“Hasn’t Tessa told you it’s never a waste to buy a beautiful dress?”
“No, but I’m sure she would agree.”
“In the meantime . . . I have several black gowns that I wore after my grandfather’s death. They’re a little behind in fashion, but that won’t matter. We’ll have to hem them, of course, but Molly can do it in a trice. Trust me, you’ll have James wondering why he was ever foolish enough to want a marriage ‘in name only.’ ” Abigail linked her arm through Laura’s. “Now, what do you say we sit down on this lovely bench and make plans?”
Laura grinned. “I think that sounds like an excellent idea.”
chapter 27
James stood at the window and brooded. He had been in his office since luncheon, and so far he had accomplished nothing. He had been trying for the past two weeks to get back into the routine of business, but his efforts had proved largely futile. It wasn’t that numbers still eluded him; in that sense his mind had been steadily improving.
The problem was that his thoughts kept stubbornly going in a different direction. All he could think of these days was Laura. Laura with her hair down. Laura curled up in bed beside him. Laura undressed. Her body beneath his, her legs parting to take him in.
With a growl, he turned away from the window. He would drive himself insane this way. He was beginning to think that the mercury had destroyed whatever part of his brain contained his willpower. Demosthenes, who had done no more than raise his head when James left the desk, now did not bother to do even that, just followed him with his eyes, then went back to sleep. The dog had become accustomed to James’s recent fits and starts.
For the last two weeks James had sought the refuge of his office in the hopes that removing himself from Laura’s presence would ease his hunger for her. It had worked as well as removing himself from her bedroom, which was to say, not at all. It just meant that he spent his time daydreaming about her like a moonstruck calf instead of having the pleasure of her company.
James was beginning to decide he was a fool.
There were voices in the entry and the clatter of footsteps, along with high-pitched feminine laughter. Someone had come to call on Tessa. When the knock sounded on his door a moment later, he muffled a groan. The last thing he wanted was to have to go out and make polite conversation with his mother and her friends.
In the next moment, though, he heard Graeme say, “James?”
He opened the door. “Graeme. Thank God it’s you.”
“Hiding in your office?” Graeme asked with a smile.
“Of course. Is Lady Eugenia here, too?” James cast a cautious glance down the corridor.
“No, thank heavens.” Graeme bent to give Demosthenes the greeting he expected, then straightened. “I took her back two days ago. I’m not exactly sure why it was necessary that I accompany her. She had her maid with her.”
“I’m sure the sole reason is that she knew she could bully you into it.”
Graeme sighed. “She has a way of making it so that one has to be rude not to do what she asks.”
“You should try it.” James sat down, and Graeme took the chair across from him.
Graeme smiled faintly. “You manage to do it without resorting to rudeness.”
“That’s because she knows I will be if she presses.”
“How are you feeling?” Graeme asked. “You’re looking much better.”
“I am better. I even managed to walk down to the castle and back without stopping the other day.”
“Your insomnia’s gone?”
“Somewhat.” There was something else that kept him awake at nights now—but he could hardly talk to Graeme about Laura and his desire for her. “I’m better, Graeme. Really.”
“You seem . . . different.”
“Almost dying will do that to one.” James moved restlessly.
“Have you found out anything more about who, um . . .”
“Tried to kill me? No, very little. I got a new bottle of tonic from the apothecary. Since there was no mercury in it, presumably the apothecary was not the one doctoring it. We haven’t spotted anyone sneaking into my bedroom to check on the mercury. But of course I can hardly keep an eye on it all the time, and I daren’t risk the gossip that would ensue if I told one of the servants to spy on it.”
“How would anyone have gotten their hands on mercury anyway?”
“It’s used for a number of things, from making hats to actual medicines. Scientists conduct experiments with it. It’s in thermometers—though I doubt anyone would have broken that many thermometers and emptied them out.”