The Countess Intrigue

by Andrews, Wendy May

  “Maybe.” Pansy sounded doubtful, still not ready to trust the man. “But I think first we should finish reading what the countess wrote. If she kept writing, even after the wedding, it might give us more information about the earl’s involvement.”

  “That’s a good point. All right, we already know she trapped the earl at the instigation of Sir Broderick. Perhaps we can just skim through the next section and get as quickly as possible to after the wedding.”

  “Are you sure you’re going to be comfortable reading your predecessor’s diary from when she’s married to your husband?” the maid asked with a subdued voice. It was obvious she was concerned about her mistress’ tender feelings.

  Elizabeth had to laugh. “No, of course I won’t be comfortable with it, but I’ll be even less comfortable with being dead, so let us get on with it.”

  With a shared sigh they resumed their reading.

  More references to Jason telling her where to meet Lord S.

  Lord S’s interest is finally snagged.

  She gloats about her conquest.

  Jason tells her what to do.

  The wedding.

  In between these references the housekeeper and the earl stopped in to check on Elizabeth, but Pansy refused to allow either one to enter. She said her ladyship was resting and should not be disturbed. Elizabeth was torn, but followed the maid’s dictates knowing it might be for her own good.

  Pansy called a halt. “It is about time for you to eat something, m’lady. The doctor said you need to regain your strength. Let me ring for more of that delicious soup from last night.”

  “Are you going to make the servants taste it again?” Elizabeth asked with a scolding tone, which she completely ruined by giggling immediately after.

  “Of course, m’lady. After all the reading we’ve done, we have all the more reason to suspect someone. We don’t know who, but the countess was most definitely conspiring. I am a firm believer that those who conspire are sure to be conspired against. The first countess is proof positive that I am right. She was in league with a snake, and it turned around and bit her.”

  “So you think Broderick killed her?” Elizabeth asked almost eagerly.

  “Or her husband once he found out,” Pansy countered.

  Elizabeth changed the subject. “You are right, Pansy. We ought to eat. And I need to get out of my nightgown for at least a few hours.”

  “Whatever for, m’lady? You shan’t be leaving this room.”

  “Because I hate feeling like an invalid!” Elizabeth exclaimed before continuing in more moderate tones. “I’m so sorry, Pansy, I know you are trying to look after me, and you are doing a lovely job of it. I just hate feeling so weak and confined. It is maddening. Perhaps you are right, and I needn’t dress properly, but I would like to brush out my hair, wash my face, and perhaps change into a fresh nightgown before we continue.”

  “Very well, m’lady, but you must mind your arm. I would hate for it to begin bleeding again.”

  “As would I,” Elizabeth agreed. “Do you know when the doctor planned to return?”

  “All the earl told me was sometime this afternoon.”

  “Very well. I might as well make myself presentable.”

  Pansy followed through on her mistress’ requests, ringing for servants to bring fresh water as well as the fortifying soup. Within the hour Elizabeth was cleaned, changed, fed, and they were once again studying Lady Barbara’s diary.

  “Here’s an interesting passage. ‘Jason has gotten word to me. He needs me to convince Lord S to resume his seat in the House. Doesn’t he realize by now that it was all for nothing? I have no power over the earl.’ I can almost feel sorry for her,” Elizabeth began before quickly amending her statement. “That is to say, of course, I feel dreadful for her that she is dead, but getting to know her through her diary, I cannot say that I like the poor woman. But here it would seem that she is seeing the futility of her choices. And it seems we’re getting closer to the information we seek.”

  “It sounds like you were right, m’lady. This Broderick fellow wants to influence the government and is using easily influenced young women to do it. He doesn’t strike me as being too smart.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “Why do you say that? I think he’d have to be diabolically brilliant to be able to carry out these schemes.”

  “True, but he is choosing silly young women as his partners in the crimes. Lady Barbara was after a lofty title and deep pockets. She doesn’t really care about the government. If Sir Broderick had chosen idealistic young women who were eager to share in his plans, I would think he would have more success. As Lady Barbara said, she really had no idea how to influence her husband.”

  “I guess that would explain why Broderick has yet to have any amount of success,” Elizabeth agreed before pausing in thought. “Or none that we know of anyway,” she continued with a slight shiver of dread. “There is really no way for us to know if he was merely unsuccessful with Lady Barbara. It is entirely possible that he has a legion of men sitting in his pocket through the influence of their wives or sisters or daughters. Dear heavens, the thought is hardly to be borne.” She turned her attention back to the book in Pansy’s hand. ”I dare say we ought to continue as quickly as possible.”

  Pansy had been scanning the next few passages and she looked at her mistress with a blush staining her cheeks. “I don’t think you’ll care for the next few pages, m’lady, I think we ought to skip them.”

  “We aren’t going to start skipping pages at this point, Pansy. And I am not about to turn squeamish on you. Just go ahead and read it.”

  Pansy was clearly reluctant but she got on with the ordeal.

  “Lord S keeps talking about having babies. He says he needs an heir. I don’t think I’m ready for that. I want to go back to London. Life out here in the country is boring and stuffy. The earl keeps trying to get me involved in his interests as he calls them, but they aren’t at all interesting. And now he wants babies? Yuck!”

  Elizabeth could see why the maid was hesitant to share this particular passage with her, but it didn’t bother her at all. In fact, she burst into laughter and had trouble containing her mirth. At that moment there was a knock at the door. That certainly stemmed the flow of her laughter. The two girls gazed at each other in dismay. Pansy quickly went to the door while Elizabeth shoved the book under her pillows.

  It was the doctor who had returned to check on his patient. The earl was with him, but Pansy glared him away from the door.

  “I am delighted to see that color has returned to your cheeks, my lady. You seem much revived after a night of rest. How are you feeling?”

  “Rather tired of being stuck in my room, I must say, Doctor. I am truly hoping you shall lift my sentence of confinement,” Elizabeth accompanied her words with as sweet a smile as she could muster.

  The doctor returned her smile with a wink. “Let’s just see what your arm has to say on the subject, shall we, my lady? I am not going to allow you to sweet talk me into violating my own principles.”

  Elizabeth wanted to pout but couldn’t pull it off. She had to laugh at the doctor’s witty comeback. “Very well, examine away.”

  The doctor was moderately pleased with the appearance of her wound but much to her dismay did not lift the restrictions on her movement. “My lady, if I say you can leave your room you will want to dress. If you dress, you are sure to jar your arm and that will undo all the lovely progress you have made thus far. I think it is far better if you remain in your nightclothes for at least one more day. If you are bored beyond belief you may put on a dressing gown and allow yourself visitors but under no circumstances are you to get dressed and go about your regular activities. We shall revisit the issue on the morrow.”

  “I have quite decided that I don’t like you very much, Doctor,” Elizabeth declared. “I do hope the earl takes a decidedly long time to pay your bill.”

  The doctor threw back his head and laughed. “Well, I like you, my
lady, which is why I want you to heal quickly. Now behave yourself for one more day and you will most likely be rewarded for it.”

  “Just one more thing, Doctor, before you go. Could I ask you a rather indelicate question?”

  “Of course, my lady, I am at your service.”

  Elizabeth hesitated, catching Pansy’s wide-eyed glance. Her maid obviously had guessed what she wished to ask the doctor and was undecided how she felt about it. Elizabeth plunged on, hungering for concrete information.

  “Did you attend the sickbed for the previous countess? Would you be able to tell me how she died?”

  “I did treat Lady Barbara, my lady. Might I ask why you are asking?”

  Elizabeth could see that the doctor was studying her with a level of chagrin as though he was uncomfortable talking about it but willing to be of assistance.

  “All I have to do is lie in this bed and think all day,” Elizabeth began. “It has lead me to be a trifle concerned for my future. Is it merely a terrible coincidence that two countesses in a row have run into tragic difficulty? If the shooter had better aim I wouldn’t be here to talk about it.” Hearing her own words frightened Elizabeth and she could hear the tremble in her voice.

  The doctor heard it too and was quick to point out, “Lady Barbara wasn’t shot, my lady. She jumped from the roof and broke her back. It took her a few days to die; but she never regained consciousness to be able to tell us what had happened or what made her do it.”

  “Was it ever suspected that she had been pushed? There were some rather nasty rumours swirling around London.”

  The doctor didn’t at first answer her question directly, much to Elizabeth’s frustration. “Are you concerned about your safety, my lady?” he asked.

  “Of course I’m concerned about my safety,” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I have been shot at and no one knows by whom. My husband’s first wife died prematurely and no one will tell me the circumstances surrounding that tragedy. It is not a situation that instills confidence, sir.”

  “No, no, of course not, my lady,” he began, trying to soothe her. “Please don’t allow yourself to get worked up. It will not be good for your recovery.”

  Elizabeth interrupted him, feeling very inclined to toss a pillow at him. She enunciated clearly, “Doctor, I am not getting worked up. I am merely asking you for some information. To the best of your knowledge, did anyone investigate how the lady ended up on the roof? Was she known to have been depressed? Did it seem to be within the possibility of her character that she would intentionally jump to her death?”

  The doctor was again silent for a moment while he regarded her seriously. “I didn’t know Lady Barbara very well myself, but I did not think she seemed depressed. You are right, there was talk around the village. But I truly do not think you are in danger from your husband. He seems to be genuinely concerned about your recovery and puzzled about your attack.” He paused in thought once more. “I’m sorry, my lady, I do not have anything more informative to tell you.”

  Elizabeth settled back into her pillows. She had been leaning forward eagerly, wanting to hear clearly every word the doctor had to tell her. “Thank you Doctor. I appreciate your candour.” She wasn’t terribly surprised by his words so she left it at that. The man hadn’t really been all that helpful although finding out the nature of Lady Barbara’s death was good to know despite how gruesome it must have been.

  The doctor stood to leave but then looked back at her with shrewd eyes. “My lady, I cannot blame you for being cautious. And while I do not actually think your husband had anything to do neither with his first wife’s death nor for the attack on you, I can completely understand why you might question it. If you find you are afraid for your safety and in need of help, please come to me. I will do my best to assist you in any way I can. I know being here in your husband’s home and in his village it could feel as though you are alone. I will stand your friend if you need me.”

  Elizabeth felt tears of gratitude well into her eyes. The man was clearly perceptive. That was exactly how it felt, as though everyone here belonged to Sinclair. Since she couldn’t be absolutely certain of his guilt or innocence that meant she could trust no one. Of course, she still didn’t know if she could trust the doctor so it was really a moot point. She was left with only her own wits and Pansy’s help. She braced herself with a brave smile. She nodded to the doctor as he took his leave.

  Turning to Pansy after the door closed behind the doctor, Elizabeth kept her smile firmly in place. “Well, it’s back to just you and me. And I’m stuck in this room for at least one more day. I will allow it because I am nervous to venture forth until I know who to trust. But we need to finish this book because I am determined to leave this room tomorrow with or without the doctor’s permission.”

  They settled in to read the rest of Lady Barbara’s diary. As they progressed they could see that the countess was becoming afraid of Jason and his reaction to her lack of results in attempting to influence the earl.

  Chapter 10

  “You really must allow me to see my wife, Pansy. If you do not remove yourself from the doorway, I shall be forced to move you myself. I know you think you are protecting your mistress, but I think I am in a better position to do that than you are.”

  Elizabeth had dozed off and struggled to conscious wakefulness when she heard the commotion at the door. She called out to her maid. “Pansy, I think it’s all right. You can let him in.”

  Pansy stood back, allowed the earl to enter, and then quickly shut the door behind him before hurrying over to stand watchfully at her mistress’ side. Elizabeth was gratified to see her husband’s calm acceptance of the maid’s protective stance.

  “Good afternoon, my dear lady,” the earl began with a beguiling smile while his eyes seemed to devour her with their intensity. “You look well.”

  Elizabeth tried to sit up and winced as her arm pinched at her. The earl quickly assisted her. “Your deceit is appreciated, my lord,” she replied with a smile.

  “I am not lying to you, my dear. The last time I saw you, you looked truly awful. I was really afraid for you, which is why I have barged in here like this. I couldn’t stand the suspense any longer and had to know for myself that you were on the mend as the doctor had promised. How are you, really, from your own perspective?”

  “Heartily sick of being in this room,” she began, “but vastly improved. The doctor told me that possibly he might allow me to leave the room tomorrow, but I have decided that whatever he says, I am getting up and dressing on the morrow. I shall go quite mad if I must remain confined for one more day.”

  “Do you think that is wise, my dear? One clear advantage to your remaining in your room is that you are sure to be kept safe.”

  “I refuse to be such a coward that I must hide in my bedchamber for the rest of my life. I understand that there is a very real threat against me, although I do not know why, but I refuse to allow it to win. I will not be kept a prisoner.” She tried not to glare at him but wasn’t sure if she had completely managed to quell her ire.

  “Of course not, my dear lady. No one spoke of keeping you a prisoner. But what do you know about a threat against you?” His concerned gaze had sharpened to alert watchfulness.

  Elizabeth’s gaze darted to Pansy. She had her hand wrapped around the washbasin. It wasn’t the best weapon but Elizabeth was relieved to feel somewhat protected should the earl turn out to be a threat. She bemoaned once more her weak position confined in the bed. She had thought to tell him everything but in that moment she changed her mind. Even though the countess was clearly afraid of Broderick and it was obvious that bounder bore a burden of guilt in the situation, Elizabeth had not yet proven that the earl was not involved in his wife’s death. And therefore she could not be certain that he was not somehow involved in the attack on her. She diverted his suspicion with a smile.

  “I know nothing about it because I am stuck in this room. All I know is that I was shot at by someone riding a brown
horse. The most nondescript description ever stated on this earth I am sure. But I trust you are investigating the situation, are you not, my lord? Have you found out anything that can be of use? Perhaps we could discuss it. I strongly doubt an attack on me stems from anything to do with my history, but it surely wouldn’t hurt to share ideas.”

  She could feel his gaze soften as he considered her words. “Considering how very involved with this that you are, I can see how you would consider it only fair that I at least keep you informed.”

  “That is exactly right, my lord.” Elizabeth could feel her smile of approval stretching her face as she beamed at him. He returned her smile before settling himself gingerly on the edge of her bed.

  “I hope I don’t jar your arm by sitting with you.”

  Elizabeth felt a flush cover her from head to toe. She hoped it wasn’t a fever coming on. She rather suspected it might be the handsome earl’s presence in her room with her only dressed in her nightgown. She appreciated that he was very careful not to touch her for fear of hurting her wound, but she felt so very aware of him, a fact that caused a degree of despair. He smells good, she thought rather wildly as she breathed deeply and noticed the combination of leather, lemon, and pine. She puzzled over the differing scents. He must have gone riding after bathing and then sat on some freshly polished furniture, she guessed before dragging her attention back to his statement. Not wanting him to realize how distracting she found him, she was quick to dismiss his concern.

  “Oh, I am not so very fragile as that, my lord. Do not allow the doctor’s concerns to trouble you overly. I think he is just unused to gunshot wounds and thinks confinement is the only way to treat them.”

  “Actually, you would be surprised at just how many gunshot wounds a country doctor has to treat. There are any number of fools who accidentally shoot themselves or someone else either with poor aim while hunting or even while trying to clean their gun while in their cups.”