'Perhaps she keeps her husband locked up in the dungeons,' declared Davey, his lips twitching. 'I fear you have been reading too many Gothic novels, my friend. Perhaps you should accept the fact that Mrs Forrester is not enamoured of the great Lord Darrington.'
'I am not such a coxcomb,' protested Guy. 'No, there is some mystery here and I want to get to the bottom of it.'
Beth soon realised that she was the only member of the household who was unhappy at the doctor's verdict. Lady Arabella declared herself delighted to have company at the Priory, especially since the earl was content to while away an hour or two each evening playing backgammon with her. Beth was disappointed that Sophie did not share her anxieties. Although she did not neglect any of her duties, Sophie spent all her spare time with Mr Davies, entertaining him with card games and word puzzles or reading to him. After two days of this behaviour Beth tried to remonstrate with her, pointing out that all the time she spent with Mr Davies left the earl with nothing to do but to wander about the Priory.
'I have hinted to him that he might as well go home and leave Mr Davies to us, but he will not.' She twisted her hands together. 'I fear he suspects something.'
'Oh, nonsense, you are in a panic over nothing,' replied Sophie. They were alone in the library and she was running her fingers along the spines of the books, searching for a title.
'He is forever asking questions.'
'He is merely taking an interest, as any guest would. Besides, he will not trouble us today. He has gone out riding and is not expected to return until dinnertime.' Sophie pulled out a book. 'Vathek-I wonder if Mr Davies would like Mr Beckford's novel?'
Beth regarded her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. 'I do not think it matters, as long as you are the one reading it.'
'No, I am sure that is not true,' said Sophie, blushing a little. 'He … he is a very pleasant gentleman, do you not think so?'
'Excessively,' declared Beth. 'But he must do without you for a little while, because I am expecting Miles to call this afternoon and I will not be able to read to Grandmama, so I will be obliged if you will do so. And I need you to make up another poultice.'
Sophie's expression immediately became anxious. 'Could we not take Dr Compton into our confidence?'
'No, I dare not do that. We must keep our secret as long as we can. Besides, I do not think he is so bad as he was and I hope, with careful nursing, we will bring him through.'
Sophie gripped her hands. 'You know I am only too happy to help where I can. I will go down for an hour before I read to Grandmama. But you will not object if I read a little to Mr Davies after that?'
Having given her assurances, Beth watched her sister dance out of the room. To be sure, the idea of a burgeoning romance between Sophie and Mr Davies was a little worrying, but it was good to see Sophie smiling again, despite all the anxiety that hung over them.
Perversely, when Miles Radworth called and showed every inclination to sympathise with her for having Mr Davies and the earl with her for at least another week, Beth found herself making light of the matter.
'Ah, it is your sweet nature that makes you so compliant,' said Miles, raising her hand to his lips. 'I do not like the idea of you being here on your own.'
'But I am not on my own,' she protested. 'And there is no denying that the earl is very good with Grandmama. He takes her for a gentle airing in the grounds on sunny days and entertains her royally each evening. And even Sophie is proving useful, reading to Mr Davies and keeping him amused.'
'I wish you would let me stay, at least while the earl is in the house.'
'No, Miles, especially not while Lord Darrington is here!'
'You are thinking of my behaviour the other day,' he said ruefully. 'Will you not accept my apology for that?'
'I have already done so, but since you declare it was jealousy that made you lose your head, I think it best if you spend as little time as possible here at the moment.' She smiled at him. 'Now, my dear, if you want to please me, take me for a stroll about the gardens, for I have been cooped up in the house all day!'
They spent a pleasant hour walking through the grounds of the Priory and Miles exerted himself so much to please that Beth found her anxieties about her forthcoming marriage fading. They were making their way back to the house when they encountered Lord Darrington coming from the stables.
'Ah.' Miles cast a rueful glance at Beth.
She squeezed his arm. 'I have told you there is no need to be jealous of the earl, Miles. Pray be polite to him, for my sake.'
'I shall be more than polite,' murmured Miles. 'You will see that I can be the perfect gentleman! Good day to you, my lord. You have been riding, I see. Have you been far?'
The earl stopped and waited for them to come up to him.
'Around the park, then as far as Fentonby. I wanted to gallop the fidgets from my horse-he has been eating his head off in the stables and it was time I made him work. You have a fine estate here, Mrs Forrester. The land is in good heart.'
'Thank you,' she replied, pleased with this tribute. 'I work closely with my tenants to maintain it. My father impressed upon me the value of a well-run manor.'
'Ah, but the true value of Malpass is the Priory,' remarked Miles. 'True, the building is but a small part of its glorious past, but it is filled with the most exquisite antiquities. A perfect gem. Priceless.'
Beth laughed.
'Is that how you see it? Much as I love it, I confess sometimes in winter I long for a modern building with well-fitting windows and snug, draught-free rooms! What is your preference, Lord Darrington?'
'Wylderbeck, my own house, was rebuilt by my grandfather less than fifty years ago and has even been improved since then.' He added apologetically, 'No evidence of antiquity there, I'm afraid.'
Beth dropped back a little, allowing the gentlemen to converse uninterrupted. A little knot of anxiety was twisting itself inside her. She had told Miles he had no need to be jealous of the earl, but now she realised that was not quite true. When Beth had been a girl she had dreamed of meeting someone like Darrington, a tall, handsome lord who would sweep her off her feet, but it had never happened. Instead she had married Joseph Forrester, a good, stolid man some years her senior.
It had not been an unhappy marriage, but Beth could not pretend that she had ever felt a soaring, blazing passion that made her want to give up the world for love-in fact, she was inclined to believe it did not exist beyond the covers of the novels in the lending library. With a sigh she tore her eyes away from the two men in front of her. She was engaged to Miles Radworth: he was kind, loyal-witness his patience in courting her for over a year!-and would prevent the loneliness she was very much afraid would be her lot once her grandmother was gone and Sophie had married, which she surely would. It had been her free choice to accept Miles Radworth's offer of marriage and she would not complain.
To reward Miles for his generous behaviour towards the earl, Beth invited him to stay for dinner, but he refused.
'I have an early start tomorrow. I am off to Staffordshire, to Granby Hall, for the sale.'
'Is that Prudham's place?' asked the earl. 'I heard he was done up.'
'Aye. He is having to sell everything to pay his debts. Thought I would take a look. I believe he has a fine collection of ceramics.'
'Miles collects rare and beautiful objects,' explained Beth, smiling.
'Which is why I am marrying you, my love.' He kissed her fingers.
Beth flushed and pulled her hand free. For some reason she felt uncomfortable at his display of affection in front of the earl. Then, afraid Miles might be offended, she stepped closer and slipped her hand through his arm.
'Let me take you both in to Lady Arabella. Sophie is reading to her in the morning room and I am sure she would like to drink a glass of canary with you … '
Beth had seen a juggler once at the May fair and the image of the man came to her mind several times over the next few days, remembering his intent gaze as he concentrated upon keeping several clubs flying, never letting them drop or collide. She felt very much as if she was juggling the pieces of her life, looking after Grandmama, discouraging Sophie from spending all her time in the sickroom with Mr Davies, entertaining the earl while making sure Miles so did not feel too neglected. On top of all this were her nocturnal visits to the cellars from where she would emerge shortly before dawn and fall into bed to sleep for a few hours before the whole round would start again.
Such was her exhaustion that she fell asleep over her book when she was reading to Lady Arabella.