“Love can be a serious business, especially when one is trying to conceal it,” he said, thinking of his own messy situation.
Catherine’s brow cleared. “Of course, that must be it.”
Nicholas’s vision momentarily blurred and dread settled in his belly. Not again. Without a word, he started for the doorway leading outside. He supposed he should head into the house, not outside, but at the moment he was desperate for fresh air.
“My Lord… Nicholas,” Catherine said as she followed him, her concern evident.
He fumbled with the door handle, unable to open it. Catherine reached around him and opened the door for him. He stumbled through, his head beginning to swim in earnest now. Teetering, on the verge of falling, he took a few steps along the side of the conservatory in an effort to escape the stifling air coming through the door before stopping to lean against the outer wall. He took in great lungfuls of air.
Catherine had followed him, anxiety stamped on her features. To be honest, Nicholas was more than a little worried himself. All he could think about at that moment was Louisa and how much he didn’t want to lose her. Not when he’d just found her.
“I’ll go fetch Sommers,” Catherine said.
Nicholas shook his head. He was unable to speak coherently, but he could tell this episode was different from the others. His head was already starting to clear. In a matter of minutes, his swimming vision had cleared and his breathing was no longer constricted.
“Do you want me to help you back into the house? The conservatory is the quickest route—”
“No!” In his panic he’d spoken louder than he intended. He attempted a smile of reassurance. “It is most strange, but I am feeling better now.”
Cautiously, he pushed away from the wall. He braced himself for the inevitable stumble and was baffled when it didn’t come.
He turned to face Catherine. “You know about my condition?” At her nod, he winced inwardly. Soon everyone would know. The thought made him grim. “I thought I was having an attack, but it appears I was mistaken.”
“Has that ever happened before?”
“No, never. I have never had an attack just stop suddenly.”
Catherine’s brow wrinkled. “What were you feeling?”
He supposed he shouldn’t have been taken aback by the forthrightness of her question. He hadn’t known his sister-in-law long, but he already knew it was in her nature to be inquisitive.
“Light-headed, for the most part. I also found it difficult to breathe.”
“And you broke out in a sweat.”
He raised a brow.
“I think I know what caused it. Some of the plants in the conservatory are highly poisonous. Of course, most would only cause symptoms if ingested. Some can leave oils on your skin if you touch them… and you were rubbing your eyes.”
“I was?”
“Yes,” she said. “You were rubbing your temples, here.” She gestured to her own face. “Then you briefly rubbed your eyes.” Sadness crept into her expression. “I’m afraid you should avoid the conservatory. It appears that given your illness, you may be more sensitive to the plants in there.”
His head was swimming again, but this time with the import of her words. Was it possible…? He hated to even consider such a thing, but was it possible that his family’s illness was not due to an inherited condition at all? Was it possible that all the men in his family had suffered because they were sensitive to one of his grandmother’s plants? Even more horrifying was the suspicion that their exposure to that plant hadn’t been accidental.
He hadn’t realized he’d started to pace. He stopped and turned back to face Catherine.
“I think perhaps you are correct. Do you think it would be possible to provide me with a list of the plants that are the most likely culprit?”
She was about to ask why, but he didn’t want her to know about his suspicions until he had some proof. Anyone who had already murdered two people and was attempting to kill a third would no doubt stop at nothing to keep their secret.
“We’ll need to make sure the maids don’t bring any of those flowers into the house,” he added.
Her brow cleared. “Oh, that would be terrible! I’ve already identified many of the plants Lady Overlea didn’t know, but I’m still searching for information on a few…”
Her voice trailed off and she turned and headed back into the conservatory, intent on her task. He, too, was lost in thought. His whole world had just shifted off-balance, but for the first time in what seemed like forever he began to hope.
Chapter Sixteen
Louisa wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to running such a large house. After going over her new duties, Lady Overlea had handed over the job of looking after all the day-to-day details of running Overlea Manor, telling her that the best way to adapt was to jump in with both feet. Louisa knew she could rely on the dowager marchioness’s help if she had questions, but she threw herself into the task with the hope she wouldn’t prove to be a disappointment. Lady Overlea had accepted her and Catherine into the family with open arms, and Louisa had grown fond of the older woman in the short time she had known her.
She had just finished meeting with the housekeeper to go over the menus for the week and was about to ascend the stairs to return to her room when she found herself dragged back against a very male figure. She closed her eyes and smiled as a wicked urge to provoke her husband came over her.
“Kerrick…”
She was spun around so quickly she almost lost her balance. When she saw the look of outrage on her husband’s face, she couldn’t hold back her laughter. Nicholas was still very sensitive about that ridiculous proposal he’d made to her and his friend, and it was so easy to tease him about it.
It took her a few moments to notice Lord Kerrick standing a few feet away, a look of horror on his face.
“Good God,” he said, “do you want your husband to call me out? Don’t even jest about such a thing.”
She laughed again. “Well, you both deserve it.”
“I was as innocent as you. None of that was my idea.”
Nicholas watched their exchange in silence but finally broke into their light banter. “I need to speak to my wife for a moment.”
His friend seemed only too willing to oblige. With a quick bow, he turned and headed down the hall, leaving them alone.
Louisa wondered why Nicholas wanted to see her. He took her by the hand and led her to the library, closing the door behind them. She didn’t like the somber expression on his face. It reminded her too much of the way he was when they were first married. Wanting desperately to see him smile again, she moved closer and brought his head down for a kiss.
There was a tenderness to the way he moved his mouth against hers that made her catch her breath. When he pulled away, he cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over her lower lip. He stared at her intently.
“What is the matter?” she asked, beginning to worry.
“I would like you to decline the invitation to dine at my aunt’s house.”
Knowing his feelings about his aunt and cousins, his request didn’t surprise her. “Your grandmother is looking forward to it. She hopes it will help to heal the rift in the family.”
“I don’t believe one dinner is going to accomplish that. There is too much history there. The two branches of the family have never gotten along.”
His words made her feel a pang of guilt. His brother’s marriage to Mary would have healed that rift. They hadn’t yet been formally betrothed, but she knew there had been an understanding. Everyone had expected Nicholas to fulfill that understanding when James died.
“Your aunt doesn’t like me. She believes I ensnared you and somehow tricked you into marrying me.”
He scowled and dropped his hand. “You can’t know that with certainty.”
“I do,” she said, remembering that horrible meeting shortly after they’d been married. “She made a point of telling me directly.”
&nb
sp; His temper flared at that revelation. “Then there can be no question of our attendance.”
“It is too late. I have already accepted the invitation.”
“Louisa, I cannot allow her to insult you to your face and pretend all is well.”
She laid a hand on his arm, hoping to soothe his anger. “It means so much to your grandmother. Not that your Aunt Elizabeth accept me, I don’t believe Lady Overlea likes her any better than you or I do, but she does want you to be reconciled with your cousins.”
Nicholas made a short, dismissive sound. “After what Edward tried to do to you? That is already two out of three members of their family who have insulted you. Should I stand back and allow Mary to do so as well?”
He was correct, of course. She would give anything not to have to attend that dinner. She knew it would be a painful affair and expected there would be much antagonism directed at her. It meant so much to Lady Overlea, however, that Louisa had to try for her sake.
“I don’t think Mary is capable of such hateful behavior. She seems very mild mannered.”
“She is meek, yes. Not at all,” he said, pulling her body flush against his, “like my wife.”
He leaned down and nuzzled her neck. He trailed a line of kisses to her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
“Perhaps,” he said softly, his tongue tracing the shell of her ear, “we can send everyone without us and stay behind. We’ll have dinner brought up to our room and have a little mini-honeymoon.”
Louisa was tempted. Her husband knew far too well how to touch her and make her forget everything else.
“We can’t,” she said, her voice breathy from the desire he was stirring in her. “What will we say? That we are both feeling unwell? Everyone will know we are lying.”
His hand cupped her breast and she arched into the caress. He dragged his mouth down to the edge of her bodice and rained kisses over the exposed skin. “We’re still on our honeymoon. And frankly, I don’t care if my aunt and cousins don’t understand that.”
She pulled back from his grasp, struggling to right her breathing. “Nicholas, we can’t.”
His expression held more than a hint of steel. “I say we can.”
She would have to try a different approach. “Can you imagine the expression on Edward’s face when he is forced to play host to us?”
Nicholas’s eyes lit up at that. “It might be amusing to see him squirm.” He considered a moment before continuing. “Fine. We’ll go, but you must promise to remain at my side.”
“Nothing can happen there, Nicholas. Not with a house full of people.”
He had an odd expression on his face when he replied. “You’d be surprised what can be done right under one’s nose.”
It was obvious he was thinking of something in particular. She was about to question him, but he changed the subject.
“I want to take you riding.”
A thrill of anticipation went through her. Her first trip to Overlea Manor, when she’d ridden there to ask for Nicholas’s help, had been the first time in years that she’d been on a horse. Her love of riding had been reawakened, but she’d been too preoccupied with her dilemma at the time to enjoy it.
“I don’t think I packed my habit.” She’d been in a daze during the days leading up to the wedding and after all the fittings Lady Overlea had arranged for her with a small army of seamstresses, she’d decided to leave behind most of her out-of-fashion clothing.
“Grandmother is usually quite thorough. I’d be very surprised if she didn’t arrange for at least one new riding habit when she was having your trousseau made.”
Of course, she thought, her excitement growing. “I’ll ask my maid. She seems to know my wardrobe better than I do.”
He seemed quite pleased with her enthusiasm. “I’ll meet you at the stables.”
Louisa reached up to give him a quick kiss, but he caught her before she could pull away and deepened it.
“Perhaps we should postpone the riding,” he said, his breath mingling with hers. “I can think of a few things we could do instead that would probably be more fun.”
Louisa pulled away, laughing. “Oh no, you offered and got my hopes up. I’m not going to let you change your mind.”
He released her with obvious reluctance and she hurried to her rooms to change. Nicholas was right, of course. Her maid pulled a beautiful riding habit of deep red and black from her wardrobe and helped her to dress.
She hurried, but by the time she reached the stables Nicholas was already waiting for her. He smiled when he saw her and pushed away from the wall he’d been leaning against.
“I knew Grandmother wouldn’t fail us.”
She smoothed her hand over the rich wool fabric of her skirt. “It is lovely.”
Nicholas reached for her hand and led her into the stables. She was surprised to see just how many horses the building contained but then shook her head at her own folly. Of course the Marquess of Overlea would have a large stable. As well as horses for riding, they also needed horses for their carriages.
A groom was saddling Nicholas’s horse for their ride, but her eyes were drawn to the pure white mare that stood off to the side, already tacked up.
“Oh, she’s lovely,” she said, dropping her husband’s hand and approaching the mare. “You’re beautiful, aren’t you,” she murmured softly to the mare as she ran a hand along her muzzle. “What is her name?”
“Athena,” Nicholas said.
“She is as beautiful as a goddess.” She turned her head to look at Nicholas, who was watching her with a satisfied smile.
“I’m glad you like her. She’s yours.”
“Oh no,” she protested. “You don’t have to do that. I’d be content to visit her and ride her from time to time.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “You don’t have to be so practical all the time, Louisa. And you no longer have to share everything. Besides, I bought her for you.”
Her eyes widened at that. “You bought her for me? When?”
He shrugged, the movement casual. “Before the wedding. I saw her when I was in London and thought of you.”
A glow of happiness spread through her. Even while he was concocting his idiotic plan to throw her and Lord Kerrick together, he’d been thinking of her and had bought her a present.
“Thank you,” she said, overcome with emotion.
Their eyes locked and they shared a moment of silent understanding. One corner of his mouth turned up as though in acknowledgement of how nonsensical his behavior had been.
He gave her a cursory bow. “Shall we?”
She nodded and together they led their mounts from the stable. Once outside, he helped her onto her horse before mounting Zeus. He turned toward the village and Louisa followed.
“Where are we going?”
“I thought I would introduce you to some of my tenants.”
“I already know most of them.”
“Yes, but they know you as Louisa Evans. They would have heard about our marriage and I’m sure they are very curious to see you in your role as the Marchioness of Overlea.”
She winced. “I’m not sure I can be more than Louisa Evans. I don’t know how a marchioness should behave and I fear that if I tried, I would appear ridiculous.”
They were riding abreast and Nicholas leaned close to her when he replied. “I’ll share a little secret with you. I don’t feel comfortable acting as the marquess. I never paid much attention to the lectures to which Father subjected James and me. I was supposed to, of course, since I was the spare, but I never imagined I would one day become the marquess.”
“We are quite the pair, are we not?” she said, aiming for a note of levity to lighten the suddenly somber mood.
“We shall have to define our own roles. In the end, no one will dare criticize us. Not to our faces, at any rate. Besides, I am sure you will keep me grounded if I start to think too highly of myself.”
She laughed. “I will consider it my fir
st priority.”
They rode in silence the rest of the way. There were only a few tenants she didn’t already know, and she was nervous about how they would view her in her new role as marchioness. She needn’t have worried, however. Aside from a few curious glances at her midsection from some who wondered if the marquess had married her to avoid a scandal, everyone seemed genuinely happy for them. It would appear that despite her husband’s reputation as a rake, the people on his estate genuinely liked him. If anything, they seemed relieved he had finally settled down. That sentiment increased when they learned of his plans to make improvements to many of their cottages in the spring.
It was a long afternoon. Louisa had never before visited so many people in one day and she was drained when it was time to return home. She was glad, however, that she’d gone out with Nicholas. It had given her the opportunity to see a new side of him. He took his responsibility to his tenants seriously and wanted to make sure they were well cared for. His genuine concern made her realize he would be a great father. That thought was followed by a wave of sadness when she thought that he might not be around to see a child of his grow.
She laid a hand on her abdomen, wondering if she could be carrying his child even now. It was still too early to tell, but she hoped that she was.
She had lagged behind him. Nicholas stopped and waited for her to catch up. He frowned when he saw her sadness.
“What is the matter?”
She attempted a smile, not wanting to bring up the subject of his illness. She knew it was a weak attempt at best.
“I’m just tired,” she said. “It has been a long afternoon and it has been many years since I have ridden such a distance. It does not help that you kept me up half the night.”
A wolfish grin crossed his face. “You had better take a nap when we return, then, for I feel you might be in for another sleepless night.”
The way his gaze ran over her body made her blush.
“You seem tired as well. Perhaps you would like to join me for a rest?”
Loving the Marquess Page 19