The Dangerous Lord Darrington (5 page)

Normally Beth would have laughed off such a comment, but the fact that the earl was present to hear it made her feel out of reason cross. She turned to her sister.

‘Sophie my love, will you have time to help me today? We need to gather more comfrey leaves.’

‘More?’ said Lady Arabella. ‘But you went out collecting comfrey only last week. Surely you have enough?’

‘Rudge tells me the old mare requires another poultice, ma’am,’ Beth explained patiently.

‘Then let him go and gather the leaves,’ retorted her grandmother. ‘He is, after all, the groom—or he could send the stable boy.’

‘Really I do not mind going,’ said Sophie quickly. ‘I know exactly where to find the best comfrey plants and shall collect a whole basketful. Then we shall have leaves to dry as well as fresh ones to use now.’ She smiled across the table at Lady Arabella. ‘You need have no fear, Grandmama. I shall be back in time to read the papers to you while you are resting before dinner.’

‘You have both forgotten our guest may need entertaining.’

The earl shook his head. ‘Not at all, my lady. I am very happy to amuse myself.’

‘Lord Darrington is, of course, welcome to join us on our expedition,’ Beth offered politely but Guy did not miss the look of relief that crossed her features when he declined.

He said, ‘I expect the carriage to arrive from Highridge at any moment and I propose to take a stroll along the drive to look out for it.’

‘Then if you will excuse us, we will collect our baskets and be off. Come, Sophie.’

The two young ladies disappeared, Lady Arabella made her way to the morning room, declaring that she was going to write her letters, and Guy was left alone. After assuring himself that Davey was still asleep, he made his way to the entrance and descended the steep stone steps to the drive. It was a bright, sunny morning with just a hint of autumn in the air and it was hard to believe that only the night before he had followed the farmhands as they carried Davey’s body through the rain, up these same steps and into the house. He looked around him with interest at the old building. The original refectory with its gabled roof now housed the main entrance and great hall. Beside the steps was an ancient arched doorway, leading to the undercroft. Intrigued, Guy tried the door, but it was locked. Wandering on, he soon spotted the stable block and made his way across to it. He noted with approval the tidy yard and quickly strode across the swept cobbles and through the high-arched entrance to the stables. Inside he found an iron-haired groom inspecting Davey’s bay mare. The man touched his cap when he saw Guy approaching.

‘Rudge, isn’t it?’ Guy addressed him pleasantly and nodded towards the mare. ‘No injuries, I hope?’

‘No, sir, she’s in fine fettle. As is your hunter, my lord. We brushed ’em down, fed and watered ’em as we would our own. They was a bit shaken, but they’re both as good as new, now.’

‘Well, that’s good news.’ Guy smiled. ‘I would not want to add to your work when you already have one lame horse to worry about.’

‘Sir?’

‘Your mistress said this morning there was an old mare needed a poultice.’

Slowly the groom shook his head. ‘Not in these stables, my lord. I check them all every morning and I’d know if there was summat wrong.’

Guy frowned for a moment, then shrugged.

‘No matter, mayhap I misunderstood her.’ He heard the rattle of an approaching carriage. ‘Ah, that should be Mr Davies’s man—and my groom. I hope you will be able to accommodate Holt in your stables, Rudge? He is a useful man, and of course he will defer to you,’ he added quickly, making a mental note to talk to Holt before he set him to work.

Guy made his way back to the front drive in time to see his travelling chariot sweep into view. Holt was riding on the back seat and jumped down nimbly even before the carriage had stopped. A few words sufficed to send him hurrying off to the stables and Guy was then free to observe Peters, Mr Davies’s diminutive but very efficient valet, and the various trunks and bags that he had brought to the Priory.

In a very short time Peters had made himself at home in the sickroom, unpacking the bags and even finding time to shave his master in readiness for Dr Compton’s next visit. However, Guy would not allow the valet to remove Mr Davies’s borrowed nightshirt until the doctor had pronounced the patient well enough to be moved. Davey himself, sleepy from laudanum and irritable from discomfort, swore roundly and wished them at the very devil, his outburst bringing a rare smile to his servant’s rather austere countenance.

‘It is good to see that you are recovering, sir,’ he murmured as he walked out of the room with the shaving apparatus.

‘Damn your eyes, why did you have to send for him?’ grumbled Davey. His fair hair was ruffled and his boyish face was uncharacteristically glum.

‘Because he is the best person to look after you,’ returned Guy, unperturbed. He perched himself on the edge of the bed. ‘But tell me truthfully, how do you feel?’

‘Like the very devil! I don’t think there is a part of me that doesn’t hurt. Can’t laugh or cough without a stabbing pain in my ribs, my wrist feels as if it’s sprained and my leg—’ He glanced up and Guy saw the anxiety lurking in his guileless blue eyes. ‘Is it…?’

‘Broken, nothing more serious. The doctor has set it and thinks it should heal perfectly, if you will be patient.’

‘And where are we? I don’t recognise this house, nor the servants.’

‘Malpass Priory, near Fentonby. It is the home of Lady Arabella Wakeford. Do you know her?’

Davey frowned. ‘No. I’ve heard the name, though.’

‘So have I.’ Guy frowned. ‘Cannot quite recall where I have seen it. They are a very old family, I understand.’ A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. ‘The Wakefords were ennobled long before the Wylders gained their earldom.’

‘Well, their house is certainly old enough,’ remarked Davey, staring at the gracefully arching window with its leaded lights. ‘But thankfully they have had the wisdom to renew the mattress on this old bed! Have they put you up, too? Are you comfortable?’

‘The room is comfortable enough.’

Davey did not miss the hesitation in Guy’s tone and he said bluntly, ‘Are we inconveniencing the family?’

‘I am not sure.’ Guy rubbed his chin. ‘The old lady seems happy enough to have us here and they were quick enough to take you in last night, but I have the distinct impression her granddaughter doesn’t want me here.’ He shrugged. ‘Perhaps I am unjust. It may be that she is uneasy having gentlemen in the house. The old lady lives here alone, you see, with her two granddaughters—there was a grandson, but I understand he died at sea some eighteen months ago.’

‘That will be it, then,’ said Davey sagely. ‘The women are afraid of being ravaged by the Dangerous Lord Darrington! Don’t worry—I’ll soon make it known that you are housetrained and only seduce women who throw themselves at you.’

‘Thank you, my friend, but I would prefer you to say no such thing.’ Guy noted his friend’s pallor and rose. ‘All this talking has tired you. Rest now until the doctor arrives. I could send for your own doctor from Helmsley if you prefer, but Compton seems able enough.’

‘No, no, I don’t want anyone else fussing over me.’ Davey waved his hand. ‘Go away, now, and let me sleep. And tell Peters to keep out of my sight until after the sawbones has been to see me!’

Encouraged by his friend’s return to spirits, Guy went out. He intended to go back to his own room and check his bag to see what changes of clothes his man had sent for him, but the sound of voices coming from the great hall drew him instead to descend the stairs.

He observed a tall, fashionably dressed gentleman standing before the fireplace. He had removed his Holland hat of brushed beaver to display a heavily powdered wig tied back into a queue with a green ribbon. He wore brown breeches and highly polished topboots, and the gloves and cane that lay on the bench beside his hat suggested he had arrived on horseback.

As Guy reached the bottom stair the man became aware of his presence and swung round towards him. He subjected Guy to a searching scrutiny before giving a little bow.

‘You must be Lord Darrington,’ he said pleasantly. ‘Allow me to present myself. Miles Radworth, at your service.’

Ah,
thought Guy.
The fiancé. That might explain the underlying reserve.

‘Kepwith has been telling me of the accident,’ continued Mr Radworth. ‘I trust your friend has sustained no serious injury?’

‘A few cracked ribs and a broken leg, but nothing more, we hope. We are awaiting the doctor now.’

‘Excellent, excellent. Let us hope he has good news for you. You will be wanting to get your friend back to his own house, I don’t doubt.’

Guy met Radworth’s smile with one equally bland.

‘All in good time,’ he responded. ‘Lady Arabella has been most hospitable. We are very comfortable here.’

‘Ah. I’m glad to hear it,’ came the insincere reply.

A rustle of skirts made both men look towards the door.

‘Miles! I did not expect you here today.’

Beth Forrester came in, pausing to remove her straw bonnet, and at that moment the sun shone in through the high window in the gable wall, bathing her in a golden glow. Guy could not but appreciate the effect: her red curls flamed about her head, accentuating the whiteness of her skin and the deep, liquid depths of her brown eyes. With the grey redingote hanging open from her shoulders and her white skirts billowing as she moved, Guy was suddenly reminded of an oil painting he had seen once, by one of the old Italian masters: an angel descending to the earth. As if to confirm his impression the glinting sun created a halo around her flaming head as she tossed aside her bonnet and held out her hands to Miles Radworth.

‘I had not planned to come,’ he said, lifting her fingers to his lips, ‘but when word reached me that there had been an accident—’

‘But not to me.’ She smiled up at him, her fingers squeezing his briefly before she disengaged herself and moved away. ‘You have met Lord Darrington?’

‘We introduced ourselves,’ murmured Guy. ‘Was your search successful, ma’am? Did you find the leaves you required?’

‘Yes, two full baskets! I gave them to Sophie to take to the still room rather than trail them through the house.’

‘Comfrey leaves, was it not?’ he asked. ‘To make a compress for your lame horse?’

She shot a quick look at him.

‘Why, yes, comfrey has many uses. We shall dry some, of course. The weather is turning now and the leaves are dying back, so this was our last opportunity to gather them.’ She turned to Miles Radworth again. ‘So you rode over to assure yourself that all was well here? That was kind.’

He bowed. ‘I was hoping you might invite me to stay for dinner, even though Lady Arabella might look a little askance at my informal dress.’

Guy wondered if he imagined the heartbeat’s hesitation before her reply.

‘But of course, Miles, that would be delightful. You know us too well to stand on ceremony, so you will not be offended when I say that I shall be obliged to leave you to entertain yourself for a while. I am expecting Dr Compton here at any moment to attend Mr Davies.’

‘I have no wish to add to your burdens,’ Radworth replied quickly. ‘Perhaps there is something I can do, read the newspaper to Lady Arabella, for example. You know you may trust me to do that.’

She smiled at him. ‘Yes, of course I do, Miles, but Sophie has offered to read to Grandmama, so there really is nothing for you to do.’

‘You insist upon treating me as a guest,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Come November…’

‘Come November everything will be different,’ she responded quietly. ‘For today, however, perhaps you could show the earl the library, Miles? You are almost as familiar with the rare books and artefacts in there as I am.’

‘Thank you, but I had planned to accompany Mrs Forrester and Dr Compton to the sickroom,’ put in Guy, mildly irritated by the thought that others should organise his time.

‘Is that quite necessary?’

Radworth’s question was posed lightly, but Guy found his hackles rising.

‘Perhaps not, but perfectly understandable,’ Beth interposed smoothly. ‘I have no doubt Lord Darrington is anxious for his friend. In fact, we will go upstairs now, my lord, if you wish, and make sure all is in readiness. Doctor Compton is no stranger here and will make his own way up when he arrives. So, Miles, I pray you will make yourself comfortable in the library and I will join you again as soon as I can.’

Thus dismissed, Radworth nodded and walked away. Neither Guy nor Beth moved until the library door had closed behind him.

‘As a matter of fact, I have just come down from Davies’s room,’ said Guy. ‘He was looking tired so I promised he would not be disturbed again until the doctor’s arrival.’

She raised her brows at him. ‘But you did not think to say so before I sent Miles away?’

‘I did not think Radworth desired more of my company.’

‘He is anxious that you should not impose upon me.’

‘You are very quick to defend him.’

Her chin went up a little. ‘Of course. We are betrothed. Besides, he has been very kind to us. A true friend.’

Guy met her eyes, trying to interpret her look, half-defensive, half-defiant.

‘And you will marry him in November.’

‘Yes.’