17

 

The three carriages turned from the main road into Castle Drummond’s long drive.

Cailin pushed open the window of her bedchamber and leaned out. Guests already half-filled their twenty guest rooms. Evidently titled English gentry thought nothing of overstaying their welcome. But surely her mother-in-law would not need three carriages for a brief over-night visit. Was this gloom she couldn’t overcome good for the baby? Probably not.

Clattering and crunching on the gravel, creaking of the carriages, and shouts of “whoa” filled the air.

Servants ran to service the newcomers.

She pulled her head back inside, smoothed her day gown, and tucked errant curls into the brown velvet band around her head. She sighed deeply, straightened her shoulders, and forced her low-heeled slippers to move in the direction of the door.

She had invited the dowager. Now she must get some answers.

Slowly she descended the main staircase and pasted on a smile.

The servants were still ushering the visitors into the drawing room. She entered directly behind them.

“Milady, where should we take all these trunks?”

“George, take the dowager’s trunks to the large, yellow guest room. I shall have to sort out what else goes where later.” She laid a hand on the tiny flutter in her stomach. Had breakfast disagreed with her?

Five elegant ladies gazed at her. She walked directly to the dowager who was already ensconced on the wine velvet settee at the center of a cluster of chairs in the comfortable room. She curtsied and took Avondale’s mother’s extended ring-covered hand. “I’m so pleased you could come.”

The dowager smiled a genuine and very kind smile.

A spray of joy radiated through Cailin. She motioned to the other ladies. “Please do be seated.” And she sat on the edge of a chair facing her mother-in-law.

“May I introduce Lady Jane, Lady Sarah, Lady Marie, and Lady Anne?” the dowager nodded to each lady in turn. Each of the much younger ladies nodded, smiled, and settled straight-backed and poised into their chairs.

“My friends did not wish me to travel alone.”

“Of course not. And you all are most welcome. I do recognize each of you from my wedding and I’m so pleased you could come.” She glanced at her butler standing just inside the door. “Please serve low tea. I’m sure the ladies would like some refreshment.”

Each woman nodded and murmured appropriate answers.

“And, George, please put the ladies’ trunks in the room they used during the wedding week.”

George hastened off. His low voice issuing orders floated back into the drawing room.

The dowager perched her pince-nez on the bridge of her nose and peered at her as if she was a prize mare. “Dear Cailin. We shall only be staying the night. We are on our journey back to court. The king has summoned us, and we shall not want to keep him waiting.” She smiled and patted Cailin’s hand with her wrinkled, warm one as if they had been close friends for years.

Cailin stifled a gasp. Was this the same woman who had been so snobbish? This was a woman she could take into her heart and perhaps even confide in. Did opposite personalities residing in one body run in the duke’s family? Why hadn’t this woman been as gracious and accepting at the wedding? “Certainly you don’t want to keep the king waiting, but you are welcome to stay as long as visiting here suits you.” She offered a heart-felt smile. “You are a part of my family now, and I love having you here with us.”

The dowager beamed. Her entire face radiated warmth. “My dear, I was so very pleased when you wrote you carried Avondale’s heir.” Her ample chest expanded. “I am elated.” She brushed at a tear caught in a wrinkle at the corner of her hazel eye. “You are an exemplary wife. I am quite proud of you.”

Warmth heated Cailin’s cheeks and rushed all the way down to her neckline. So, that was why the woman had changed.

“You are so delicate appearing, I feared you might have problems getting in the family way.” She glanced at her ladies. “I took the liberty of bringing my own mid-wife. She has delivered a healthy babe during a difficult birth even when the mother so unfortunately passed.”

Cailin swallowed.

Obviously in a choice of saving either the mother or the child, the mid-wife had been instructed to save the oh-so-valuable heir. A son could not be replaced, but a wife so easily could.

Her stomach fluttered again. She forced a smile. If lives were in danger, she too would make that same choice and save her child. Already her love for her unborn baby was paramount in her life. Not because he was an heir, but simply because she loved him.

“Thank you, Dowager Duchess. I am happy you are so very thoughtful. I’m more than grateful you brought her.” She clasped cold hands together and gazed at the four ladies staring at her.

The one with the steely glint in her eye held up a stern finger. “I have had much experience in birthing.”

“Ah, Lady Anne. I believe I have heard rumors to that effect.”

“Yes, my skill is well-known. I shall be staying throughout your confinement and shall oversee your delivery.”

“I’m grateful. But, of course, my father is also bringing in our family surgeon. I’m certain he will be glad of your help.” Why did she feel as if a net was being drawn around her?

“You will find I can assist greatly in your day-to-day care.” Lady Anne’s smile, the way she sat with her shoulders back and hands clasping her fan, and her school-master expression showed she would allow no objections to her ministrations.

Cailin’s neck tensed.

The most robust of the four ladies nodded. “And I am quite well-known in court as the most capable person in England to oversee a wet nurse. I shall be taking over the heir’s care as soon as Lady Anne delivers him.”

Cailin’s mouth dropped. She failed to hide her involuntary shudder. “Thank you so much, Lady Sarah, but I am perfectly capable of nursing my own child. And I shall be responsible for his care myself.”

“Tsk tsk, Cailin. No duchess takes on those onerous duties.” Her mother-in-law patted Cailin’s hand. “My dear, you will be so happy to have the help I’m providing. You will find birthing a baby is exhausting, and my ladies are the best in England.” She rose, and warm, flabby arms embraced Cailin’s shoulders. “My ladies will oversee your diet and make certain you do not overtax yourself. I myself shall return after the king’s Christmas ball in time to be included in the heir’s birth.” She smiled around the room. “And, of course, Cailin will move into a separate bedchamber. Sometime men forget how delicate a mother-to-be’s condition is, and insist on her wifely duty.” She beamed. “We shall have none of that inside this castle.”

Cailin gasped. She could not force out a word.

“I’m overtired after my trip. I shall forego tea and go directly to my room.” The royal mother’s jeweled hand squeezed Cailin’s arm. “And you, my daughter, look a bit pale. I strongly suggest you take to your bed.”

Were her feet rooted to the carpet? Was her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth? She wanted answers to save her marriage. Instead a tyrant had moved into the castle.

George brought in the tea things. The scent of jasmine tea sent her stomach into a roil. She’d not had the morning sickness. And definitely not in mid-afternoon, but she must hurry to find a chamber pot.

 

****

 

As morning sun shone through the long hall windows, Cailin rapped her knuckles on the dowager’s door.

“My maid has finished packing. You may come inside and take my trunk to my carriage,” the dowager called through the closed door.

“It’s Cailin. May I have a private word with you before you take your leave?”

Faint rustling floated through the carved wood, and then the door burst open. “Of course, my dear. Come inside.” A look of implacable determination tightened her mother-in-law’s face.

Cailin walked inside and the woman motioned her to take a chair. She perched on the edge and opened her mouth.

“You do look better this morning. Lady Anne and Lady Sarah are seeing to your welfare, I trust.”

“Yes.” Cailin cleared her throat. “Actually they are—”

“You will become accustomed to their help. I suggest you relax and leave everything in their capable hands.” The dowager strode to the window and gazed out. “Where is that servant of yours? I’m sure you don’t let your people get away with incompetence. I really must be on my way.”

“He will be here shortly. I—”

“The horses and carriage are waiting.”

“Yes, but I really must have a word with you.” Cailin rose and joined her mother-in-law at the window.

Below them the horses were indeed pawing the gravel with impatience.

She put a hand on the older woman’s arm. “Avondale is behaving in quite a strange fashion. I hope you can advise me.”

The woman sighed, plodded over to a chair and dropped into it as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. “What strange behavior?”

Cailin sat on a chair facing her. She straightened her shoulders, gazed into the troubled hazel eyes opposite her, and related everything about Avondale that puzzled and upset her. “Has he ever had strange dreams and fears?”

The dowager reached out and took her hand. “I’m so sorry, my dear.” She lowered her head and peeled off her gloves. “Geoffrey showed signs of being a bit odd as a young man. Still, almost until he reached his majority he was fairly normal.” She sighed. “Then he had spells where he seemed a different person.” She shook her head. “I think the problems started with the accident on his horse. He and a group of his friends were following the hounds chasing a fox. His big hunter refused a hedge and Geoffrey sailed over his head and landed on the other side. He was still unconscious when they brought him back to the estate.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“He was ill for some time. Occasionally acted as if he didn’t know where he was.” Her eyes took on a far-away look. “We hid his problem, and the bouts of darkness and hearing of voices seldom occurred. Then this war with the Highlanders erupted. Geoffrey was at court, and then taking his turn in the House of Lords. When he returned home his spells had increased and so had his ravings. Something weighed on his conscience and troubled him greatly.”

Cailin nodded. “And?”

“I could no longer keep his odd behavior secret, and his betrothed, the daughter of Count Spencer, broke their engagement.”

Cailin gulped and gazed down at her folded hands.

“His actions grew so strange that rumors abounded.” Her fingers trembled as she took Cailin’s hand. “He gambled away most of our money.” Tears filled her eyes. “Before his injury, my son was not interested in gambling dens. I’m still not certain that’s where the money went, but it is gone.” She swiped at her face with her balled gloves. “We still have our lands, our estates, and our houses in London. There’s no worries for Geoffrey’s heir, but thanks to his reputation for madness, he was quite ruined. No titled English lady would have him.” She wrung her hands. “And if he doesn’t produce a male heir, and the crown declares him incompetent, my nephew will inherit everything. Including Geoffrey’s title.”

She leaned forward. “I love my son. I could not have him rendered penniless, so I was desperate to have him appear normal at his wedding. That’s why I spent every minute with him. I couldn’t chance letting him out of my sight.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have married him?”

Cailin shook her head.

“You were my last hope.” The royal mother smiled through her tears. “And you are expecting the heir. You’ve done so well, my dear. I will never forget your service and will help you and the duke apparent in every way I can.”

Cailin had never felt more like a piece of chattel. Still, the woman meant well. And perhaps Avondale could yet be healed. “How long ago did he fall?”

“It’s been four years now. But his behavior grows worse each passing year.”

And she was the sacrificial lamb. “So I can never expect a normal marriage with a man in his right mind?”

“Never is a very long time.”

A hard knock sounded at the door. “I’ve come for your trunks, Milady.”

Her mother-in-law jumped to her feet and turned towards the door.

Cailin grasped her arm and pulled her to a halt. “How can I help him?”

“Laudanum when he grows out of control. I’ve ordered Hennings to act as his body-guard. He’s a good man.”

“But the nightmares. The demons he fears? How can I help him?”

“My dear, Geoffrey is a stalwart, loving man. His problems grew much worse after The Jacobite Rising. I think he suffered an additional trauma because of that Highland problem. The massacre at Culloden seemed to send him over the edge. Perhaps having this heir will bring him back to his senses.”

Her mouth tightened. “Your duty is to keep Geoffrey’s escapades secret and protect your child. You must not let my son touch you until this heir is born. Everything depends on this child. Had I not been ordered to court in Geoffrey’s stead, I would remain here and guard your health myself.” She nodded. “Good day. I shall return at Christmastide.” Her wrinkled lips kissed Cailin’s cheek. “If his behavior gets out of hand, you must lock him away.” She walked out of the room and down the stairs.

Cailin watched from the window as the dowager’s weight on the steps bowed the coach.

The other two coaches followed, one carrying Lady Jane and the other Lady Marie.

Cailin dropped on the settee and covered her face. Her poor, dear, wounded husband. Surely she could do more for him than drug him, keep him under guard, and lock him inside the castle.

Whatever she did, she would certainly not move out of Avondale’s bedchamber.