A Momentary Marriage(43)

“Yes. It’s I.”

“Lovely Laura.” He closed his eyes. His forehead was damp, a faint flush along his cheekbones, and she knew he was feverish again.

Laura bathed his face with cool water, and as she worked, she wondered what to do. Her supply of milk thistle would soon run out. She had to get more. But first, she knew, she must sleep. She was too tired to think clearly.

Demosthenes had been restlessly pacing about. Laura led him to the door of her room. Pointing to the floor, she said firmly, “Guard.”

Dem gazed at her for a long moment, then sprawled out in the hallway across the door. With one of his long-suffering sighs, he laid his head on his paws. Laura bent down to pat him, pleased that he had obeyed her. She felt much safer with the mastiff on watch. Closing the door and locking it made her feel even safer.

She checked on James once more and found him cooler. Laura thought of sleeping in the chair beside her window, but it was a dainty chair not given to comfort. She was too tired to care about the proprieties. She lay down beside James on the bed and immediately sank into sleep.





chapter 17


A loud bark outside her door brought Laura out of a deep sleep, and she shot out of bed. Memory flooded back as she threw on her dressing gown and hurried to open the door.

Demosthenes was standing staring down the hallway, his gaze intent on Walter, who hovered outside James’s open door. Though the mastiff had not showed his teeth nor even raised his hackles, his warning bark was enough to freeze Walter where he stood.

“L-Laura!” Walter turned his panicked face to her. “Where’s James? What’s happened? He’s not—he’s not—”

“No, no,” Laura hastened to assure him. “We moved him into my room.”

“Oh.” Walter relaxed.

Laura reached down to pat Dem, murmuring, “Good boy. It’s all right.”

Another door opened down the hall and Claude stuck his head out, frowning, then went back inside. At the end of the hall, Laura saw Owen walking toward them, carrying a tray.

“I woke up early,” Walter said, coming over to Laura, though he kept a wary eye on the mastiff. “I wanted to see how James was.”

“Of course.” Laura opened the door wider, stepping back. “Come in. But I fear he isn’t awake.”

Demosthenes took the opportunity to go to the bed and give James a nudge with his nose. James muttered something that might have been, “Good Dem,” and rolled over on his side. Apparently satisfied, the dog padded back to Laura.

Walter didn’t enter the room, just hung in the doorway, staring across at his brother. “Why is he here? I don’t understand.”

“I spilled water on the bed last night.” Laura told him the story she had concocted, hoping that by the light of day it still sounded reasonable. Between him and Owen, who had come up behind Walter, the word would be all over the house in minutes. “I think we may remain for a while. It’s easier for me to care for him here.”

Walter didn’t question her words, merely nodded. “Is he . . . any better?”

“He’s holding his own.” In Laura’s opinion, it was better that the others in the house knew as little as possible about James’s condition or her efforts.

As long as the would-be murderer thought James was at death’s door, surely he wouldn’t try to do him further harm. It was difficult to picture Walter, the youngest and mildest of the de Veres, plotting to kill James, but she wasn’t about to let down her guard.

Owen slipped past the other man to set the tray on the dresser. “I brought you a bite of breakfast, ma’am. I’ll take Demosthenes out now, if you like.”

“Thank you, Owen.”

Walter finally moved into the room, though he stopped at the foot of the bed. Laura followed Owen and the dog into the hall. Keeping an eye on Walter, she said in a quiet voice, “Owen, I need you to stay with James for a while when you return with Dem. James asked me to talk to his aunt.” She was becoming frighteningly adept at lying.

“Yes, ma’am. Shall I have the carriage brought round?”

Laura nodded and went back into the room. Walter still stood at the foot of the bed, watching James. He turned toward her and summoned a smile. “I mustn’t keep you from your breakfast. I only wanted to see how he was doing this morning.”

After Walter left, Laura closed the door and crossed to James’s bed. James opened his eyes. “Laura.” His gaze went beyond her to the tester above him and he frowned, twisting his head to glance around. “Where—oh.” He relaxed. “This is your room.” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “We—we moved in here in the middle of the night.”