She went limp with relief, her hand flopping to her side.
Clifford kept his hand on her wrist to gauge her pulse. Turning to his brother, he asked in a low voice, "Once we get to the doctor's house, can you please go fetch Josephine and her sister Emma? Dr. Gold is a single man, as are we all. However, your fiancee assisting mine, chaperoned by her sister, ought to render all of our actions above reproach. Moreover, Josephine and Emma are not idle gossips. The less said about the events of this evening, the better."
Henry nodded. "But if she dies--"
"Don't say that!" Clifford barked, and then added in a more moderate tone, "She is not going to die, do you hear me? She is not going to die."
Malcolm put a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Dr. Gold will do his best. We'll be there in a minute. Just try to remain calm. Henry and I will do whatever we can to help, you know that. I'll go fetch my sister Claire as well. She is the soul of discretion."
"I know she is. Thank you for the offer. But first we have to make sure Vanessa pulls through. Then I shall press all of you into service nursing her back to health. But I will confess right now, I'm not hopeful about her condition."
He could feel her pulse growing more and more slow and thready. He clung onto her hand as if he were trying to pull her back from the brink of death.
"Nor am I optimistic," Malcolm admitted, gazing at her elegant profile, a masterpiece in alabaster. "However, she is young and strong. I'm not sure what's wrong with her, but it looks very like food poisoning, or appendicitis."
"Or poisoning," Clifford said in a low tone. "Her skin is flushed, and I smell bitter almonds, both signs of cyanide poisoning."
"Good God, Clifford, who could have--"
"Who had a reason to wish her dead? Gerald, of course. Her fortune would tempt any man."
"Unless--" Malcolm clamped his mouth shut and shook his head.
"Unless what?" Clifford prompted.
"Unless she tried to take her own life, and then changed her mind?" Malcolm suggested.
Clifford blinked. "A wealthy woman like Vanessa? Do you really believe she would take the card game that seriously? Or did Gerald browbeat her so barbarously that she would feel compelled to take such a desperate measure?"
His friend shrugged. "You recall her as a young girl. There were rumors then that she was mad. Who knows what she's been through, what she's become, since you last saw her? Even if not mad, she could be unhappy in love, or desperate to escape from the marriage Gerald arranged for her with you."
Clifford slammed one fist against the velvet-upholstered side of the coach. "Damn the man! How can he be such a despicable fool? She said she was locked in, could not get help, and had to escape from the house. That most certainly sounds like an intentional attempt upon her life. At the very least it's utter neglect."
Henry nodded, his expression grave.
"But with all of the other peculiar things occurring in the neighborhood recently, I cannot think this is a coincidence," Clifford continued. "Things were very peaceful in the district when Gerald was away in London recently, and when he was down helping Vanessa settle her affairs in Dorset after her aunt passed away. I know you will think I'm saying this because I've never liked him, but I my instincts tell me he's not to be trusted. Once we're married, I shall make sure that Gerald shall never be left alone with Vanessa."
Malcolm and Henry both stared at Clifford in surprise.
Henry said in a tentative manner, "Of course, my dear brother, we hope she'll recover from whatever has laid her low. But do you really intend to go through with this marriage? No one will think ill of you if you do not. After all, the circumstances of your, er, betrothal are highly irregular."
It was evident from the way Henry had been staring at her that he was convinced she was truly mad.
Clifford said in a firm tone, "The only reason I played last night was to save her from the vile clutches of the other men around the table. None of them are fit to wipe her boots. Not even her own cousins the Stephenses, and certainly not the Cavendishes. You must have agreed with me, Malcolm. You helped me arrange for a convincing victory."
"I did. Though I have to say it was against my better judgment, and I doubt my father will forgive me for my involvement in such a display."
"Are you feeling guilt over us cheating to help save her?" Clifford asked softly.
Malcolm shook his head and answered truthfully, "No, not at all. You know I've cheated in the past for a good cause. I just can't believe you would actually consider marrying her. She's lovely, but think of the rumors, as well as the scandal."