'Well, my dear, you gave us quite a scare. If Lord Atherton hadn't come along and whisked you off that ledge, I shudder to think what might have happened. You have a slight concussion, and I have sutured the gash on your head. As long as you rest, take plenty of fluids and stay in bed for a few days, I am sure you will make a full recovery.'
The door closed behind him and she wanted to ask Jane what had happened, but her throat was too dry. She tried to speak but managed only to produce a whisper. Jane raised her shoulders and a glass was placed against her mouth, she swallowed a cool drink of lemonade gratefully. As she was settling back she remembered who had saved her. How was he? She gripped Jane's hand and raised an eyebrow and gestured towards the door.
'Relax, Lord Atherton is well. The doctor has sewn up his feet and he is in bed resting.'
Sarah smiled and closed her eyes. She was confused about the reference to feet, but was too tired to enquire further and would ask Jane what she meant when she woke up the next time.
*
'Devil take it, Dickon, I have no wish to remain in bed. I don't care what that quack said, I'm sure I can hobble to my sitting room with your help.'
'You will stay right where you are, my friend. I shall fetch the brandy you demand and will even make sure you get sent up more than a bowl of gruel for your supper. Apart from that, I have given my word to the doctor that I shall keep you in your bed until he returns to give me leave to let you up.'
Perry sank back on the pillows admitting defeat. He grinned. 'That was a close call, Dickon. Thank God I had you with me, I couldn't have done it on my own.'
'My pleasure, old fellow. And it's good news that Miss Ellison is not seriously harmed either. As long as she doesn't contract a congestion of the lungs, or some such thing, she will be up and about before you.'
'I haven't introduced you to her sister, Jane. You'll have to get the governess to do so.'
'No matter, Perry, I've already introduced myself. If you'll give me your word to stay put, I shall go down to speak to her. One, to make sure you get a substantial supper sent up and two, to discover exactly how Miss Ellison does.'
Perry relaxed on the pillows, a smile playing about his lips. Romance was definitely in the air at Kesgrave Hall. It seemed barely credible that after meeting Sarah on only two occasions, both of which resulted in him storming off in high dudgeon, he had decided she was the woman he had been waiting for all his adult life.
He'd done his best to get her out of his head whilst in Vienna and Paris but had found himself comparing every young woman he met to his mental image and they all fell short. He had often been amused when other gentlemen expressed their undying devotion to a young lady, had thought love was an emotion of the imagination. That a man fell in lust, not love. Meeting Sarah had changed everything.
He closed his eyes and let his mind drift back to the time she had placed her hand on his chest, when he had felt its heat through the thickness of his clothes. His pulse had accelerated and he had wanted to snatch her into his arms right then. Now, it would seem that Dickon was similarly afflicted. Well, he didn't blame him. Perhaps if he'd met Jane first he would have fallen for her. He tried to visualise this young woman but only saw a vague shape, a pretty girl with hazel eyes and brown hair.
However, he could see Sarah's perfect oval face illuminated by those incredible green eyes, the whole surmounted by a riot of russet curls quite clearly. The fact she was tall and well-proportioned was a bonus, but her face had been the initial attraction. That first, then her intelligence and spirit had pierced his armour and he was done for.
He stretched and regretted it. The pressure of the covers across his feet was agonising. He must have been mad to discard his boots so recklessly, but was glad he had. The slippery leather soles would not have enabled him to scramble up the cliff in that final desperate rush. He must remember to reward the three grooms who had assisted in the rescue. The rattle of the tray outside announced his long-awaited supper was arriving.
*
Several days went by and Sarah was still deemed unfit to leave her rooms, but had been given permission to languish on the daybed in her parlour.
'You have to remain quiet, my dear girl,' Miss Read told her as she adjusted the comforter across her legs for the umpteenth time. 'You must sit still and not fidget so. Doctor Finchley insists you shall not make a full recovery if you don't rest.'
Sarah frowned. 'I am fully recovered. You know I hate being cooped up. See, outside it is as though the storm never happened. The sun is shining and I'm desperate to be out in it.'
'And so you shall be soon enough, but until then Miss Jane is entertaining Lord Mainwaring in your absence; they are taking a turn round the rose garden at present, with Mary in attendance, I believe.'
'Do you think Jane is forming an attachment for this friend of Lord Atherton's? She has spoken of little else these past few days. I am obliged to wait to be introduced to him myself.' She knew she sounded decidedly snippy, but inactivity made her cross. 'I'm going to rest now; thank you for visiting. Could you ask that I not be disturbed? I shall ring if I need assistance.'
Her governess retired leaving her alone at last. As soon as the door closed she swung her feet to the floor and stood up. Her legs felt strong, her head hardly hurt at all, although the stitches pulled, and she knew she had a magnificent bruise running down the side of her face. She was not going to lie on the chaise longue a moment longer. She took a few practice turns around the room and found, if she moved slowly and didn't turn her head too much, she could manage perfectly well.
All she had to accomplish was dressing herself. She went to her closet and chose a gown she could drop over her head and which required no buttons to be done up.
This was a damask-rose silk, the neckline and hem decorated with matching roses. The necessary undergarments were more difficult to locate; eventually she was suitably dressed and slipped the dress over her head, wriggling about so that it slipped down her body to settle in a shiver of silk around her ankles. She didn't have the energy to search for stockings and hoped this omission would be unobserved.
The morning was warm so she had no need for a wrap or spencer. Pushing her bare feet into matching pumps was difficult, but she achieved this and was ready. Mary had gathered her hair loosely at the back of her neck and it hung in a long braid almost to her waist. Her head was too painful to allow it to be put up in her usual arrangement. A cursory glance in the long mirror assured her she was looking better than she deserved after her near-death experience.
She was determined to visit Lord Atherton and thank him in person for saving her life. She also intended to find out more about this Mainwaring. She wished to know whether he was a suitable beau for her sister. Jane had described him as being tall and slim, although well-muscled, and with fair hair and blue eyes.
He sounded like her ideal man. It was odd she felt no interest when he was described to her in such glowing detail. It wasn't just because Jane appeared to be infatuated but because her head was filled with a growling, baritone voice and steely grey eyes.
After checking that the wide corridor was empty she began her slow approach to the guest apartments at the rear of the house. She was forced to pause and lean against the wall more than once, but was gratified to find her head cleared beautifully after each rest. Atherton was in his sitting room. He was unable to go downstairs, so couldn't be anywhere else.
She paused outside the door. Her heart was beating unnaturally fast – her cheeks were flushed with excitement. She raised a hand and knocked. The barked command to enter made her smile. His incarceration had not improved his temper either.
Pushing open the door, she stepped in, smiling at the man balancing precariously on his crutches in front of the window. She had rehearsed her speech many times and was about to begin when she was forestalled by his extremely rude reaction.
'Devil take it! What are you doing here? You must not visit me in my chambers. Have you run mad?'
/> The all too familiar rush of annoyance gave her the courage to retort. 'I had come, Lord Atherton, to thank you in person for saving my life. It has taken me more than an hour to ready myself for this excursion. I might have known I should be met with ill manners, after all I have received nothing else from you.' She gripped the door frame to steady herself intending to storm, nose in the air, back to her own chambers.
'No, I beg your pardon, it was not my intention to offend you. But you must see it won't do for you to come in here. Stay where you are, I shall come outside in the passageway. I'm sure that isn't against any rules of etiquette.'
She relaxed. Of course, he couldn't risk being accused of compromising her, then he would have to make her an offer and that wouldn't suit him at all. She pushed herself away from the wall and walked unsteadily to the window seat. Thankfully she collapsed on to it, she was feeling decidedly peculiar. Maybe if she rested she would feel more the thing in a moment.
*
Perry heard the knock and braced himself for another unwanted interruption. He was going mad with boredom being cooped up inside and had been practicing getting about on his crutches so that as soon as he knew Sarah was downstairs he could go and see her. Being told by Dickon how wonderful the grounds were, how enchanting Jane was, did nothing for his temper.
His jaw dropped when he saw who was standing there, her dear face marked by a hideous bruise and a zigzag of stitches across her brow. His shock at her appearance had made him snarl at her, when he ached to gather her close and tell her how much he loved her.
Hastily explaining why she couldn't enter he saw her smile of comprehension. She was so pale and he was certain she had lost weight. Now reasonably adept on his crutches, he swung across the room, pausing at the exit. There was a window seat at the far end; she would have gone to sit on that.
To his consternation he saw she had swooned and was lying stretched out with her eyes closed. If he was not very much mistaken her ankles were bare. He ought to send for help, but something made him hesitate. He crossed the few yards to join her. Propping his crutches against the window frame he dropped to his knees. Taking her cold hands, he chafed them within his own.
'Sarah, sweetheart, wake up. You must go back to your chambers, you are not well enough to be wandering about the house on your own.' Her eyes flickered open and her lips curved. His heart missed a beat.
'Lord Atherton, how did you get here? I came to give you my thanks. If you and your friend had not arrived when you did, I would have perished.' Her eyes closed once more. He saw it was an effort for her to push them up again. 'I am so very tired; I hadn't realised it would be so exhausting coming to see you.'
Her hand was still resting trustingly in his as she fell asleep. He checked her pulse, this was even and her cheeks warm. Her collapse was caused merely by overexertion, not illness. He cursed the fact that his feet weren't strong enough for him to carry her back to her room. He would have to summon help. But first there was something he couldn't resist doing. Using his arms for support, he bent forward and gently brushed his lips across her mouth. Her lips tasted sweet, he inhaled deeply, loving the unique aroma that was his beloved.
Reluctantly he reached for his crutches and returned rapidly to his chamber. It wouldn't do for him to be found at her side. He reached the bellstrap and tugged it violently. To his astonishment it detached itself from the ceiling and he was covered with plaster and dust.
Coughing and choking, he hopped back to stand in the doorway, brushing his shirt down ineffectually.
*
Sarah knew he was watching her. It had taken all her resolve to remain still whilst he kissed her lips. She didn't know why he had done so but wasn't sorry that he had. She risked a peep from behind her long lashes. He was leaning in the door frame. In his shirtsleeves and breeches, with his dark hair curling on his collar, he had a piratical look. Her eyes flew open. Her mouth gaped. Before she could prevent herself she was sitting up, quite obviously wide awake. 'Good grief! Lord Atherton you are covered in plaster.'
Chapter Eight
Atherton's eyes blazed with something Sarah didn't recognize. Then it was gone and he grinned making him look years younger. 'How observant of you, my dear girl, I should not have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out to me.' She had no time to answer as his valet appeared in answer to the summons. 'Fetch Miss Ellison's maid. She has overtaxed herself and needs to return to her room. Also inform Foster that my ceiling is in need of repair.'
Sarah was laughing openly by this time. His poor man looked totally bemused, but nodded and hurried back down the passageway leaving her alone with a man she was beginning to find decidedly unsettling. She had no difficulty when he was roaring at her, but when he was smiling her toes curled up in her slippers.
'I am feeling perfectly recovered, sir. I have no intention of sitting here like a ninnyhammer waiting to be escorted like an old lady to my chamber.' To prove the point she rose gracefully, shook out her dress, curtsied without overbalancing, and then smiled triumphantly.
'There, as you can see I'm quite capable of returning without assistance.' She was relieved he made no attempt to leave his position in the doorway.
'Are you not going to enquire if I have been injured before you disappear?'
'It is obvious that you have not. It’s a pity one cannot say the same for your ceiling.'
She could hear him chuckling as she retreated. When Mary arrived she was safely ensconced on the daybed innocently reading a magazine.
'Miss Ellison, whatever next! You should not have ventured out without me.'
'As you can see I came to no harm. However, I think I should like to return to my bed after all the excitement. I was merely resting in the window seat before returning and Lord Atherton assumed I was unwell.'
Two days later Sarah declared herself ready to rejoin the house party. Atherton, like herself, had had his stitches removed and was now able to wear his boots. He was already up and about and she wasn't to be denied this time.
'Jane, I am going down to break my fast whether you are coming or not.' She looked in exasperation at her sister who was still fussing with her appearance. The reason, although it had been denied vehemently, was that Jane wished to impress Mainwaring. She was certain she had dressed with no more care than she usually did.
'There, I am ready now. Shall I take your arm?'
'I'm not in my dotage. If you are ready at last, let us go.'
Several of the servants greeted her warmly and she was obliged to stop and chat a few moments with each. Jane was the impatient one now. Sarah felt no urgency herself, after all Atherton wasn't interested in her, and anyway he was far too dictatorial or her taste. But if he were to pursue her, would she consider his offer?
Her cheeks coloured as she remembered his lips on hers. His stolen kiss had been most enjoyable, but as her mother had explained to her when she had fancied herself in love several years ago, physical attraction was not the same as true love which would last a lifetime. What she felt her him was the former; she couldn't possibly be in love with a man who was the opposite of everything she wanted in the gentleman she would eventually marry.
The breakfast parlour was at the rear of the house overlooking the rose garden. There was a tempting array of food to choose from and Sarah helped herself from most of the dishes. Having been without appetite for over a week she needed to eat well if she was going to regain her strength. She noticed Jane took a small spoonful of field mushrooms and some toasted bread, far less than her usual plateful.
She was halfway through her meal when the door opened and a stranger, who could be none other than Mainwaring, strolled in. He stopped and smiled warmly at Jane before bowing politely to her. 'Miss Ellison, I am delighted to see you looking so well. Lord Edward, Dickon Mainwaring, at your service.'
Politely restoring the cutlery to her plate, Sarah stood up and curtsied. 'I have heard so much about you this past week, my lord, I feel I have already made your acquaintance.'
/>
'In which case, Miss Ellison, let us not stand on ceremony. You must resume your breakfast and I shall collect mine.' He nodded to Jane. 'Is there anything I can get you, Miss Jane?'
Sarah ignored the two of them as her attention was drawn to the door as Atherton swung in. She was shocked to see he still needed to keep his left foot from the ground. She owed him a great deal, she must make more of an effort to be civil in future.
'Good morning, my lord. If you would like to be seated it would be my pleasure to serve you.'
'Thank you, but I wouldn't dream of interrupting your meal. Mainwaring knows what I like and has been taking care of me these past two mornings.' Deftly he pulled out a chair, hooked his crutches over another, and sat. For some reason he had chosen to sit directly opposite her. She wished he wouldn't stare at her so closely as it made her feel very uncomfortable.
'I notice you still need assistance to walk, how long will it be before you are fully recovered?'
'Another week, at most. It is not walking that's the problem, it's the fact that I cannot ride either, that I'm finding frustrating. Mainwaring and your sister have ridden every morning whilst I have been obliged to moulder away in the library reading a book.'
He said this with such disgust she laughed out loud. Several moments passed before she recovered sufficiently to answer. 'I take it from that comment you view reading with disfavour.'
He smiled and her toes did their disconcerting curling. 'I have no objection to books. Indeed, I like to see a lady immersed in the latest novel.' He nodded solemnly, but his eyes were dancing. 'Then I know I shan't be obliged to listen to her twittering about the latest fashions.'
'You are outrageous, sir. But I refuse to be annoyed by anything you say in future. It's my intention to be courteous and polite at all times.' Now she smiled sweetly. 'After all, you are my guardian and a man of mature years. I have always been told to show respect to an older gentleman.'
He nodded and leaned across the table in order to speak softly into her ear. 'I am two and thirty and in my prime. I am more than a match for you, my dear Miss Ellison, and you would do well to remember it.'
The Lords & Ladies Box Set Page 32