But much as he longed to kiss her, he knew it was too much, too soon. He sat back in the chair slowly so as not to look too embarrassed, and began to disengage his fingers from her grasp gently. "I fear I've become carried away by our most interesting discussion. I really should withdraw so that you may rest."
He caught sight of Josephine, who was smiling at him warmly. Good God, he had even forgotten her presence, he had desired Vanessa so!
He called down the stairs before the sick woman could protest that she was not that tired, and Henry came instantly at his brother's summons.
"I shall see about more food for you, and visit you one more time this evening, if I may."
"Yes, yes you may," Vanessa said almost eagerly. She gave him the first smile he had ever seen from her since he had brought her to Dr. Gold's house.
If Clifford had had any doubts about the regard he had for Vanessa, they were assuaged when he looked upon her bright expression. If he was not already in love with the beautiful young woman, he soon would be. Perhaps the miracle of love really could happen to him after all.
Henry and Josephine gave each other a knowing wink, and sat down close to the bedside. Henry decided he needed to have a little chat with his older brother about love later.
Clifford went down to the dining room to partake of the cold collation that the housekeeper had set out for everyone to help themselves to whenever they liked. He rang for more broth to be sent up to Vanessa.
Then he sat in the chair beside Malcolm, and in a low tone reiterated all he had discussed with the doctor, and the salient things which Vanessa had recounted to him about her brother and her nightmares. Finally, he reported what Henry had discovered.
Malcolm listened patiently, his handsome face a study in intense concentration and concern.
At the end of Clifford's narrative, he declared, "It is a tangled web indeed, my friend. I sense danger for Vanessa at every turn. I can't even bear to think what might have happened had you not decided to intervene in the card game the night before last.
"I am so glad I could be of some service in the matter, though it did not sit well with me at the time. I was just so shocked by the whole chain of events. Now I can see that no aid I can give her can be too great, and will do whatever is necessary to protect her."
Clifford's blue eyes glittered almost dangerously. He was shocked at the sudden surge of feeling which crushed his chest and stiffened his spine. His tone remained calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. "My dear Malcolm, if I didn't know better, I might almost think you had developed fondness for the girl."
Malcolm shrugged, and began to blush brightly. "Who would not? She seems so innocent, so unspoiled. She's definitely lovely, and intelligent, unlike most of the vapid Society beauties I've come across."
"You could have gambled for her and won. But I thank you for helping me. She's mine now," Clifford asserted, "and I will marry her just as soon as she'll have me."
"Are you so sure she will?" Malcolm asked a trifle enviously.
Clifford shook his head. "No, I'm not sure, but I mean to have her all the same. The events of the past two days have convinced me that she's the woman I've been waiting for all my life. No one else will do."
Malcolm stared at his friend in surprise. Any thoughts he might have had about winning Vanessa for himself vanished into thin air as he looked at his old friend's grim expression. He had never heard Clifford speak thus, and knew his friend's intentions were honorable and fixed.
For her part, Vanessa seemed taken with him as well. And if any woman was ever in need of rescuing from a wicked family, it was Vanessa.
Malcolm gave a curt nod. "Very well. I shall help you toward your goal, as I agreed at the card table that night. I've spoken to Mr. Grayson the vicar. We'll all help with whatever arrangements you would like. I imagine that the wedding will be a quiet affair at home? After all, she is still in mourning. We would not want to run the risk of Gerald making a spectacle in front of the guests."
"No, indeed. Any sign of him, by the way?"
"Not a one. Father has sent out a deputy to make inquiries as to the precise nature of his illness."
"So Gerald knows Vanessa is unwell?"
"Yes."
"Even if he appeared immediately as lily white as the Archangel Gabriel himself, I should not trust him have anything to do with Vanessa without being in their presence every moment. So now I must make appropriate arrangements for her. I would ask you and your sister to go over to Hawkesworth House to get some of Vanessa's personal effects, and inform the servants there that she shall not be returning for some time. Find out the name of her solicitors, and contact them, so that I may apprise them of what's happened, and ask them to call upon her here at their earliest convenience. The sooner I get their approval for the marriage to take place, the better."