The Dangerous Lord Darrington(7)

'It is good to see that you are recovering, sir,' he murmured as he walked out of the room with the shaving apparatus.

'Damn your eyes, why did you have to send for him?' grumbled Davey. His  fair hair was ruffled and his boyish face was uncharacteristically  glum.

'Because he is the best person to look after you,' returned Guy,  unperturbed. He perched himself on the edge of the bed. 'But tell me  truthfully, how do you feel?'

'Like the very devil! I don't think there is a part of me that doesn't  hurt. Can't laugh or cough without a stabbing pain in my ribs, my wrist  feels as if it's sprained and my leg-' He glanced up and Guy saw the  anxiety lurking in his guileless blue eyes. 'Is it … ?'

'Broken, nothing more serious. The doctor has set it and thinks it should heal perfectly, if you will be patient.'

'And where are we? I don't recognise this house, nor the servants.'

'Malpass Priory, near Fentonby. It is the home of Lady Arabella Wakeford. Do you know her?'

Davey frowned. 'No. I've heard the name, though.'

'So have I.' Guy frowned. 'Cannot quite recall where I have seen it.  They are a very old family, I understand.' A smile tugged at the corners  of his mouth. 'The Wakefords were ennobled long before the Wylders  gained their earldom.'

'Well, their house is certainly old enough,' remarked Davey, staring at  the gracefully arching window with its leaded lights. 'But thankfully  they have had the wisdom to renew the mattress on this old bed! Have  they put you up, too? Are you comfortable?'

'The room is comfortable enough.'

Davey did not miss the hesitation in Guy's tone and he said bluntly, 'Are we inconveniencing the family?'

'I am not sure.' Guy rubbed his chin. 'The old lady seems happy enough  to have us here and they were quick enough to take you in last night,  but I have the distinct impression her granddaughter doesn't want me  here.' He shrugged. 'Perhaps I am unjust. It may be that she is uneasy  having gentlemen in the house. The old lady lives here alone, you see,  with her two granddaughters-there was a grandson, but I understand he  died at sea some eighteen months ago.'

'That will be it, then,' said Davey sagely. 'The women are afraid of  being ravaged by the Dangerous Lord Darrington! Don't worry-I'll soon  make it known that you are housetrained and only seduce women who throw  themselves at you.'

'Thank you, my friend, but I would prefer you to say no such thing.'  Guy noted his friend's pallor and rose. 'All this talking has tired you.  Rest now until the doctor arrives. I could send for your own doctor  from Helmsley if you prefer, but Compton seems able enough.'                       
       
           



       

'No, no, I don't want anyone else fussing over me.' Davey waved his  hand. 'Go away, now, and let me sleep. And tell Peters to keep out of my  sight until after the sawbones has been to see me!'

Encouraged by his friend's return to spirits, Guy went out. He intended  to go back to his own room and check his bag to see what changes of  clothes his man had sent for him, but the sound of voices coming from  the great hall drew him instead to descend the stairs.

He observed a tall, fashionably dressed gentleman standing before the  fireplace. He had removed his Holland hat of brushed beaver to display a  heavily powdered wig tied back into a queue with a green ribbon. He  wore brown breeches and highly polished topboots, and the gloves and  cane that lay on the bench beside his hat suggested he had arrived on  horseback.

As Guy reached the bottom stair the man became aware of his presence  and swung round towards him. He subjected Guy to a searching scrutiny  before giving a little bow.

'You must be Lord Darrington,' he said pleasantly. 'Allow me to present myself. Miles Radworth, at your service.'

Ah, thought Guy. The fiancé. That might explain the underlying reserve.

'Kepwith has been telling me of the accident,' continued Mr Radworth. 'I trust your friend has sustained no serious injury?'

'A few cracked ribs and a broken leg, but nothing more, we hope. We are awaiting the doctor now.'

'Excellent, excellent. Let us hope he has good news for you. You will  be wanting to get your friend back to his own house, I don't doubt.'

Guy met Radworth's smile with one equally bland.

'All in good time,' he responded. 'Lady Arabella has been most hospitable. We are very comfortable here.'

'Ah. I'm glad to hear it,' came the insincere reply.

A rustle of skirts made both men look towards the door.

'Miles! I did not expect you here today.'

Beth Forrester came in, pausing to remove her straw bonnet, and at that  moment the sun shone in through the high window in the gable wall,  bathing her in a golden glow. Guy could not but appreciate the effect:  her red curls flamed about her head, accentuating the whiteness of her  skin and the deep, liquid depths of her brown eyes. With the grey  redingote hanging open from her shoulders and her white skirts billowing  as she moved, Guy was suddenly reminded of an oil painting he had seen  once, by one of the old Italian masters: an angel descending to the  earth. As if to confirm his impression the glinting sun created a halo  around her flaming head as she tossed aside her bonnet and held out her  hands to Miles Radworth.

'I had not planned to come,' he said, lifting her fingers to his lips,  'but when word reached me that there had been an accident-'

'But not to me.' She smiled up at him, her fingers squeezing his  briefly before she disengaged herself and moved away. 'You have met Lord  Darrington?'

'We introduced ourselves,' murmured Guy. 'Was your search successful, ma'am? Did you find the leaves you required?'

'Yes, two full baskets! I gave them to Sophie to take to the still room rather than trail them through the house.'

'Comfrey leaves, was it not?' he asked. 'To make a compress for your lame horse?'

She shot a quick look at him.

'Why, yes, comfrey has many uses. We shall dry some, of course. The  weather is turning now and the leaves are dying back, so this was our  last opportunity to gather them.' She turned to Miles Radworth again.  'So you rode over to assure yourself that all was well here? That was  kind.'

He bowed. 'I was hoping you might invite me to stay for dinner, even  though Lady Arabella might look a little askance at my informal dress.'

Guy wondered if he imagined the heartbeat's hesitation before her reply.

'But of course, Miles, that would be delightful. You know us too well  to stand on ceremony, so you will not be offended when I say that I  shall be obliged to leave you to entertain yourself for a while. I am  expecting Dr Compton here at any moment to attend Mr Davies.'

'I have no wish to add to your burdens,' Radworth replied quickly.  'Perhaps there is something I can do, read the newspaper to Lady  Arabella, for example. You know you may trust me to do that.'

She smiled at him. 'Yes, of course I do, Miles, but Sophie has offered  to read to Grandmama, so there really is nothing for you to do.'

'You insist upon treating me as a guest,' he said in a low voice. 'Come November … '

'Come November everything will be different,' she responded quietly.  'For today, however, perhaps you could show the earl the library, Miles?  You are almost as familiar with the rare books and artefacts in there  as I am.'                       
       
           



       

'Thank you, but I had planned to accompany Mrs Forrester and Dr Compton  to the sickroom,' put in Guy, mildly irritated by the thought that  others should organise his time.

'Is that quite necessary?'

Radworth's question was posed lightly, but Guy found his hackles rising.

'Perhaps not, but perfectly understandable,' Beth interposed smoothly.  'I have no doubt Lord Darrington is anxious for his friend. In fact, we  will go upstairs now, my lord, if you wish, and make sure all is in  readiness. Doctor Compton is no stranger here and will make his own way  up when he arrives. So, Miles, I pray you will make yourself comfortable  in the library and I will join you again as soon as I can.'

Thus dismissed, Radworth nodded and walked away. Neither Guy nor Beth moved until the library door had closed behind him.

'As a matter of fact, I have just come down from Davies's room,' said  Guy. 'He was looking tired so I promised he would not be disturbed again  until the doctor's arrival.'

She raised her brows at him. 'But you did not think to say so before I sent Miles away?'

'I did not think Radworth desired more of my company.'

'He is anxious that you should not impose upon me.'

'You are very quick to defend him.'

Her chin went up a little. 'Of course. We are betrothed. Besides, he has been very kind to us. A true friend.'

Guy met her eyes, trying to interpret her look, half-defensive, half-defiant.

'And you will marry him in November.'

'Yes.'

Even to Beth's own ears the word sounded stark and cold. It should not  be, for she was very happy about her forthcoming marriage, was she not?  It was merely that she could not look forward to that happy day until  she had resolved the problem that weighed upon her spirits.