Within seconds Mrs. Flearly was at his side. She leaned over the tub and placed her fingers to Amanda’s neck, then reached for Amanda’s hand and pressed her fingers to Amanda’s wrist.
“Lift her from the tub, Your Grace! Now! We need to get her beneath the covers.”
Sterling scooped Amanda into his arms and raced to the bed. “Is she alive?”
“Yes, Your Grace. The lady is alive! Her fever has broken!”
He and Mrs. Flearly worked quickly to dry off Amanda’s body and dress her in a warm nightgown. When she was snuggly beneath the covers, he sat in a chair beside her and held her hand.
“She’ll sleep for a while,” Mrs. Flearly said. “I’ll go to the kitchen and ask for some broth to be brought up. When she wakes, we need to get her to eat. She’s gone too long without nourishment. And so have you.” She gave him a look that told him a tray would arrive for him, too. And she intended him to eat.
She walked to the door, but he couldn’t let her leave without saying something. “Mrs. Flearly.”
She turned.
“Thank you. Thank you, more than I can say.”
Mrs. Flearly smiled, then nodded. The look in her eyes said she understood something he hadn’t even admitted to himself, let alone to anyone else. The expression on her face said she approved.
When the door closed behind the nurse, he turned back to where Amanda lay beneath the covers. She was resting peacefully now, not thrashing as she’d been earlier. He stared at the steady rise and fall of her chest and said a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving that she’d survived. He wasn’t sure how he’d survive if she hadn’t. And that thought frightened him.
He never thought he’d feel that way—especially about a woman he thought had been put on this earth to be a thorn in his side.
He held her hand. He couldn’t help but wonder if she could ever feel that way about him.
He squeezed her fingers, and smiled.
CHAPTER 15
Amanda slowly lifted her eyelids, careful to allow herself time to adjust to the bright sunshine that streamed through the window. She’d come close to dying. She knew she had, even though she hadn’t been awake through the worst of it. And she hadn’t been alone. She knew that, too.
He’d been with her—the Duke of Hadleigh.
She turned her head on the pillow and knew she’d find him sitting in the chair beside her bed. He might be sleeping. He had been the last time she’d opened her eyes, no doubt because he was exhausted, so she hadn’t disturbed him, but had let him sleep.
She opened her eyes, and her gaze locked with his. He smiled.
“I’m happy to see you smile, Your Grace.”
The words came out choppy, from days without talking. Her voice sounded raspy and hoarse, as if her throat had forgotten how to work.
“I’m glad to have a reason to smile, my lady. I was afraid that perhaps you would cause me more grief.”
She pressed her head back against the pillow and closed her eyes. “I have caused everyone a great deal of trouble. Especially you.”
She knew she had. She could tell by looking at him. The dark stubble on his face told her it had been overly long since he’d taken time for personal grooming. His wrinkled shirt gave evidence that he’d spent several hours—perhaps even a day—sleeping in the chair beside her bed.
“The outcome was well worth the trouble,” he said, leaning closer and taking her hand in his.
He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, then reached for a glass of water on the bedside table. He lifted her head. “Drink this. Mrs. Flearly said you were to drink lots of liquid.”
“Who is Mrs. Flearly?” she said before he pressed the glass to her lips.
“Oh, I forgot. You haven’t met.” After she drank several swallows, he placed the glass back on the table. “She’s an angel. You are here because of her care. We both owe her a great deal.”
He rose and walked to the door. “I’m going to call for her so you can meet her. Then, I’m going to change out of these clothes while she tends to you. And then, you’re going to rest so you get better. Your brother has been sick with worry about you, and I’ve missed that sharp tongue of yours more than I anticipated I would.”
Amanda wanted to reply, but she didn’t have the strength. She was suddenly too tired to think of a proper retort. But when she was better, she’d think of several things to say.
Except, now the words she wanted to say to Hadleigh were kinder. Gentler. Filled with a softness that was so unlike any emotion she was used to feeling toward him.
It was the first time she’d felt like this. And she liked it.
. . .
It had been nearly a month since she’d been shot, and contrary to her demands, Hadleigh had insisted that she remain in bed. Today, though, she wouldn’t allow him to dictate where she was to spend her day. She intended to walk down the stairs, sit in the garden, and let the sun shine on her face. It had been far too long since she’d been out of doors.
But even with Nellie’s help, it took her longer to dress than she thought it would. And she had to lean more heavily on Mrs. Flearly’s arm than she’d anticipated, but nothing was going to stop her from escaping the four walls of the room where she’d been confined for the last four weeks.
“We’re nearly to the bottom, my lady,” Mrs. Flearly said when they only had three more steps to travel.
“Yes,” a deep masculine voice said from across the foyer. “You’re doing remarkably well.”
Amanda looked up to see Hadleigh leaning against the door-jam to his study. The gasp that escaped from within her was as much from how handsome he looked standing there as it was from the surprise at hearing his voice.
She stepped the last three stairs, then transferred her hand from Mrs. Flearly’s arm to his.
“You may retire for a while, Mrs. Flearly,” he said. “I’ll take over from here.”
Mrs. Flearly nodded. “Thank you, Your Grace. Send word when the lady is ready to return. And don’t let her stay up too long.”
“Have no fear, Mrs. Flearly. Since this is the lady’s first venture out, it will be a short one.
He answered Amanda’s frown with a smile, then looped one arm around her waist while he held her hand with his other hand.
It seemed strange to twine her fingers through his without the barrier of gloves, but she wasn’t sure why that should be. He’d held her hand often while she was recovering. Especially when he thought she was asleep.
“Where would you like to sit, my lady. The garden?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
He led her through his study, and out a set of glass-paned doors that opened to the terrace. “The weather is too perfect to spend indoors, and since it has been such a long time since you’ve been out, it only seemed logical.”
They reached a chair next to a small table. Before she sat, a footman arrived with a soft cushion for her to sit on, and another to place behind her back.
“Are you comfortable?” Hadleigh asked.
Amanda looked up to let the sun shine on her face. “Yes, very.” She looked out onto the perfectly manicured garden and sighed. “It’s beautiful here.”
“Yes, it is, although I think you’d consider anywhere beautiful after spending the last month indoors.”
“Perhaps.” Amanda let her gaze travel to where he sat and noticed a serious expression on his face. She knew it probably had something to do with her being injured. She also knew it was best to discuss what plans were necessary now that she was better. Because nothing had changed. She was still in danger. Whoever shot her would try again as soon as they had the opportunity.
“What have you decided to do, Your Grace?”
“Do?”
“Yes, do. And you know what I’m talking about.”
He rose from his chair. “I’ve come up with several ideas,” he said when he reached the corner of the terrace. “Nothing, however, that is guaranteed to expose our killer.”
�
��Then may I suggest something?”
He turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder. “You have an idea in mind?”
She laughed. “Being confined to one’s bed for nearly a month allows one ample time to consider a few options. It also allows one time to dismiss the options that probably won’t work.”
He returned to his chair and sat. “What ideas have you come up with?”
“Actually, only one idea. But I consider it a good one.”
“You have my attention.”
She took a deep breath. “I’ve searched the shipping offices of every titled earl in Society except four, and found nothing. That doesn’t mean to say that I couldn’t have missed something. For expediency sake, however, we’ll assume that the Calliope Anne is owned by one of the four remaining earls.”
“And those four earls are the Earls of Stanwich, Marquit, Lambert, and Flanders.”
Amanda nodded. “And since Lambert and Flanders are the least likely candidates, that points to Stanwich and Marquit as the strongest possibilities.”
“But we can’t discount Lambert or Flanders,” Hadleigh said. “To do so could have dire consequences.”
“I know,” Amanda answered.
“So how do you propose we go about eliminating them? And don’t suggest we break into their offices, because that is not a possibility. Your midnight escapades are over. Finished!”
Amanda rolled her eyes. “I knew you would feel that way, so I didn’t even consider that option. Instead, I came up with another plan.”
She paused to allow him time to consider what she was about to suggest. “You are going to host a dinner party. And your guests will be our four candidates.”
Hadleigh leaned back in his chair. “Do you expect one of them to admit over brandy and cigars that they have a ship named the Calliope Anne?”
Amanda knew he was about to point out that that was highly unlikely. “No,” she added. “My hope is that Harry will recognize the man’s voice. You remember, he said he talked to the earl once. I spoke to Harry earlier. He said the man’s voice is quite distinctive and he’s quite sure he would recognize it if he heard it again.”
Hadleigh stood, then walked to the cement railing and looked out onto the garden. “You may have something here, Amanda.”
“I hope so,” she admitted. “Because I can’t think of another way to draw our killer into the open.”
Hadleigh turned. A broad smile lit his features and her heart melted. There was something irresistibly fascinating about him that she was losing her ability to ignore.
He stepped close to her. “I think your idea might just work.”
Before she realized his intent, he clasped his hands on either side of her face and tilted her head upward. Then, he brought his mouth down to hers and kissed her.
The kiss wasn’t long, nor was it as passionate as some of the others they’d shared, but it contained a heartfelt emotion she couldn’t miss. She returned his kiss with an eagerness that didn’t surprise her. His kisses released a myriad of emotions she could no longer contain. If anything surprised her—or frightened her—it was the desperation she felt to give him more than he asked for. It was her deep-down desire to give him—all.
“When should we host this dinner?” he asked when he lifted his lips from hers.
“As soon as possible.”
“Are you well enough to make it through an evening?”
His words surprised her. “You want me to attend?”
“Of course. This is your idea.”
“Yes, but how will you explain my presence?”
He pressed a light kiss to her forehead. “I will tell everyone that you are a friend. A very special friend.”
An uncomfortable awkwardness settled over her. “No, Your Grace. Lambert and Flanders will, of course, bring their wives. My presence will cause talk.”
“What kind of talk?”
“Talk that will link our names together in a way that will be an embarrassment for you.”
He smiled. “Having my name linked with yours will not be an embarrassment, Amanda.” His expression turned serious. “Will it embarrass you to have your name linked with mine?”
“Of course not,” she said. “But—”
He held up his hand to indicate their discussion was at an end. “Then we will speak of it no more. Now,” he said extending his arm to help her stand, “you’ve been out enough for this first day. I’ll see you to your room, then I’ll set a day that suits our purpose.”
He helped her to her feet.
“It will be soon,” he added as they stepped inside his study.
“What if not everyone attends?” she asked.
“Oh, they’ll attend. Receiving an invitation from me is not all that common. They will attend out of sheer curiosity.”
They made their way to the bottom of the stairs, and before Amanda could stop him. Hadleigh scooped her into his arms and carried her to her room.
She should protest, she knew she should, but being held so close to him felt too good.
. . .
Amanda sat at her dressing table while Nellie made some final adjustments to her hair. A soft knock on the door stopped the maid from fussing further and she went to see who was there.
“Is the lady ready?” Hadleigh’s voice said from beyond the room.
Nellie opened the door to allow him to enter. “Yes, Your Grace.”
He stepped inside the room and stopped. A smile lit his face. “You look radiant,” he said.
“If I do, I have Nellie to thank for it. She performed miracles with what she had to work with.”
Amanda enjoyed seeing the shy maid blush.
Nellie gathered a few items, then left the room, leaving Amanda alone with Hadleigh.
“You really do look lovely. There’s color back in your cheeks, and a sparkle in your eyes.”
“That’s not a sparkle, Your Grace. That’s nervousness. It borders on fear.”
He walked toward her. “There’s nothing to fear, Amanda. You will be well guarded at all times.”
She shook her head. “I’m not worried about my safety. I’m concerned for your reputation.”
“Oh, that again. I already told you, Lady Lambert and Lady Flanders will only assume what the rest of Society already suspects.”
Amanda’s heart skipped a beat, then resumed its pounding at double its previous rate. “What do you mean, ‘what the rest of Society already suspects’?”
“Well, it was impossible to keep rumors from circulating once people realized you were recuperating at Hadleigh House.”
She clasped her hand to her beast. “How did they know I was recuperating here?”
“It didn’t take long to deduce that someone was ill when a physician arrived several times a day after you were first shot, then Mrs. Flearly moved in at the same time. And, of course, the dowager Countess of Plummery has all but moved in. Her friends stop by to visit occasionally and I’m sure she let it slip that you were here. I could hardly order her to remain quiet without making up a falsehood she’d see right through.”
“Do they know I was shot?”
“No, I at least managed to keep that bit of information from being public knowledge. I let it be known that you had fallen from a horse and broke your leg.”
Amanda felt the weight of the world settle on her shoulders. “Remind me to favor my leg, then.” She looked up. “Did you happen to say which leg it was?”
Hadleigh smiled. “I’m afraid I was remiss in specifying a certain leg. Perhaps you can alternate limping on your right leg then your left. That should cover them both.”
Amanda rolled her eyes. “I was being sarcastic, Your Grace.”
He laughed. “I know. So was I.”
Amanda couldn’t continue her angry facade, but broke down in laughter. He’d made light of a situation that should have terrorized her.
Hadleigh pulled up a chair and sat next to her. She turned to face him. They were so close thei
r knees almost touched. “When did you change, Your Grace?”
“Change?”
“Yes. When did your personality change?”
“The same day as yours, my lady. Actually, at the same hour.”
He gathered her hands in his and brought them to his lips.
“Now, should we get this evening started?”
She nodded. “The sooner we begin, the sooner we’ll find out what we need to know. Is Harry in position?”
“He’s already in the small pantry off the main dining room. He’ll listen to our conversation all through dinner, then, when everyone is gone, he’ll let us know which voice belongs to our killer.”
“After they’re gone?”
“Yes. I don’t want to expose our villain in front of anyone. We can’t afford to risk putting the other guests in danger.”
Amanda nodded, then walked with Hadleigh down the stairs to await the arrival of the first guests.
. . .
The dinner was a success and Amanda waited in Hadleigh’s study while he went to get Harry.
To say Lady Lambert and Lady Flanders were surprised to see her play hostess for the Duke of Hadleigh’s dinner party was an understatement. Shocked was perhaps a better term. Or stunned beyond words. For both ladies were speechless when the introductions were made. She doubted they would remain silent long however. She’d wager that before the round of morning calls tomorrow, all of Society would have her linked with Hadleigh.
She wished he hadn’t insisted on her being there. She could have stayed hidden with Harry and no one would have been the wiser. If anyone had commented on her residing at Hadleigh House, the dowager Countess of Plummery could have explained that Amanda still wasn’t healed enough to leave her room. Instead, Hadleigh brought her out front and center and opened their situation to unwarranted speculation.
Thankfully, the men handled her appearance better than the women. Stanwich and Marquit ignored her for the most part. No doubt because of the circumstances surrounding their last encounters. And Lambert and Flanders were perfect gentlemen, which she knew they would be.
As the last guest exited through the door, Amanda hoped that Harry wouldn’t identify either Lambert of Flanders as the killer. She didn’t want to think that they were responsible for trafficking innocent young girls to a foreign land where they would be forced to perform unthinkable acts.
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