“It is stunning.” Abbie stared up at the tiled ceiling. As with other rooms in Wollstonecraft Hall, a certain welcoming warmth and coziness beckoned despite its formal appearance.
Kind and sympathetic faces turned to her. Riordan and his wife, Sabrina. Abbie had been surprised to learn that Sabrina’s former lady’s maid, Miss Mary Tuttle, lived with the couple as a family member. And, Sabrina revealed, Mary had caught Oliver’s eye. Mary had stayed behind in Carrbury to look after Sabrina’s kitten and attend to Riordan’s schoolroom, with assistance from his oldest student, who was training to be a schoolmistress.
Alberta and Jonas smiled warmly. Megan left Jonas’s side and rushed toward her, hugging Abbie tight. “There is a late supper laid out on the sideboard. I informed the cook of your favorites,” Megan said.
“Thank you, my dear.” Her daughter escorted her to the vast array of food on display. Roast chicken, sliced hard-cooked eggs, lettuce, cheese, butter rolls—much like a picnic in January. Abbie did not stand on ceremony; she loaded her plate and took a seat at the long table in the center of the room. Everyone fell in line, selected food, and joined her.
Biting into the butterflake roll, Abbie nearly moaned aloud. Melt-in-your-mouth delicious. How could she enjoy a meal with Garrett upstairs fighting an infection? Perhaps even fighting for his life? She halted, and Alberta laid a comforting hand on her arm.
“It is perfectly fine to enjoy a meal,” her friend soothed.
“Yes,” Abbie murmured in response. She continued to eat, but not with the same enthusiasm.
“Where was Garrett shot? I mean, where outside?” Jonas asked as he buttered his roll.
“Not far from Wolf Stone Woods. Why, lad?” the earl asked.
Jonas’s nervous gaze darted around the table. “I…heard something.”
Everyone ceased eating. “What did you hear?” Alberta asked.
“Well, on the day Garrett was shot, I was in the woods. I wanted to feed the rabbits. I know I’m not supposed to leave the property, Bert, without telling you. I’m sorry.” Jonas looked down, contrite. “It’s why I didn’t say anything.”
Abbie glanced at Oliver, and it was plain he struggled to hold his temper.
Megan laid her hand on Jonas’s. “It’s all right. No one is angry with you. Please tell us everything.” Megan’s touch and soft words mollified Jonas. Looking at him, one could forget he was still a child in many ways, and because of it, there was no use in becoming annoyed with him.
Jonas looked up. “I couldn’t see much, but I heard two men talking. I hid behind one of the large oaks. One man called the other ‘my lord.’ The lord said something like, ‘Stay here, see if the Scottish barbarian dies, then return to London.’” Jonas paused, as if replaying the conversation in his mind. “I remember! He called the other man Delaney.”
Riordan vaulted to his feet. “Delaney is Sutherhorne’s bullyboy, the one who attended debtor’s court with him.”
Abbie blinked rapidly in confusion. “Sutherhorne? The marquess that kidnapped Sabrina?”
Oliver slammed his fist on the table. “The very one. This is all on me. I encouraged the family not to take any steps in bringing him to justice. I thought it futile. Damnation, I should have at least attempted it.”
“No, Oliver. We all agreed,” Sabrina stated. “We’re well aware that peers are rarely penalized for any crime. As you said, Sutherhorne has Prince Albert’s ear. And his friendship.”
“Regardless, I should have made a case to garner some sort of punishment.” Oliver banged his fist once again. Abbie had never seen the earl this angry.
“You all did it to protect me, to spare me censure from society. I hereby remove the impediment.” Sabrina’s mouth pulled into a taut line. “Bring him down, whatever it takes.”
Riordan sat, leaned in, and kissed his wife on the cheek. “My darling. Consider it done.”
“Did you see them at all, Jonas?” Julian asked.
“I did peek. One man is nearly as big as me, but I didn’t see his face. The other man had a white beard. And he was skinny.”
“Sutherhorne. Damn him. There is no mistake. Grandfather, we should head to Sevenoaks immediately. See if this Delaney character is still about,” Riordan said.
“The sun has set. If he’s at the inn, he will be there in the morning,” Oliver replied.
“Oh,” Jonas cried. “I remember, the old lord told the man not to stay at the inn.”
“Where else could one stay?” Julian asked.
“There are a small number of homes that take in guests. Perhaps we should head to Sevenoaks after all. Riordan, come with us. You have seen this Delaney and will be able to identify him,” Oliver replied.
Jonas stood. “I want to come, too. This man tried to hurt my Meg. And Abbie. He hurt Garrett. I can help.”
The men exchanged dubious looks, then Julian said, “Of course, lad. Garrett is usually the muscle of this clan. You will stand in his stead.”
Abbie was awed as the Wollstonecraft men sprung into action. In less than ten minutes they were ready to depart, with Julian carrying a large revolver. Abbie, Megan, Alberta, and Sabrina were left alone in the parlor.
“We might as well finish our meals. Megan, would you please refresh our tea?” Alberta asked.
Megan nodded and stood to fetch the teapot from the sideboard.
“Goodness,” Abbie murmured. “They are not to be crossed, are they?”
“No. They are fearsome men when provoked. You should have seen them when they broke in the door to rescue me from Sutherhorne.” Sabrina sighed. “I was anxious to put the episode behind me. When Oliver suggested not pursuing justice on the matter, I was silently relieved. But not because I was ashamed or feared Society’s wrath.” She dashed a lone tear from her eye. “Regardless of how my father treated me with such cold indifference, and the fact that he tried to sell me in marriage more than once, he is my father. I did not want him sent to Newgate Prison. A small part of me still loved him. How utterly pathetic.”
Abbie smiled warmly. “It speaks well of your kind heart that you feel empathy for him. And it’s perfectly understandable. When I had discovered I was pregnant at eighteen, my parents turned on me. Branded me a sinner, and worse. They threatened to throw me to the cobbles if I did not marry. Our relationship is strained to this day. Yet a small part of me will always love them, despite their abhorrent treatment of me.”
Megan stood with teapot in hand. “Truly, Mama? They treated you horribly! I am glad I’ve never met them.”
“I fear you never shall.”
“Well, you have a family now,” Sabrina smiled. “We stick together, and are loyal to a fault. And I include you in this, Alberta, if the heated looks that Julian gave you tonight are any indication.”
Alberta blushed and smiled in return. “We shall see where it leads.”
Megan refreshed everyone’s tea and took her seat. “I do hope they will be safe and find this terrible man. How can a marquess be capable of such a heinous act?”
Abbie frowned. “Unfortunately, there are more than a few peers like the marquess. Entitled, arrogant, thinking they are above the law. Many have gotten away with lawless acts for centuries. It is past time they were held accountable.”
Placing her teacup on the saucer, Abbie turned her attention to her meal. She glanced upward. The sooner she finished eating, the sooner she could return to Garrett. A stab of pain lodged in her heart. He had to recover. He must. For she had not come all this way and exposed her vulnerable heart only to lose him.
It was not easy to admit, but her heart was still in a susceptible state, their rekindled love and passion balanced precariously on the edge of a cliff. It would not take much to fall either way, into darkness and despair, or a future and happiness. And it worried her. Greatly.
Chapter 18
“I believe the fever will break later tonight, or should I say early this morning?” Dr. Faraday murmured.
Glancing at the mantel clock, it was already close to one. The Wollstonecraft men had yet to return from their quest. “Doctor, why don’t you rest? I will call you if it comes to a crisis.”
“I am rather fatigued. Three hours, mind. No more. Then you must do the same. Promise me.”
Abbie had grown to like and admire the young doctor. His unwavering care and competency proved the earl had not been mistaken in laying his trust with Faraday. “I promise.”
“Good. I’ll be in the next room. Continue with the cold compresses.” The doctor departed, leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar.
They had ceased using the ice and tarps the previous afternoon, as Garrett’s skin had started to turn blue. Dipping the flannel in the basin and wringing out the excess water, Abbie then laid the cloth on Garrett’s perspiring forehead. At the moment he lay quiet, but earlier, he thrashed about yelling about wolves and snow. He was naked except for a pair of drawers, so Abbie swiped the cloth gently across his muscular chest. “Oh, Garrett. You are obstinate enough to fight this. Fight, my love.”
He murmured in response, but she could not make out the words.
At half past one, Abbie heard commotion below stairs. Oliver, Julian, and Riordan strode into the room and stood at the foot of Garrett’s massive bed.