncheon in the presence of the earl and the Townsend cats was too much, and any doubt Laura may have had about the advisability of riding in a gown fled out of the window. At the appointed time, she presented herself on the portico steps. Daniel was waiting for her, and a groom held the reins of two horses.
Daniel’s eyes swept over her. “A gown for riding?”
“I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen.”
“Doctors never listen to stubborn patients who argue with their diagnoses.” He took her hand and then lifted her lightly up on to the saddle of the smaller horse. “Maybe we should be discreet and ride only in Langford Woods—the teacups would positively thunder if word of your delightful ankles should get out.”
She smiled. “After that odious luncheon, I could not care less.”
“That’s the spirit.”
The ride did indeed do her good. There was something so satisfying about riding a good horse on a fine, warm afternoon, in woods where the bluebells made a carpet of color beneath the fresh green branches.
They said very little as they rode, and she was glad of his companionable silence. She felt very easy in his company, had from the outset, and she wondered about his private life. Surely there was a sweetheart, for a man as good-looking as Daniel Tregarron would not be without female admirers.
They returned to the house, and to her relief she saw the earl’s landau departing. How good it would be if the Townsend cats were with him, but that was not to be, for they were waving from the steps.
They had gone inside when the two horses were reined in by the portico and Daniel dismounted, then helped Laura down. His hands remained on her waist for a moment as he looked at her. “There are roses in your cheeks, my lady, and I do believe my prescription has proved a sovereign remedy for your melancholy.”
“I do feel a lot better, it is true.”
He removed his hands then. “We must ride together again.”
“I would like that. Thank you.” She turned to go up the steps into the house.
He watched her until she passed from sight. Holding her waist like that had brought forth damnable temptation, for it would have been so easy to draw her close and place a kiss upon those sweet lips. After a moment he handed the reins to a waiting groom and then followed her into the house.