As they dismounted in the stable yard at Marsden House, Leighton stumbled against his mount and Reid steadied him. Maddie was there in an instant. She must have been watching him on the return trip. To his surprise, Sir Phillip came to help him.
“I am amazed. Not only did you save my daughter but the two of you salvaged a horse I had given up for dead.”
“I’m just glad Lucy wasn’t hurt,” Leighton said as he leaned against Chandros. “Let us hope this will not give her a fear of riding.”
“Never mind that for now. Come inside for some brandy. You look done in.”
Leighton swayed slightly. “As appealing as that sounds, I think I had best get to the hotel before I fall asleep on my feet.”
He felt himself stumble again and Maddie came to hold him up. He gave a grunt of pain when she brushed his side.
“What is it, Leighton? Not just your lungs.”
“Bruised ribs is all.”
“Then you must come in until you are tended to,” Sir Phillip said. “Dr. Murray can take care of you. It is the least we can do.”
“Dark,” Leighton said. It was getting dark—or was it just his vision going furry around the edges? Sure enough, the world started disappearing until all he could see was straight in front of his eyes, Maddie’s concerned face. He wanted to tell her not to worry. He had passed out before and knew he would be fine but he was so tired…
“He’s going down,” Reid said, as though Leighton were a horse and could not understand him.
“But all I need…”
* * * * *
Not being able to breathe was not a new experience but was always startling when it woke you up. Leighton fought the covers until he could heave himself up onto his elbow and cough. Someone was trying to drown him with a glass of water and he was surprised again to discover it was Maddie.
“What the devil?” he gasped. “Where am I?”
“Marsden Hall. Don’t you remember? You fainted in the courtyard.”
“More like I fell asleep on my feet. What are you doing here alone with me?” Except for his smallclothes, he had been stripped and was lying in a strange bed with his chest and arms exposed. He was alone with Maddie, just as he had wanted. If only his ribs did not feel like they were on fire, it would be an amorous situation. And the look in Maddie’s eyes, though admiring, probably had nothing to do with his physique.
“I convinced Mrs. Marsden that we were such old childhood friends there could be no impediment to my nursing you, that in fact it would be expected of me. Dr. Murray is still tending to Lucy.”
Leighton was leaning on his left elbow regarding her smug assurance. Then he suddenly recalled the entire day. “Good Lord, what happened to my horses?”
Maddie gave an exasperated sigh. “You almost get yourself killed saving Lucy and all you can think of are your horses. We left them dripping sweat in the courtyard and now they have both taken a chill and died. What do you think happened to them? The grooms are cooling them under Reid’s supervision.”
“Sorry, I am not thinking clearly. I have to get word to Tibbs.”
“Who is Tibbs?” Maddie asked as she adjusted his pillows and pulled the covers up over him.
The brush of her hand across his naked flesh caused him a quick intake of breath. There were some sensations that took precedence over pain. Beyond the aching need she awoke in him was a satisfaction that she cared so much about him.
“My man. Could you get a servant to go to him at Prad’s Hotel? Tell him I need the tea mixture Cook gave me. It will take care of this cough.”
“Very well. Perhaps I’d best send for some of your clothes too.” She sat at the small desk against the inner wall to pen a note and Leighton watched her with satisfaction. She had thrown off her jacket but still wore the white shirt and jabot from this morning. She had tucked the tail of the riding habit up into her waistband, revealing a glimpse of lace petticoat. Soon she would have no secrets from him and he wanted to make sure there was nothing either physical or mental that he was withholding. But his brain was a little too fogged right now for any more confessions.
She must have realized he was watching her. She turned to look at him and tried to smile but had to close her eyes when the tears came. “You were shot in Spain,” she said with a watery laugh.
“It was nothing. And it happened years ago. Nothing to cry over now.”
She came and bent down took his face between her hands and deliberately kissed him, trailing her now loose tresses over his naked arms. After a long minute, he groaned and laid his head back on the pillow.
“If this is how you treat a wounded man, it is small inducement to keep myself safe.”
“Ah but you do not know what I will do for you if you manage to come home whole. Something to think about for the future.”
“The prospect of coming home to you is not so far away. Thank you, Maddie.” Leighton closed his eyes, willing the cough to go away. But the very act of lying down seemed to bring it on, so he raised his head and stared at the fireplace.
“I swear to you it is not smoking,” she replied as she went to the desk and picked up her note.
“Just checking.”
The door opened and Mrs. Marsden carried a tray in. “Here we have something for that cough.”
Leighton saw Maddie wrinkle her nose at the bowl but at this point he was willing to try anything.
“What is your secret potion?” he croaked.
“Beef broth. Drink it up.”
“I’ll just send for your things then,” Maddie said and exited.
The broth did put some life into him and even stilled the cough momentarily. Dr. Murray came in with his bag. Leighton sucked in an unsteady breath when a cold hand examined his bruised side.
“One rib is cracked,” Murray said, “and you will wear those bruises for a while. You should have said you were hurt before we let you ride the whole way back.”
“I don’t think it’s serious.”
Sir Phillip loomed over the bed. “I think we should listen to Dr. Murray on this.”
“Hmm, well, by itself, no, it’s not a serious injury but you also have a bruise on your shoulder, a lump on the back of your head and your original inflammation in the lungs. Taken all together I recommend a few days in bed.”
“A few days?” Leighton complained, then subsided, for if they were going to let Maddie nurse him, it might be just the ticket to get all the time he could wish to talk to her.
“And no riding,” Murray added.
“But my horses—”
“Will be fine in my stable. Stone, you just saved my daughter’s life. At least consent to be my houseguest until I am confident you are not going to keel over from the aftereffects.”
“Well, I did come to Bath to rest. I don’t suppose it matters where I do it.”
Content with Leighton’s capitulation, Sir Phillip retreated to the desk. The doctor made a more minute examination of the rest of his scratches and bruises, spent what Leighton considered an inordinate amount of time taping the ribs, then sat down to write out some instructions. Leighton was arguing against laudanum and saying brandy would help, when the door opened to admit Tibbs and Maddie. Leighton was beginning to think the room a little crowded.
“My lord, what happened?”
His retainer looked concerned and he had let slip his title. Damn. “It is nothing Tibbs, a slight fall off my horse.”
“Is aught broken?”
“Just a rib. Did you bring the tea?”
“Right here, sir. I shall go to the kitchen and make it up myself.” With that he hastened out and Maddie ducked out with him. Had that really been worry that had sat on Tibbs’ brow. Did the fellow actually care what happened to him?
“What did he call you?” Sir Phillip asked.
“No telling. Poor fellow. Tibbs is from the stews of London. Anyone who doesn’t drop his H’s is like a king to him.”
Dr. Murray threw Leighton a penetrating look.
Sir Phillip folded his arms. “Just who are you, Stone? A music master who rides like a demon and tosses his life away as though it were nothing? You are not the average Oxford-educated son of a clergyman.”
“No, it is Maddie whose father is a clergyman. Mine was…a farmer.”
Dr. Murray blew out a slow breath. “You may as well tell him, Stone. I have seen that look and he will find out anyway.”
“Well, I do not suppose it matters, though all I wanted was a quiet trip to Bath. My father was Longbridge.”
Sir Phillip stared at him “The Earl of Longbridge?”
Leighton nodded and Sir Phillip slowly began to laugh. “And here I was warning you away from my daughter.”
“As well you should. Lucy is far too young and impressionable to be thinking on anything but parties and dresses.”
“And your connection to Miss Westlake?”
“I came looking for her when she disappeared from my estate. I was relieved to find her with her sister rather than murdered somewhere.”
“So how do you two know each other?”
“Dr. Murray treated me before.”
“At Longbridge?”
“Ah, no,” Murray said. “It was in Portugal. Got himself shot between the ribs by a French sniper.”
“Portugal. That explains the scar but what were you doing in Portugal?”
“Well, I had heard it was splendid country. Thought I might have a look round.”
Murray chuckled. “Being as Sir Phillip is in the House of Commons and on the naval appropriations committee, I think it might be safe to tell him.”
“The war is over,” Leighton said.
“Tell me what?”
“Stone here assisted Captain Scoville in his work for Lord Wellington, with the French dispatches and writing our own codes—”
“Oh, my God!” Sir Phillip said slowly as he brought his hand to his brow, “You are that music master, the one who played at the parties, then spent the night deciphering.”
“You’ve heard of me? But how?”
“As you say, the war is over and men seem to feel they can speak freely now.”
“Then letting my mother spend two weeks in London was not a safe idea. If she had any intelligence at all she might have discovered what I have been doing these past six years.”
“Well, well.” Sir Phillip got up to leave, a pleased smile on his face.
“Does this mean you are going to blab this all over Bath?”
“I might tell my wife.”
Leighton rolled his eyes.
“If I did, there would be no impediment to your courting Lucy.”
“I can think of one. I do not love her.”
“Well, she is certainly in love with you.”
He went out then and Leighton leaned back on the nest of pillows.
“Now why would she fall in love with me?”
“You who saved her from certain death and brought her mare home with hardly a scratch? I cannot imagine.” Murray hummed to himself as he mixed a decoction and left it on the nightstand.
How could things have gotten so out of hand in one day? At least Maddie was not angry with him over rescuing Lucy. In fact, she was the one who had asked him to go after her. He would have to mention that if her anger followed on the heels of her concern as it often did. But if anyone deserved the credit for saving Lucy, it was Maddie for noticing she was missing. He would have to save that argument in case Lucy appeared too interested.
For now he needed sleep, if he was to survive Maddie’s nursing. The pull of need, desire and downright hunger that had started that day in the lane was now a constant gnawing. When they were separated, his feelings had leaned toward worry but now with her so close and touching him so intimately, it felt almost as though they were married, as though his goal was within reach.
He was desperately afraid that he was going to do something passionately improper and that Maddie in her present state of mind might let him. He was hunting about in his mind for something to distract both of them and he thought of the code but his mind was too fuzzy to focus on it.
There came a moment when everything stopped aching and he lay very still, thinking of how he would make a fountain and lily pond in the courtyard. The flagstoned area between the ancient sprawl of house and the stable had always seemed cold and untidy with weeds. He could have some of the stones pulled up to repair the broken ones and create a garden area outside the back door of the house. He drew the plans in his mind, in the morning he would tell Maddie about them and they would work on them together. That would be more fun than worrying over that stupid piece of music.
Chapter Fifteen
Maddie was preparing another poultice for Leighton’s ribs while Tibbs steeped his tea. Acting as Leighton’s nurse gave Maddie even more status in the household. In the kitchen the entire staff, including now Tibbs, bowed to her every command.
After learning of Leighton’s title, Lady Haddon voiced no objection to Maddie nursing him. Probably she thought there could never be a relationship between Maddie and Leighton other than servant and master. Maddie could not blame Lucy for worshiping Leighton. He was a hero. And that was something Maddie was going to have to accept about him, that he might throw his life away to save another’s, even when he barely knew the person. That was the way Leighton was.
For now all she could do was be there to pick up the pieces. But when they were married, she would see to it that he did not come in the way of dangerous temptations. She realized she really believed now that they would be married, that nothing could bar their way. On her own she would have seen only the impediments, the dark patches. Leighton made her see the possibilities. They were a good pairing, a pessimist and an optimist. Perhaps over time, they would change each other and not argue so very much.
Maddie realized she was taking on a lifetime of worry as Leighton’s wife. But she would still worry about him even if they were not married. And as his wife, she might exercise an element of control and prevent such accidents as had happened the day before yesterday.
As Tibbs loaded the teapot onto the tray, she amended that. Leighton was also a mathematician and could calculate without thinking if something was a lost cause. So he would do his utmost but he knew how risky something was and would not precisely throw his life away. That was a point in his favor. She folded the poultice and nodded to Tibbs. He picked up the tray, which now contained a substantial meal besides the medicine and tea.
Yes, Leighton needed her. She tapped on his door and opened it when he said, “Come.”
He pushed together sheets of music and other notes in preparation to finally getting a decent meal. She took the stacks of papers away and put them on the desk. He would tell her what they were all about in good time. Until this past six years they had shared every confidence. So she had not missed him just physically but as a friend. She had him back now and would not let anyone or anything come between them again.
Leighton allowed them to replace the poultice before he ate because it did feel good against his ribs. Of course it was more fun being tended by Maddie without his man present. And he was getting a little sick of Tibbs’ bowing and scraping. As soon as he was able, he would have to do something to infuriate the man and get back on a more normal footing.
Maddie was another matter. She sat patiently in a chair by the window while he ate, a large apron over her old brown dress. She worked at some sewing while Tibbs fussed with his clothes. Leighton ate quickly because he was hungry and he had something to discuss with Maddie, several things.
The doctor calling up his memories of the war had put him in mind again of the codes he had solved. And no matter how he had tried to banish the scrap of music from his mind, he had worked on it in his sleep. It had to be a coded message. Why else would someone search his rooms? Fortunately he had put that bit in his wallet, so they had not found it. But why had it been sent to him? Figuring that out was more important than mapping a garden at Longbridge—more immediat
e, at any rate.
“Oh,” Tibbs said. “I near forgot. A letter came for you.”
“Another letter? I hope it’s something I can read.”
He took the folded sealed paper from Tibbs. “Oh, it’s from Ross.” When he broke the seal, there was a smaller note inside for Maddie. “From my sister Amy, I take it. She probably wants to wish us happy.”
Tibbs arched an eyebrow at the revelation, then bestowed the smaller note on a surprised Maddie before he exited with a bundle of laundry.
“How do they know we are here? Oh, you wrote to Ross.”
“Yes, in case anything went amiss, I wanted Ross to know where I was.” The letter contained only farm news and bits about the children. “It looks as if the crops have not washed out. That’s a bit of luck.”
When Leighton looked at Maddie’s tragic face he knew something was wrong. “What is it? Is someone ill?”
“No,” she said coldly. “Your tenants all go on well. Is it true that you swam the river during the flood?”
Leighton knew he had to answer carefully. “I don’t know that I would call it swimming. I got the rope to the other side so we could start the bridge.”
“You could have drowned.”
“Well, no. I had a rope tied about me. If I hadn’t reached the other side they would have pulled me back.”
“This is why you are ill. Was there ever anything so stupid? You could have waited until the water went down.”
“Yes and perhaps have the carriage with Susan, Amy, Ross and Mother swept downstream instead when they tried to ford somewhere else.”
“Ross would never have been so stupid. Why are you?”
“It’s my job.”
“To be stupid?”
“To do what has to be done.” Leighton sat up and let the sheets fall away. “Listen to me, Maddie.”
“Go on being stupid. Get up and pass out on us.”
“Maddie, the river bends there. I could see the current would carry me to the other shore.”
“So you calculated the risk and took your life in your hands again.”
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