SoundsofLove (18 page)

Cathryn continued her smile, which held a hint of victory. “I
believe you owe me half a bottle of brandy.”

Master Aubrey’s glower reversed in an instant, and she burst
out laughing. “I do indeed, Lady Sibley. I have a fine bottle we could share
sometime.”

Cathryn nodded, relieved the woman had taken her comments
with good humor, and determined to hold the ground she had gained. “Sometime
soon, I think.”

Rune escorted Cathryn to a hired carriage and climbed in
beside her. “Lord Ahlquist will want to see you. You wouldn’t want him hearing
of your assault from someone else.”

Cathryn glanced down at her soiled burgundy day dress. She
wanted to bathe and change.

Darbonne seemed to read her mind. “I’ll go check on Violet,
and she can have a few items packed for you. Ahlquist is going to want you
under his roof.”

“Yes, thank you. I think you’re correct.” She did want to
see him, quite desperately now that the time approached. “Vi will know what I
need.”

“Until we know who betrayed you—” His concern was touching,
and she had few allies in London.

“She’s welcome at Ahlquist House as well, of course. Please
ask her to spend the night there.” His face relaxed and she continued, “It may
have been an innocent mistake. Percival is now a baron, and I did not instruct
the new staff to refuse him.”

“I’ll question the staff while Violet packs.”

“Thank you, Rune.” She smiled at him. “I’ll warrant Ahlquist
House has a room for you, as well. I’ll ask Julian for you.”

His face brightened. “Thank you, Cathryn. Ahlquist did
mention a spare room, and the club has become rather drab since I met Violet.”

“She’s a wonderful woman. I don’t know how I would have
survived these past years without her.”

“She’s the loveliest woman I’ve ever met,” he said. “Besides
you, of course.”

“Well, her beauty comes from deep within. You’ll not find a
finer person.” She thought to warn him about Violet’s xenophobic mother, but
held her tongue. There would be time.

“I’ve been thinking the same thing myself but thank you for
confirming it.”

The carriage pulled up to Ahlquist House, and Cathryn began
to shake as she considered telling Julian about the attack. Rune reached across
to her seat and put his large hand over hers. “I’ll come in with you, shall I?”

“It’s not how I pictured entering Ahlquist House.” She
granted him a strained smile. “Perhaps I should have waited to meet the staff
before planning my first house party.”

Rune returned her smile. “He wants to see you.”

The door opened and a footman stood ready to assist her.

“And I, him.” Suddenly, nothing mattered more.

Rune ushered her up the front stairs of the palatial residence,
and a butler opened the door for her and bowed deeply. “Good afternoon, Lady
Sibley.”

She wondered how he knew who she was, but the deep golden
tones of the vast hallway, adorned with three spectacular flower arrangements,
distracted her. Julian had exquisite taste.

The butler reached for her cloak. “I’m Millman, my lady.
Welcome to Ahlquist House.”

“Thank you, Millman. I’ve come to check on the earl.” She
untied her bonnet and handed it to him.

“He’s doing well, my lady. The doctor’s with him as we
speak.”

Rune leaned over and said something Cathryn didn’t catch in
her effort to take in the decoration. Graceful Greek sculptures on pedestals in
the four corners, Louis XVI furnishings, polished parquet floor.

Beautiful…and soon to be hers. She wouldn’t change a thing.

“I’ll show you up myself, my lady.” Millman gestured to one
of four footmen standing in the enormous entrance. “Bring tea straightaway, and
her ladyship likes plenty of cream, same as the earl.”

The footman disappeared, and Cathryn smiled as Millman led
her to the stairs, imagining Julian telling his staff about her likes and
dislikes.

Rune did not follow, and she turned when he said, “I’ll
leave you in Millman’s capable hands, Lady Sibley, and return within the hour
with your things.”

“And Mrs. Pickering’s as well, please.”

He was halfway out the door. “I’ll try to persuade her to
come.”

Cathryn faced Millman. “I know it’s terribly bold of me, but
we’ve had another scare, and—”

“You needn’t explain yourself to me, my lady. We keep a
dozen bedrooms ready for guests.”

“Thank you.”

They had reached the top of the staircase and started down a
long hallway. “May I say, my lady, on behalf of all the staff, how pleased we
are that you’ll be our countess.” They reached a juncture, and Millman led her
to the left down another long corridor.

“Thank you, Millman.” She had a thousand questions to ask as
the new mistress of the household, but it would all wait. She only wanted to
see Julian.

They reached an impressive gilded doorway and the butler
smiled warmly. She waited in the hallway as he knocked and entered the room.

“Lady Sibley, my lord.”

“Here?” she heard Julian exclaim. “Show her in, man.”

He was seated in a chair by the fireplace, but he rose with
some effort when he saw her. “Cathryn, is anything amiss?” A man she recognized
as his physician rose with him.

“No, my lord. Not really, but—”

“Leave us,” he said as he came to her side, and Millman
bowed and left. The doctor went to collect his bag and Julian stopped him, “I’m
sorry. You two have met, of course.” He took her hand in his and kissed her
fingertips as he searched her face.

Dr. Loudon bowed to her. “How’s your shoulder, Lady Sibley?”

“Very well, thank you, I barely notice—”

“You’ve been cut,” Julian interrupted. “What happened?”

Tears welled up and her corset suddenly felt terribly tight.
“Hedges came to the poorhouse today.” She went weak in the knees, and the
doctor and Julian both caught her and helped her to a chair.

“He did this to you?” Julian cupped her chin and stared
closely at the cut.

“Yes, but the children stopped him before he…hurt me.”

Julian released her with a huff. He took three long steps to
the nearest wall and put his fist through it with a loud crack that resounded
throughout the spacious room. A gaping hole remained in the plaster when he
turned to face a stunned Cathryn and the doctor. “Treat her, please, then leave
us.” He shook his hand a few times, and his face was grim.

“My cut was cleaned with alcohol and we put ointment on it,”
Cathryn said quietly to the doctor who stood gawking at Julian. “I think you
can go.”

The man glanced at her jaw and nodded. “Yes, it looks fine.
You might want a quarter dose of paregoric tonight to help you sleep.” He
looked back at Julian. “And you, my lord, shall I have a look at that hand
before I leave?”

Cathryn stared at the perfect circle in the crimson
wallpaper, while Julian allowed the doctor to inspect his hand. What did it say
of him that he reacted so violently? She did not question the provocation;
indeed, she wished she had done something similar instead of allowing her anger
to weaken her. “I’ll ask Millman to send up some ice, but I don’t believe
you’ve damaged anything.” The doctor packed his bag quickly. “I’ll return
tomorrow. Just do whatever you did last night, you’re healing splendidly.”

Cathryn and Julian shared a small smile as the doctor closed
the door behind himself. Julian came to her and dropped lightly to his knees
beside her chair. “Stay with me tonight. The doctor ordered it.” He took her
hands in his and kissed her fingers. She nodded down at him as he curled at her
feet. “I shall obtain a special license tomorrow so I can keep you with me
until Hedges has been dealt with.”

“I’ll not be a bigamist, Julian, not even for you.” She
kissed his glistening brow. “But I’ll defy society and stay with you while we
take the devil to court.”

Three hours later, Cathryn and Julian sat across from Violet
and Rune in the small drawing room off the master suite. Julian insisted that
she join him in wearing informal clothing, and Vi and Rune followed their lead
after they saw the secluded space where they would dine in privacy. After a
light meal of fish and vegetables, served with a crusty loaf of warm white
bread and fresh butter, Cathryn was pleasantly full. A plate of fruit and small
pastries remained on the low cherry table between the twin settees, alongside
the nearly empty bottle of white Bordeaux and four crystal wineglasses.

Rune had just shared his version of the events at Oxford,
and Julian was looking exceptionally heroic to Cathryn. It all sounded terribly
chivalrous.

“I wish I’d finished the task. One never leaves a wounded
animal, they’re too dangerous.” Julian reached for the wine bottle and emptied
the contents into Cathryn’s glass.

She glanced at the two empty bottles over on the side table.
“I’ve had enough to drink, thank you, darling.” She scratched his back lightly.
“You wouldn’t want his death on your conscience.”

Julian exchanged an odd glance with Rune, and Cathryn
suspected he wouldn’t mind Percival’s death a wit. He would probably be glad to
deal the blow, but living with the result might be difficult.

He shrugged and downed the white wine in a gulp. “Shall I
ring for tea?”

“Yes, please. My head is spinning, I’m afraid.” They had
started with sherry.

“Stay there, please.” Vi rose from her seat to pull the
cord. “I can’t believe you’re up and about so soon.”

“My assailant either knew what he was doing and did not
intend to kill me, or he was an amateur, and I am very lucky. Sore, but lucky
either way.” He settled back and took one of Cathryn’s hands in his. “But I
don’t think he and his cronies were amateurs.”

Cathryn smiled and squeezed his hand. “I do wish you could
have seen the children today, saving the day with their wooden swords.” The
memories were bittersweet, and she blinked back tears. “I hope we’re able to
see their performance.”

“You glow when you speak of them. I look forward to thanking
them in person. I thought we could go tomorrow afternoon.”

“You must remember to wear shoes with ties instead of your
boots.”

He brushed back a strand of her hair and caressed her cheek
lightly. “I’ve asked Millman to obtain boots for the children, very much like
the ones I prefer to wear for day. I believe he’s employed every cobbler in
London. They should be there by the afternoon.”

She thanked him with a brush of her lips.

Violet clapped her hands. “Well done, Julian. The children
will adore that.”

She seemed in fine spirits, and Rune gave her an adoring
look. “Could we take our tea in your room, darling? These two look worn out,
and we should let them get some rest.” He rose and tightened the black belt to
his dressing gown.

Vi stood beside him and placed her hand on his chest. “Remember?”

“That doesn’t matter. I only want to be near you.”

She turned her look to Cat. “It’s the full moon tonight.”

As if prompted, an unwelcome twinge struck Cathryn in the
lower belly. Her courses, and Vi’s, aligned with the moon.

A stronger cramping erased her doubts as the couple exited
the room, and she was glad she would have laudanum to ease the pain. When she
went to the necessary and saw tinges on her gown, she knew for certain and her
heart sank. More evidence that she might be barren.

She was glad that she and Julian had made love hours before,
and wondered if he would want her to sleep in her own bed tonight. Vi had
packed rags for her, and she felt a sharp pang of fear as she changed into her
nightgown. Her hands shook as she secured the ends of the cotton clothes. She
dreaded telling Julian.

He had two doses of laudanum in front of him when she
returned to the sitting room. “When I roll over in bed, love, it does ache a
bit, so I think another night or two for me.” She imagined his wound and
bruises did more than ache. Her own heart ached as she reached for her dose.

“I hate to spoil our evening, but it’s…my monthly curse.”
She sipped half the spoonful as she wondered how he would respond, avoiding his
eyes for fear of what she might see there.

His gentle tone soothed her. “This will be a first for me,
love, but I’d like you in my bed.” He took half his dose as well and replaced
his larger spoon by hers. “We’ll be like an old married couple.”

If he shared her frustration over her continued barrenness,
it didn’t show. She wished to be brave about it, but she wanted his child
badly, needed to prove she was a fit wife for an earl. It had been a terribly
long day, and she was drained. Tears filled her eyes as she faced him. “I will
gladly share your bed, but I won’t wed you until I conceive.”

“I have no intention of releasing you from our agreement.”
He drew her into his arms for a long hug. When he pulled back, it was with a
smile. “I’m willing to gamble you’ll bear me a son.”

His faith was reassuring.

He settled her into his good side and they both watched the
fire Millman had stoked. “Do you have any children?” she asked in a small
voice. He was thirty-five and exceptionally virile, so it didn’t seem
far-fetched.

“I do, actually. Two daughters, although neither one knows
I’m her father.” He swallowed hard before he continued. “I’m afraid I cut quite
a swath through Europe on my grand tour. Four years, just out of Cambridge, with
my liberal allowance.” He chuckled. “I barely remember any of it.”

“Why not?”

“I was drunk from noon to midnight most days.”

“Trying to forget Fiona?”

There was a long pause, with the ticking of the grandfather
clock, the crackle of the fire and the steady pounding of his heart bringing
her solace in spite of her nagging doubts.

He inhaled deeply before he spoke. “In part, yes. She put a
hole in my gut worse than the duke’s men did, and she kept twisting the blade
over the years.”