Lyn Stone

by The Viscount

“Where is the boy?” he asked, realizing he had not given a thought to Beau since he woke up.

  “He’s with that London bloke Lord Jelf brought with him. They are at the stables. Someone brought the little pony over from Sylvana Hall and they’re seeing to it.”

  “Excellent. Her ladyship’s still asleep should he ask for her. I’ll be dressed in a moment. See that the doctor’s made comfortable until I come down.” He closed the door in her face.

  When he turned, Lily was sitting up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. A more fetching sight, Guy swore he had never seen.

  “Who was that?”

  “Mrs. Sparks. I’m needed below, but you needn’t get up now. I know you must be tired.”

  She grinned, brushing the bedcovers flat against her stomach, causing her small, perfect breasts to rise above the fabric in invitation. “Hurry back,” she said.

  He grinned and sat down to put on his stockings and shoes. “You’re determined to win the last round, aren’t you?” With a grimace, he stood. “Sorry, darling, but our contest will have to wait for tonight to continue. The doctor’s arrived.”

  She scoffed. “Ephriam?”

  “No, Snively from Scotland, the one I told you about. Never expected him this soon. He must have taken the first ship down the coast after receiving my letter.”

  Guy frowned at the stricken look on her face. He went to her immediately. “You’re not to worry, Lily. This is a trustworthy man who will exhaust every method he knows to discover what has been happening, both with you and with Father. Trust me on this. I’d not have sent for him otherwise.”

  “He is our last resort, isn’t he?” she asked quietly.

  Guy kissed her palm. “There is no last resort, love. Merely the next step in proving what we know is true.”

  She scrambled past him and got off the bed, oblivious of her nudity. “I’m coming with you.”

  “No,” he argued, clasping her arm and pulling her to him. “Let me see him first.”

  She glared up at him. Then she raised both hands to her tousled locks. “Perhaps I should brush my hair first.”

  Guy tapped her lightly on one cheek. “And put on some clothes. Else you might drive him to madness. You’re doing a fair job on me as it is.”

  That brought a smile. “You’re joking about it. That’s reassuring, you know. If I were insane, you’d be serious.”

  “Right as rain. I’d be desperate never to mention the word in your presence,” he told her, not daring to admit that he had lived with his father’s madness and the prospect of his own for so long that making jests about it was his one defense.

  “Thank you,” she said, her smile one of infinite gratitude. “Go on then, see what he has to say. I shall be down to join you in half an hour.”

  When he reached the door and had it open to leave, she called to him. “Guy?”

  He turned. “Yes?”

  “If we’re wrong, I release you from your promise not to send me away. Beau shouldn’t have to endure the painful vigil you have had these past years with your father. But I expect you to honor your vow to protect my son at all costs. I demand it of you.”

  How could he not love this woman? Guy met her determined gaze. “We are not wrong, Lily. I’d stake my life on it.”

  “All I ask is that you don’t stake his on it,” she replied.

  Guy refused to answer. He had promised to keep her by him no matter what and he would. Beau could jolly well deal with it if he had to. Didn’t Lily realize the quickest way for him to lose her son’s regard was to give up on her?

  When she came downstairs to join the men, Lily found that she quite liked Guy’s friend the doctor immediately. He appeared younger than her husband and yet his eyes seemed old. They must have seen too much suffering, she supposed.

  He wore a long coat of black superfine to match his trousers. Though wrinkled from his travels and obviously tired, Thomas Snively’s manner and obvious self-confidence left no doubt he was a gentleman of substance. Also one who believed in getting to his point straightaway.

  “I have told Lord Duquesne that in all probability you were dosed with the same substance as his father. However, before I state that conclusively, I should like to examine the matter in more depth,” he told her.

  “Examine me, you mean to say. Ask me questions and determine whether I exhibit any other odd quirks my husband might be concealing to spare me embarrassment?” she asked, smiling as she accepted a glass of sherry from Guy.

  He inclined his head, admitting she was right. “True. But I also need to see the earl and evaluate his condition.”

  “We plan to ride over to Plympton first thing in the morning,” Guy told her. “For now, perhaps you wouldn’t mind if Thomas got on with interviewing you.” He turned to his friend. “Shall I leave or stay?”

  “Leave,” the doctor said frankly. “It is standard procedure with me to conduct this sort of thing with the patient in private.”

  Guy nodded, almost concealing his frown. Lily gave his arm a reassuring pat. “We shall get on fine here. Go and play with Beau.”

  When Guy had gone out and closed the door, Snively turned to her. “You spoke to him as though he were a boy himself. Do you usually?”

  Lily laughed. “He is a boy at times. You should see the antics those two get up to. But no, the suggestion was meant as an affectionate jest. You mustn’t think I’m one of those women who rules the roost. If you know Duquesne at all, you know better than that.”

  Snively pursed his lips and paced, hands clasped behind his back. He stopped and cocked his head thoughtfully. “How do you get on with him? Is he harsh with you? Tender?”

  Lily paused. Guy had been both at times. She felt she must answer carefully. “He treats me as he would a friend, I suppose. He raises his voice when I do something that worries him and he wishes I would not. But tender, mostly. I feel…very cared for.”

  Snively nodded noncommittally. “Then your marriage to him is what you might consider normal? As was your first marriage to the baron?”

  “Oh, there’s normal and then there is normal,” Lily quipped before she thought how it might sound.

  “What do you mean by that?”

  Had she put a foot wrong already? Lily sighed and sat down, hoping the doctor would do the same. Her nerves were beginning to fray. “Bradshaw was a wonderful husband, though much older than I,” she began. “We got on famously, right from the outset. But he was not…not as active as Duquesne.”

  “Sexually?” the doctor added, again with total frankness.

  Lily decided to answer in kind. “Yes, that is precisely what I mean. He was older, you must understand.”

  “Does it trouble you, Duquesne’s demands?”

  She felt her face heat and knew it was bright red. With a hand to one cheek, she looked away, out the window, hardly able to speak above a whisper about such things. “No. No, it does not trouble me at all.”

  Snively clapped his hands once. “Well done of you. Now that we have that matter settled, we might as well get on with the important issue.”

  “If it is not important, why did you introduce it?” Lily snapped. “Have you a prurient interest in this, sir?”

  “Not at all!” It was his turn to blush. “Duquesne merely mentioned that Dr. Ephriam had cautioned him not to bother you in that regard because it was what had upset you.”

  “He what?” Lily jumped to her feet. “That weasley little worm! I could twist off his ears! How dare he…”

  She halted in midtirade when she noticed him observing her too closely. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I am not about to go into a tear, Dr. Snively. If that is what you intended to cause, you might as well try again. It’s true I have a temper at times, but I promise you I never lose my senses.” But she had. Several times now. Quietly she added, “Hardly ever, at any rate, and certainly do not intend to at this moment.”

  Instead of appalled or even relieved, he only looked interested. “Excellen
t. Now tell me everything you recall from each incident. Not what others have told you, but the actual sensations you personally experienced. Be as honest as you have been thus far and as detailed as you are able.”

  Lily found she trusted this man, even if he had delved into what should have been an unapproachable subject. She still liked him. More than that, she liked the way nothing she said seemed to outrage him or even rattle his composure.

  He came and sat across from her in a chair and listened to her every word as the entire story spilled out.

  Just as she was relating her concern about her son’s witnessing any future aberrant behavior on her part, Guy strode in, followed by Galen Jelf.

  Both she and the doctor rose as they entered.

  “The commission’s been formed and will arrive this afternoon,” Guy informed them, his voice gruff with worry. “Galen has managed to get himself assigned as justicier. The hearing is to take place at Sylvana Hall.”

  “You’re the justicier, Galen. That’s good, isn’t it?” Lily asked, looking from one to the other. It did not appear they thought so. “Can’t you simply—”

  “No,” Galen interrupted. “I was able to order the location of the inquiry and preside over it, but I do not have the final decision-making authority.”

  “Then we must convince the commissioners?” she asked.

  Guy slid an arm around her shoulders. “They cannot dismiss this out of hand. It is the accuser who must be convinced to drop the allegations. Even as your husband, I could not forestall your committal unless we could prove beyond doubt to everyone that you are indeed sane.”

  “And Clive Bradshaw has witnesses to the contrary,” the doctor declared. “A veritable hoard of them, I understand.” He addressed Guy. “Your denial would be considered that of a husband who selfishly desires the continued services of his wife rather than having her treated for her own betterment.”

  Lily coughed with disbelief. “You are telling me this matter is left to Clive Bradshaw to decide?”

  Galen blew out a breath of frustration and waved an impatient hand. “No, of course not. Constable Frick will determine whether taking you into custody for committal is the proper course. The commission will create the writ to do so if at least four of them agree it’s necessary. My only part in this will be to keep order as the evidence is presented and to summarize for them when it is done. Vagaries of the law, I’m afraid.”

  “If we can’t convince them, there is no recourse?” she murmured, the horror of it all but striking her mute.

  He inclined his head and pursed his lips. “Well, there is one. Assuming we cannot prevent the writ, we will of course take it to the courts. Cases are backlogged a thousandfold. However, it could well be over a year before yours is heard. Meanwhile, you’ll be sent to Plympton or somewhere similar to await the trial.”

  “I can’t let that happen.” Guy began ushering her to the door. “Go and pack for you and the boy, Lily. We can make the coast by midnight and secure passage.”

  “Bound for where?” she demanded, anger replacing her fear. “Where would you take me that word of this would not follow?” She snatched her arm from his hand. “I will stand and fight! I will prove to them Clive has cooked up this scheme to get his hands on my funds and Beau’s. Perhaps he even did the murder of Andolou to keep his plan secret.” She stamped her foot. “He’ll not get away with this. As you told Frick, we will accuse him!”

  “Counter and put him on the defensive. Galen, might that work?” Guy asked.

  “Not without some basis in fact. He has witnesses to validate his claim. As far as I know, you haven’t a one, have you?”

  Lily could feel Guy’s excitement growing by leaps as he rubbed her hand between his. “We will. I’ll see to it.”

  Galen snorted. “If what you’re hatching is illegal, don’t tell me.”

  “As if that would bother you,” Guy muttered offhandedly, and turned to the doctor. “What we need to do now is to put a name to that damned gray powder that’s caused all this trouble. Find out precisely what it is. Could you do that, Thomas?”

  Snively shrugged. “I have a fair idea already, but presenting that to Mr. Frick and the commission would only establish your father’s problem and perhaps get him released to your custody for recovery. You have said he took the substance voluntarily, that his man, Mimms, went to Madam Andolou for it and then prepared it for the earl. We haven’t a shred of evidence that it was ever given to your wife.”

  “I might have what you need,” Lily said.

  They all turned to her, waiting.

  “I have a bottle with a dose of something that Brinks was to give me when I was at Bedlam. It might be the same thing.”

  “I thought you said you gave it to him in order to escape,” the doctor said.

  “There were two different concoctions prescribed for me, apparently. One was to keep me sedated, which I poured down Brinks’s throat. The other was to ensure that I put on a proper show when they came to certify me. I still have it.”

  “That might help,” Galen said, shrugging. “Or it might not. It will depend on whether the constable and the commissioners believe your story about being taken to Bedlam in the first place. There are no witnesses to that, either. Only your word.”

  “I will convince them,” Lily vowed.

  “Bring the bottle to me and I shall compare it to what was given the earl,” Dr. Snively suggested. “Though I haven’t any of my equipment here to analyze it, perhaps the smell, taste and consistency will be enough to determine if it is the same.”

  “You’ll have to do that on the way to Sylvana Hall,” Galen said. “There isn’t much time.”

  “We leave Beau here with Smarky,” Guy said. “No sense in having him involved.”

  “But he already is.” Galen sighed and ran a hand over his face. “He is listed as one of Clive’s witnesses. A primary one, in fact.”

  “No!” Lily cried, wringing her hands and shaking her head furiously. “He cannot require such a thing of my own son! He would make a child give testimony that his mother is mad? I won’t have it!”

  Thomas Snively stepped closer. “Lady Lillian, stop and think. There is no way anyone can give you anything to cause a display of madness before the commission. Therefore, it seems obvious to me that this detail has been added to destroy your composure and perhaps cause you to appear distraught. You must, at all costs, remain calm about this. Hysterics won’t serve.”

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake, I am not hysterical! I’m angry!” Lily grasped Guy’s hands and leaned into his embrace, hoping to draw strength from him. His nearness calmed and reassured her. He was so strong. He would think of something, even if as a last resort, he had to steal her and Beau away and take them somewhere safe.

  Perhaps she was wrong to insist on fighting Clive’s charge. How could she hope to win?

  Guy gave her hands a comforting squeeze. “Beau will survive this and he’ll be the stronger for it, you’ll see.” Then he smiled down at her. “Besides, if we leave him here, he’ll find a way to follow us. Remember when they locked you in your chamber and he used the key so he could keep watch over you?”

  “He’s my baby,” Lily said, hardly able to keep her tears confined.

  Guy raised her hands to his lips and kissed them. “He is your son and full of spirit, a lad who has reached his age of reason, Lily. Give him full credit.”

  Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “He is seven years old and afraid for his mother. He will either fight or lie for me. I do not want him forced to do either.”

  “The choice is not ours. If he is not produced, the constable has the right to fetch him,” Galen said, his words rife with worry. “We should be going now. We have very little time to get to Sylvana Hall and set up for the hearing. The commissioners are all local and will congregate there in two hours’ time.”

  “Local?” Lily could not believe it. “How is this so? Local men might be friends with Clive and will surely support him.
Some might even have witnessed what happened at the soiree. Why aren’t they from London, appointed from the courts there?”

  “Because this is still considered a local matter. The only reason I may act as justice for it is because I am a lord and I own property within the county.” He looked meaningfully at Guy. “Though there are a number of gentlemen landholders about, the only other peers in this area are the earl, Guy and your seven-year-old, all of whom have a personal stake in the outcome and are not eligible to serve.”

  “You own property here, in this county?” Lily asked, surprised. She had never heard of Galen Jelf until he had married them in London.

  He nodded. “A recent purchase. I own three acres with a cottage on it, thanks to your husband. Now if you will collect your son, we really must be on our way.”

  “Come, Lily,” Guy urged. “Time is not on our side. Go and do what you must to get ready. Find that vial you acquired at the asylum and give it to me. I’ll bring it down to Thomas while you dress.”

  No, she wouldn’t forget that, though she doubted it would help. How could she prove it was the cause of her temporary madness when she was not even certain of it herself? She could take some of it again, she supposed, but how would they know whether she feigned the madness this time?

  It seemed she was destined to endure this unfair trial and its results, whatever they might be. There was little hope that Clive’s fear of Guy might prompt him to withdraw his charges. Thus far it had not. With the backing of so many witnesses against her and the protection of six gentlemen of the commission who were his neighbors, it seemed very likely that Clive would prevail.

  This entire scheme had brought her to Guy and caused her to find a happiness she had not known was lacking in her life. Now the same scheme would snatch her away from it, unmercifully. She would lose her son and all that was dear to her.

  Not if she could help it, Lily decided, her lips firming with determination as she hurried up the stairs.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The large ballroom on the first floor of Sylvana Hall had been readied for the hearing. Almost every chair in the house had been placed there so that those attending could be seated for the event.