“Newark? Are you all right? I don’t think you’ve listened to a word I’ve said.”
“I’m fine.” Newark did his utmost to sound polite. “It’s just been a long day.”
“But it’s barely midday.”
“It’s been a long day already.” Newark nodded at Selina, who had wandered down to near the river’s edge. “Is Selina feeling well?”
“I don’t know. She’s been acting peculiar since she got back from her walk yesterday.” Patricia shrugged. “She won’t tell me what’s bothering her, though.”
“Well, I attempted to ask her, but she walked away.”
Patricia giggled. It was a girlish giggle, not like the belly laugh Selina gave.
“Something big happened for you to talk to her. You kept acting like she didn’t exist.”
“I’m a private person, Patty. You know that. I rarely want to talk to people immediately.”
Patricia giggled again and leaned into him.
“Well, once we’re married, you must do a lot of talking. I am planning on having a busy social calendar.”
That had Newark pulling up short. What was she talking about?
“Who said anything about getting married?”
“Well, everyone’s been talking about it. I assumed you would ask me.”
Henry must have told her about the stipulation in his father’s will. Patricia wouldn’t have known about it otherwise. But Newark did not understand what Patricia was talking about. This was a disaster. Newark rubbed his hands over his face.
“Patricia, I need a wife. But I would ask no one yet.” This would be difficult for her to hear but he added, “and I’m in love with someone else.”
“But don’t you love me?” Patricia frowned.
“I care for you, but not romantically.” Newark sighed. “I’m sorry.”
A roll of thunder sounded overhead suggesting there would be rain soon. Patricia’s face fell. Newark wished he didn’t have to upset her, but he needed to be honest.
“But…” Patricia floundered. “There can be marriage without love. For many, marriage can be an arrangement.”
“For others perhaps, but not for me. I’m sorry, Patricia.”
Patricia looked ready to break into tears. Newark hoped she didn’t; he didn’t want to explain it to Selina.
At that moment, Selina hurried over pointing to the sky.
“We’d better go back. There’s a storm coming.”
Newark heard the next roll of thunder and glanced up. She was right; a storm was brewing just on the horizon, and it looked grim. Patricia scoffed and shook her head.
“We have a few minutes.” She clutched at his arm. “Newark, please.”
Newark didn’t need to argue with Selina’s suggestion. If they hurried, they wouldn’t get wet.
“If we leave it any longer, we will get wet.”
Grabbing Patricia by the hand, he pulled her after Selina, who had run on ahead. They could argue later.
Chapter 8
Caring For the Invalid
S elina was getting frustrated. Patricia was dragging her feet, saying they wouldn’t get caught in the rain and they had plenty of time. Her friend never liked to run; she said it made her look red-faced and very unladylike.
Selina didn’t care what she looked like; she didn’t want to get caught in the storm.
The downpour started just as they were reaching the courtyard. Selina felt the first drops of rain on her face as she ran up the steps. Newark was just behind her, and they got into the house just as the rain began a torrential downpour. Patricia was halfway across the courtyard when it happened.
Selina could hear her wailing and cursing as she staggered up the steps. She pulled her friend inside and slammed the door shut as lightning flashed across the sky. Patricia stood in the hallway, her hair and bonnet limp, her dress wet through.
“I’m soaked!” She wailed. “My dress is ruined!”
“We warned you.”
Selina glanced at Newark, who rolled his eyes and shook her head. The butler joined them, took one look at Patricia, and hurried out, shouting for the maids to prepare Patricia’s room and draw a bath.
“I hate being cold.” Patricia whimpered, clutching her arms to her body.
Selina turned Patricia around and pushed her towards the stairs.
“If you want to get warm, you hurry upstairs and get out of those wet clothes. I’ll notify Henry. Go.”
Patricia was still whimpering but ran up the stairs. Selina felt Newark step up to her side and touch her back.
“Do you need any help?”
Selina resisted the urge to shiver. Newark’s hand felt warm. Too warm. She took a subtle step away.
“I’m fine. I’ll look after Patricia. You notify Henry three drowned rats to need some hot food.”
She could hear Newark laughing as she went up the stairs.
***
Patricia caught a cold that set in during the night. By the next morning, she was pale, coughing and complaining. She kept to her bed, blankets on top of her despite her fever. She went from lucid to the opposite extreme of being foolish and seeing things.
Selina had seen this before. Sometimes she didn’t know if Patricia did it to get more attention or she genuinely felt like ill. She wasn’t about to leave her friend to suffer. Henry allowed her to take charge, letting the maids know what her friend needed. They responded to her soft tones and gentle orders.
Patricia spent most of the morning alternating between sleeping and moaning. Over lunch, she slept, and Selina used that time to have her own meal. Then she sat in the chair beside the bed and read her book for most of the afternoon. Patricia awoke at sunset with a moan.
“I feel awful.”
Selina shook her head and closed her book.
“That was your fault for staying out in the rain.”
“I know. I’m an idiot.” Patricia rolled onto her side and managed a weak smile at her friend. “Thank you for looking after me. I know I’m awful to everyone when I’m not well, and I’m grateful for you. You’re a godsend, Selina.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Selina reached over and squeezed Patricia’s hand. “But you’d do the same for me if I was ill.”
“That I would.” Patricia looked around, frowning when she saw they were the only occupants. “Where’s Newark?”
Selina’s jaw tightened. She didn’t want to talk about Newark to Patricia. She still remembered everything that Patricia had said; even though she hadn’t been close when her friend spouted off about marriage, she had heard enough. She was uncomfortable with the knowledge and didn’t want to talk about Newark and their impending marriage.
“I don’t know.” Selina pulled her hand away without looking like she was spiteful. “I haven’t seen him since we got back.”
That was true enough. Selina had avoided Newark all day, even during lunch. Henry had tried to ask what was going on but Selina kept dodging the topic. She didn’t want to talk any more about the impending marriage plans to anyone, especially not Henry Batten. She was happy in denial.
“I wanted to talk to him.” Patricia pouted, slowly closing her eyes. “We would sort out marriage plans.”
“Well,” Selina said briskly, “You can sort it out once you’re better. Focus on yourself first.”
“I suppose I should.” Patricia shifted and settled against the pillows. “I’ll try to sleep. Maybe that will help me feel better.”
Selina waited until she was sure Patricia was asleep. Then she slipped out of the room. Her friend would be fine for now; it was time to sort things out.
She was closing the door when someone touched her shoulder. Biting back a gasp, she turned and saw Newark standing beside her. He wasn’t wearing his coat, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up. He must have just woken.
“How is she?” He whispered.
Selina was staring at him. How could someone in a state of undress outside their bedroom pull it off? He was just so ha
ndsome.
“She is sleeping.” Selina shut the door and stepped away. “You must come back later.”
“I’ll leave her until she’s better.” Newark frowned at her. “Are you feeling well?”
Selina blinked. He was worried about her? She swallowed.
“I’m fine.” It didn’t come across sounding as though she was fine. “Not a sniffle.”
Newark smiled. That smile could make angels swoon, and Selina was considering it. He reached out and brushed her fingers across his cheeks.
“You’re a good person, Selina.”
This was getting too personal. If he was to marry Patricia why was he behaving like this? Selina stepped away.
“I will find Henry and ask about dinner.” She muttered.
Chapter 9
Gaining Courage
“H ow’s Patricia feeling now?” Henry asked.
Newark looked out the window as he answered, his back to Henry.
“She seems to be better. Selina’s been nursing her for a whole week now.”
Henry chuckled.
“Selina is a good nurse.”
Newark couldn’t argue with that. Selina had stuck beside her friend for the rest of the week, nursing her until she was better. Patricia had even ventured out of her bedroom earlier that day. She and Selina were in the library right now reading and playing the piano. The men could hear the piano from where they were in Henry’s office.
Newark knew it was Selina because Patricia couldn’t play. She played beautifully. Newark loved to listen to her.
“So,” Henry sat back in his chair, folding his hands over his belly, “When are you going to tell her?”
Newark didn’t want to discuss his thoughts with anyone, not even Henry.
He sighed.
“I don’t know.”
“What? Newark, I’m not one for falling in love, but I know it when I see it. Selina will not marry you if you say nothing.”
Newark knew that. It hadn’t taken him long to realize that he cared for Selina. Unfortunately, he had shown it in completely the wrong way.
He didn’t think he could change anything.
“She thinks I’m in love with Patricia.” He turned away from the window and ran his hands through his hair. “The time I spent at her bedside helping Selina, and she doesn’t think I feel anything for her.”
That may have been a mistake. But Newark had wanted to get close to Selina and show he cared. It had the opposite effect; Patricia seemed to think he was attentive towards her instead of her friend.
This was befuddling.
“Well, you will have to change that.” Henry frowned. “It’s entirely your own fault for misleading both girls. Patricia thinks you’re in love with her and she’s determined to marry you. Selina thinks you love Patricia and even I can see she’s been withdrawing from everyone.” He pointed at Newark. “You need to set the record straight.”
“But I don’t want to hurt Patricia any further.” Newark protested. “She’s a nice girl when she’s not badgering me to put up the banns.”
He winced when he realized what that sounded like. He was not a whiner. Henry’s eyes narrowed.
“Do it, Newark. Do it now, or you will lose Selina. And your title.”
***
Patricia sighed and settled back against the cushions, stretching her legs into the patch of sun that fell on the sofa.
“This is much better in the sunshine. Thank you so much, Selina.”
“My pleasure.” Selina stood from the piano and moved round to join her friend, sitting on the sofa opposite. “I knew a change of scenery would do you good.”
Patricia had wakened looking much better. Selina was happy for that as she didn’t like seeing her friend ill. When Patricia expressed a wish to leave her room as she was done with staring at all four walls, Selina moved her to the library. Patricia wasn’t known for sitting still, but she liked the library. On a rainy day, she could spend hours pouring over the books.
It amused Selina that Patricia complained about being stuck inside and not being able to do anything, yet when she was given a book, she could stay entertained for hours. Selina liked these times with her friend; they could sit and read all afternoon, and Patricia’s knowledge of books was wide.
The bookish Patricia and the loud, garish Patricia were two different people, and Selina wished she could remain as one person. Selina was struggling to recognize her friend’s varying qualities so to see her like this, relaxed and laughing, was a blessing.
But it wouldn’t last. Not if Patricia went on with her plan to marry Earl Newark.
Newark.
Selina felt sick. Newark, the consummate caregiver, had come to Patricia’s room every day to check her condition. He even agreed to stay and sit with her for those few times Selina had to leave.
Selina was under no illusions why he was doing it; he was caring for the woman he loved. That realization caused her heart to ache.
She had realized that she herself had fallen for Newark. They had spoken little, but it seemed there was something between them. Evidently, it meant nothing because he was gravitating towards Patricia.
“Have you seen Newark today?” Patricia asked.
Selina stiffened. She didn’t want to talk about Newark. It was upsetting enough to know she would have to read the banns, she didn’t want to see the two of them together while she sat aside and tried to look elsewhere.
“No, I haven’t.”
Patricia sighed and stared up at the ceiling.
“I can’t wait to see him. We need to organize the date.”
The date. Selina had been dreading hearing about this. Whenever Patricia had been lucid, she had talked about the wedding, what colors she would wear and who was coming. Selina was sick of hearing about it.
“Not this again, Patty.”
“What?” Patricia frowned at her. “Why not? We are getting married after all.”
“He’s never said a thing about it to anyone, Patty. It’s not common knowledge.” Selina rubbed her hands together. “Also, I’ve never even heard him say he loves you.”
That was true enough. Newark had spoken to Patricia a few times since she had been taken ill. Selina had heard marriage details but only from her friend. Newark either changed the subject or ignored it. And he had never said the three immortal words Selina would love to hear herself.
“Come off it, Selina.” Patricia snorted. “He need not say he loves me. He needs to have a wife and I’m the perfect person for him.”
“I’m sorry, since when did he need to have a wife?”
“I heard from Uncle Henry that if he isn’t married by five-and-thirty, his title and fortune go to his brother Peter, who is a massive gambling addict. He’ll squander it all away, and Newark doesn’t want that. His time is running out.” Patricia sighed and stretched her arms up to the ceiling. “Who could be more perfect than me?”
“How about he declares he wants you as his wife?” Selina snapped.
Newark needed a wife? That was news to Selina. While he acted like he wanted to get married sometime soon, he had said nothing about the reason.
Unless she was reading him wrong, Selina assumed he had feelings towards Patricia. But nothing had been said yet.
Either he was waiting until she was well to announce it or he didn’t love her. Selina was sure it was the former but hoped it was the latter. A selfish part of her hoped it was the latter. To see her friend marry the man she had fallen in love with would be devastating.
Selina doubted she could attend their wedding if she was feeling like this even before the announcement.
“What sort of declaration are you expecting?” Patricia scoffed. “Are you expecting him to ask you to marry him?”
“No, of course not.”
Selina had thought she had said it in a way that didn’t draw suspicion.
Patricia was sitting up, narrowing her eyes at Selina. “You’re a liar.” Her eyes widened. “You want him for your
self.”
Selina knew she was blushing. But she shook her head and tried to act like she didn’t care. But all she could see was Patricia giving her an accusing look.
She had never seen her friend look at her like this before. Was Patricia jealous?
“Patty, enough. I’m not even a possibility.”
“Oh?” Patricia accused. “You’re around us often enough.”
“Because I’m a companion to you and a friend. I’m expected to be in the same room, to prevent scandal.”
“But that’s not the true reason, is it?” Patricia sat forward, jabbing a finger at Selina’s face. “You’re there because you want to be with Newark. You want what is intended for me. Well, that will not happen. I won’t let you.”
Selina was stunned.
“I have no feelings towards Newark.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly.” Selina wanted to run, but she stayed sitting. “Stop suggesting things that aren’t there.”
Patricia looked like she wanted to say something else but she kept quiet. Selina had never seen her friend like this before. Patricia had acted jealous when they were children but never towards Selina.
Was Selina jealous of Patricia? She wasn’t sure.
Patricia snorted and stood, pointing at Selina.
“Well, keep away from Newark. He doesn’t love you, and he will marry me, not you. Do you hear? He will marry me!”
Selina could only stare as Patricia towered over her. Where was her friend she thought she knew? This woman was someone else.
“Why are you acting this way?” She stood to match Patricia’s height. “I’m here as your friend. You have everything going for you, and we’ve been friends as long as I can remember. Why are you acting like I will steal Newark away from you?”
“Because you’re acting like I’m demented!” Patricia shrieked. “You’re pretending to act as if you care for me when all you want is Newark!”
“Pardon? No!” Selina stepped away as Patricia took a step towards her. “You’re overreacting Patty. You need to settle down. Would you like me to help you back to your room?”
“Oh, that’s right. Stick me back in my room like a bad girl.”
Regency Romances Page 120