by Jaycee Clark
“Your lordship.” Furgus inclined his head.
“What happened?” Jason asked him.
Rayne came back with a glass of brandy. Jason took it from him, trying to lean back far enough to get Emily to drink some, but she was not letting go.
“I don’t rightly know, my lord. She seemed skittish like, when we arrived at Redgrave’s, stopped and stared off into the fog. Thought I saw a man myself, but guess not, leastways, he was gone. She hurried into the house and next things I know, Lady Redgrave is ordering me to carry your ladyship out.” He motioned to her with his hand. “Lady Ravensworth was pale as moonlight, she was. Looked quite ill. Her grandmother said something to her, then we left, her holding onto me out to the carriage.” His eyes never wavered. “She stopped again, looked around, as if she expected someone to jump out at her, but then she climbed in. Said she was fine and I saw her to the door. I apologize for not seeing her all the way in and to you, my lord.”
Jason ignored the last. “What did Lady Redgrave say to her?”
Furgus shrugged. “Something about a gentleman caller, never should ‘ave mentioned it or some such. I don’t rightly know.”
He’d find out. Jason looked up to Rayne. They’d been friends long enough, it only took a look.
Rayne nodded and said, “I’ll be back later to see how she’s doing. I think I’ll go pay Mother a visit.” He looked at Nick. “Want to join me?”
“Why not? There is nothing more gallant than helping…” Nickolas, caustic at best, trailed off. “Yes, let us find out what gentleman caller upset Emily.”
The two left, and Summerton dismissed Furgus. Jason shifted from his crouched position and picked Emily up.
“Don’t let go,” she whispered. “Please don’t let me go.”
Jason frowned. What in the blazes had caused this turnabout in her? She was fine when she left this morning.
“I won’t.” He kissed the top of her head, and carried her from the room. Summerton rushed in front of him, up the stairs to open the door of the master suite.
“Let me know when the doctor gets here,” he told his butler as he eased her down on the bed.
“My lord?” Lockly said from the doorway. “My lady! Oh, what has happened now? Are you ill? Is it the baby?”
“Baby?” he barked.
Lockley’s eyes narrowed. “I-I-I… That is…”
“Yes, Lockley?”
Summerton cleared his throat. “We believe her ladyship might be expecting.”
Jason looked at his wife, then back to the two men in the doorway. “Do we? And who might we be?”
“Well,” Lockley straightened. “Mrs. Darnlin, Summerton and myself.”
“You mean, Coleen, her maid wouldn’t voice an opinion?” Jason asked dryly. He motioned them out and turned back to his wife.
“Well, madam? Do you have something to tell me?” He twisted at the waist, leaned over her, both hands on either side of her head on the pillow. She was still so damn pale.
She turned her head on the pillow, her cheek resting against the inside of his wrist.
“Emily?”
She licked her lips. “I just figured it out myself. I wanted to wait a bit to tell you, to make certain that I was, or that I wouldn’t do something again and lose the babe.”
Anger hot and flickering shot through him. “Do something?” He shook his head. They’d come so far, why in the world were they back to this? “Emily. I am so angry at you, it’s not even remotely amusing.”
Her eyes widened. “I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t certain.”
“And now?”
She shrugged. “I guess I am, though I’m still not certain.”
“You’re repeating yourself.”
One trembling hand reached up as she rubbed her forehead. “Am I?”
“Why didn’t you say something?” he asked quietly.
Her eyes narrowed on his. “I’ve already told you.”
“So you were just going to worry about this all by yourself.” Jason stood and walked to the bank of windows. “Someone once said something to me about being partners in this marriage.” He turned back to her. She’d rolled to her side, drawing her knees up. “You didn’t tell me.”
That hurt, more than he thought it would, that still after all this time, she’d keep secrets from him.
“Jason, I’m sorry. I wanted to make certain. You might not understand that, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up if I wasn’t or…”
“Or if you lost the baby? So I’d just find out after the fact?” He bit the words out. Closing his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Is that why you acted strangely today when you visited your grandmother?”
He didn’t think it possible, but she grew even paler, her eyes, dark against her face.
Jason walked back to the bed, saw again the fear dart across her eyes.
“What else are you not telling me? Another visit from De Fleur?” An image of her with a knife at her throat pierced through him. He shook it off, or tried to. “Did he contact you? I will not accept this, Emmaline. You’re scared and I want to know why. There are any number of things I will tolerate from you, even adore about you, but this shouldering all your worries alone is not one of them. Nor are the self insults. You’re better than this. What else is troubling you?”
She blinked, and shuttered the look and her thoughts away. “Nothing. Nothing, my lord. I’m just worried, that’s all.”
That wasn’t all, she was lying, but he had no idea why, and though he wanted to grill her, force her to tell him what had her scared—he wouldn’t.
Leaning over, he grasped her chin. “I think not, but I’ll wait. As I said, you’re the one who wanted us to be partners. I can’t help you, if I don’t know what it is I’m supposed to help with.”
She closed her eyes and turned her head away. “There are some things even you, Jason, cannot fix.”
“What the bloody hell does that mean?”
A knock at the door had him looking up as Summerton and the physician walked in.
The physician wanted him out and though he didn’t want to leave her, he turned to go. Emily grasped his hand, halting him. “Please, don’t leave me.”
The woman leaned when she wanted to. It was frustrating as hell sometimes.
He laced his fingers with hers and sat beside her on the bed. “I won’t.”
Half an hour later, his wife resting on the bed, Jason led the doctor down to his study.
He didn’t say a word.
A baby.
They were having a baby.
“Stress is not good for expectant mothers, my lord,” Dr. Blaine said.
Jason nodded. “Would you like a drink?”
“A bit of brandy would not be remiss on a day like this, but please, just a spot. One never knows what altercations I will run into.”
The brandy sloshed onto his hand and he realized they trembled slightly.
He took a deep breath and picked up the glass.
The doctor smiled at him. “Shocked as your wife?”
Jason ignored the question and sat behind his desk. Anthony Blaine was medium in stature with pale blond hair and light grey eyes. He was handsome in the classic way, yet he was too jolly and happy for anyone not to take an instant liking to him.
“I’m going to be with my wife for any other examinations and during the birth. I thought I’d let you know that from the beginning. I don’t believe in just sitting around getting drunk,” Jason blurted out. He remembered the man in France who’d sat outside while his wife within had almost died. If it had not been for the friend of his who shoved the doctor out of the way and helped bring the babe into the world, she could have died. Jason remembered thinking Douglas had been beyond the pale when he’d intruded into the birth—not a man’s place. But now he understood.
The doctor studied him. Clearing his throat, he said, “My lord, I realize you are a powerful man.”
Jason cocked a brow.
&nbs
p; “I’ve heard much about you, my lord. I know you are successful and wealthy as Croesus. And you are very determined. I have no problem with you being present at either the examinations or during the birthing—some men are. However, I will object if it upsets her ladyship. My patients come first, no matter what their spouses wish.”
Impressed, Jason nodded. “I don’t think Emily is going to mind me being there.” Clearing his throat, he thought about how to proceed. He twirled the paperweight on his desk. “I wanted to talk to you about something else.”
He looked up and noticed he had the doctor’s attention.
“My wife mentioned she had two previous miscarriages and one premature labor. She almost died with the last one, but I think that was more from shock than anything else.” Jason could feel the rage clawing at him. He wanted to tear the past apart for her, but he knew that wasn’t possible. Instead he took a deep breath and stood, staring out at the fogged landscape.
“We’ve talked about her first delivery, a girl. Emily mentioned she had complications.” He thought of her age and shook his head. “She was however, quite young, sixteen or seventeen. The midwife thought the complications due to her age.” Jason studied the elusive bushes shrouded in mists.
Thrumming his fingers on his thigh, he said, “Emily wants this child. She’s worried.” He was worried. “We will listen and appreciate any advice you give us. However, I thought you might talk to my wife. She blames herself for losing the other babes, even though I think it was more stress from being married to an abusive husband. Perhaps you might broach the subject with her. It is my belief that the miscarriages were not my wife’s fault, but that of the son of a bitch she was married to. I know her premature labor was.” His hands fisted. “He beat her. A pregnant woman.” Jason stopped, realizing what he had said. He had let the anger control his speech and now regretted it.
A few moments later he heard Dr. Blaine’s voice. “Lord Ravensworth, I would never betray any confidence you or Lady Ravensworth share with me. I do, however, see your point. Most women do blame themselves when miscarriages occur or premature labors. And sadly, so do many men. The majority of the time there is little anyone can do to stop such things, they just happen. However, from what you’ve told me, I agree with you. Yes, she very well probably lost the babes because of the appalling situation she was in, and most definitely the beating caused the premature labor. Such things I do not understand, I must confess,” the doctor added, although it seemed to be more to himself than not.
The doctor continued, “As to your concern, I will speak with her ladyship about this, but if it seems to be upsetting her, we will just steer clear of the subject altogether. I will tell you now, the less stress, the better. And with her history of pregnancies, she should take it easy the first few months at least. I don’t believe walking around the house will be too much, but anything else will have to wait and see. How old is her daughter?” he asked.
The question jerked Jason around. “Why?”
“Well, if she is a toddler, your wife shouldn’t be lifting her.”
Jason took a deep breath. “Emily lost her first daughter before moving here. Now we have Joy. Mine. Ours.” Jason corrected before turning back to the window. “Joy is three.”
Dr. Blaine tilted his head. “I would rather she not carry the child. Or lift her too much. One never knows. Lady Ravensworth shouldn’t be lifting or moving anything at all. Do you know what sort of things she did before? In her previous marriage?”
“Her husband was a minister and they owned a farm. I’ve no idea what all that entails, I’m certain she lifted and moved things, she would have had to, but you’ll have to ask her.”
The doctor nodded before saying, “Well, I believe we’ve covered enough ground. I normally see my patients about once a month, but in this case, I’d like to stop by next week, just to see how things are going.”
Jason nodded and walked to the doctor, extending his hand. “Thank you.”
“Try to get her to rest.”
“You told her that.”
Jason walked him to the door. When the doctor left, he went back to his study, the forgotten note all but hissed up at him. He rubbed the back of his neck, frowning at it.
She is mine. God gave her to me. She’s no more than your whore.
What the hell did it mean?
Boots thumping down the hallway preceded the men striding into his office.
“Well?” he asked Rayne and Nick.
“Well, it seems a strange American paid a visit to Mother looking for Emily.” Rayne sat in the chair the doctor just vacated.
“What man?”
“Gave the name of Mr. Smith, a distant cousin to her late husband.” Rayne propped one booted foot on his knee. “Whoever he was scared Mother, she asked Emily and that’s when Emily went—and I quote—dead pale.”
“Mr. Smith?” Jason asked. “Did she say anything else? What the hell did he want?”
Rayne’s eyes narrowed on him. “Correspondence, though more to the point, your wife.”
He held the stare, then looked to Nick. “What do you think?”
Nick leaned against a bookcase. “Well, the first thought in my mind is someone playing either you or her. Lady Redgrave said Emily had no idea who the chap was, had never heard of a cousin, so I’m leaning toward some past acquaintance of yours.”
“Yes, that narrows the field,” Rayne muttered.
Jason sat and thought. He knew no Americans. Well, a few, but none came to mind who would want to harm him.
“The two things could have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Emily is, by the way, expecting. The doctor just left.” The two men wished him well and Jason nodded, accepting their well wishes. “She could have just been ill from that.”
“So why is the man looking for her?” Nick asked.
Jason thought for a moment, the look of fear in her eyes—was it all the baby? Or was it more?
“I don’t know,” he answered. “But I intend to find out.”
* * * * *
The days passed with a creeping slowness. Emily couldn’t stand being in bed, but she read and played dolls with Joy. She tried to focus on the positive, knew Jason was trying to cheer her up with new gifts and time he spent with her.
Yet in the back of her mind, a clock seemed to tick insistently, as if her time were quickly running out.
And if it were?
She wanted to make the most of what she had left with her family.
Theodore. It was almost as if she knew, knew it had been he who went to see her grandmother. Some inner voice accepted it.
Dressed all in black.
An old-fashioned queue.
Strange green eyes.
Emily knew those eyes. They burned with the fires of dementia, of some otherworldly light. Others had thought he’d been gifted from God.
She knew he’d been cursed by the devil.
Sad thing was that if he’d been a kind man, he probably would have been blessed and gifted, but somewhere along the way, something or someone had warped the handsome, charismatic man.
To her, Theodore Smith was as handsome as those carnivorous flowers she read about. Beautiful blooms, bright and vibrant that snapped shut when their prey landed within them.
That was Theodore, a dangerous façade.
A small voice whispered that she should tell Jason… But she didn’t know how. She was married to another man. That meant her marriage to Jason was no more valid than the child she carried being legitimate.
What was she to do?
Perhaps she could find a way to keep both Jason and their family without a scandal.
Tell Jason.
She knew he’d help her, but for once in her life, she was not going to slink away, hide away, cower away and hope that someone else could solve her problems.
She’d become more than that.
Rebeckah had become Emily.
The house was quiet when a knock sounded at her door.
The door opened and Coleen, carrying a tray, walked in. “This just arrived for you, my lady.”
“Lovely. I’m getting bored.”
Coleen placed the tray beside her on the bed. “Are you feeling all right, my lady? You’re looking a bit pale.” Coleen’s cool hand slapped on her forehead. “At least you’re not coming down with something.”
Emily shook the hand off. “I’m fine.”
Coleen tsked. “You didn’t eat hardly a thing of your breakfast and it was only toast. His lordship was not pleased.”
“Yes, well his lordship is not the one who would have heaved it into the chamber pot either, was he?” She smoothed the counterpane down.
Coleen chuckled. “Oh, I remember, my lady. I remember. I wouldn’t wish that sickness on anyone.”
Emily only smiled as her maid fussed around the room, muttering about this and that. She reached down and picked up the letter off the silver tray.
“You ready for this evening?” Coleen asked.
Emily set the letter aside. “I am, yes. I just hope I don’t have to dash from the dining room.”
Her grandparents, Rayne and Nick were coming for dinner.
“Well, I’m off.” She stopped by the bed. “Do you need anything else until I come help you get ready?”
Emily smiled and shook her head. “No. Thank you, Coleen. I’ll ring if I need you.”
When the door shut, Emily waited. Then, very carefully, very quietly she eased out of bed. Just her luck, Jason would decide to come upstairs. The man was driving her daft, carrying her everywhere, demanding she stay in bed. He worried, but she couldn’t lie in bed all the time. She could recline on the window seat just as easily and at least look outside.
Taking the letter, she walked to the little window alcove, and settled in. Without thought to the front, she ripped the letter open.
To my lying marchioness,
You thought you could run. Did you really think you’d ever get away? A woman’s place is with her husband. Remember Genesis 3:16. “Then God spoke to the woman…Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you.” I think you’ve forgotten. You will have to be reminded. It’s a pity, but it must be done. It always had to be done. Adultery is a sin and an abomination against God. You have sinned.