He whisked out the chair at the head of the table, in two quick gestures sending one of the footmen to bring in more place settings and another to pull out Laura’s chair. Tessa sprang to her feet, tears welling in her eyes, and went to her son, bending to kiss him on the cheek.
“James, love, I knew it.” Tessa turned and sent a smile bright with triumph at the others. “You see, Claude? I told you he would be fine.” She stroked her hand across James’s hair and bent to kiss him again. Then she burst into tears.
“Mother . . .” James looked pained, but stood and took his mother’s hand, patting it, and glanced over at Laura for help.
Laura went to her mother-in-law’s side, curving an arm around Tessa’s waist. “Of course you knew best. You are his mother.”
“Yes.” Tessa glowed at her. “Mothers always know, don’t they?” Tessa pulled out a delicate lace handkerchief and dabbed at her tears.
Before she could sit down, Mr. Netherly shot up from his chair across from Cousin Maurice and went to Tessa, taking her hand solicitously. “Lady de Vere, this must be a shock for you. Let me escort you to your room so you can rest after this excitement.”
“Careful, Netherly,” James drawled. “Mother is far too young a woman to be laid low by a happy surprise.”
“Of course.” Netherly shot him a dark look. “I didn’t mean to imply—it is just that Lady de Vere is so sensitive. So delicate.”
“Thank you, Mr. Netherly.” Tessa gave her swain a gracious nod, but disengaged her hand as she sat down again. “I assure you, I am not as fragile as I may appear.” Laura saw a silvery flash of amusement in the older woman’s eyes that reminded her forcibly of James. “Besides, we must celebrate.” She raised her glass toward James. “Welcome back, love.”
“Mother.” James nodded to her, a grin tugging at his mouth, and raised his glass in return. “I am most happy to find myself still in the land of the living.”
Laura had been watching everyone’s faces since they entered the room, but she had caught no sign of anything suspicious. After the initial shock, they continued to eye James, some curious, others more wary.
Only Walter grinned. “I say, James, this is splendid. I thought for sure you were, well, you know . . .”
“Dying?” James asked, quirking a brow. “No. Sorry to disappoint everyone.” James looked at Claude.
Claude returned James’s gaze stonily. “Don’t worry. We’re all accustomed to that by now.”
Adelaide looked sweetly puzzled, Archie laughed, and Tessa said placidly, “Now, boys.”
“No, James . . .” Walter protested, looking appalled. “You know we were all worried. Terribly worried.”
“Were you? How kind.”
Claude’s wife, Adelaide, offered a tentative smile. “It’s so nice that you are feeling better, Sir James. Claude has been most anxious. We all were.”
“Yes.” Patricia appeared more aggrieved than anxious. “You looked positively ghastly. Don’t tell me you were shamming all this time.”
“No, Patricia, I assure you, I was not malingering. Thank you for your concern.”
“Well, I was concerned. I came to see you several times. Whenever your wife would let me in.” She turned an accusatory gaze on Laura. “She positively hid you away.”
“Mm. I’ve found Laura to be quite dictatorial.” He slanted a dancing look at Laura.
“James, you cannot mean it,” Walter said anxiously. “Laura is the most pleasant, gentle . . .”
“Clearly she hasn’t been forcing noxious liquids down your throat.”
“Do stop teasing everyone, James.” Laura sent a kindly smile toward her champion. “Don’t worry, Walter. I’ve learned that Sir James is not nearly so fearsome as he would have one believe.”
“No?” James raised his brows.
Laura raised hers in return. “No.”
James held the supercilious look for another moment before his lips twitched and he murmured, “Clearly not to you.” He turned his cool gaze back to his sister. “I am sorry, Patricia, that you were not allowed in the sickroom the numerous times you wanted to keep watch at my bedside.”
Patricia, not fool enough to misunderstand his dry remark, fell back on her usual pout. “I would have been happy to. She would not let poor Archie in at all.”
“Astonishing.” James’s eyes moved to the man in question. “And when Archie has been so kind to Laura.”
Patricia colored and opened her mouth to retort, but her husband said, “Leave it alone, Patsy. You’ll never induce James to like me.”