He nodded reluctantly.
"So if you truly do want to keep this all completely above board in the eyes of the world, we need to put up a united front against them. Otherwise my aunt will have me over there in a trice and I shall never escape from the maze they've all constructed against me."
She shivered as she said the last words, and paled so suddenly that Clifford was about to swing her up in his arms and take her back to bed when Henry came bounding up to help her down.
"I say, are you all right? You look as though you've just seen a ghost. It's an old house, right enough. What if there were a spirit or two, eh? What larks."
"Henry!" Clifford said repressively.
"Oh, er, yes, sorry. Ladies, delicate constitutions, do you know. I do apologize."
He took her other hand and together the two handsome brothers led her to the drawing room.
Vanessa told herself to stop being so silly. She was perfectly safe. It was broad daylight, and there was no such thing as ghosts. Though her dreams were certainly being haunted by something, she had to admit. Each time she had them, she was able to see a little bit more. That last time had certainly been most vivid.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Clifford asked quietly, his lips seductively close to her ear.
"Fine. They're my family, after all. What could possibly go wrong?"
When she entered the drawing room she saw the three darkly clad figures arrayed around the teapot like the witches upon the heath in Macbeth. Only these figures looked even more terrifying.
Peter stepped forward and took her hand from Clifford's in a manner that was belligerent to say the least. Her aunt began to hover around her, offering Vanessa her vinaigrette and insisting she take the seat she had been in.
Had she done so, it would have effectively sandwiched her in between her two glowering cousins.
"I think I shall sit up close to the fire, if you don't mind. It's rather damp today, is it not? I wonder at you taking the trouble to come out in such weather, Aunt Helen. Your rheumatism--"
"Nonsense, child," the silver-haired woman with eyes as black as sloes said, patting her hand. "What matter my health when you have been so sadly stricken. Now you are to come home with us at once and-"
"Thank you for the offer, Aunt, but I think I would be best off staying put here. Dr. Gold has been most kind and is monitoring my condition most carefully."
"But it is not his place to!" Peter interjected forcefully.
"Pardon me? He is a doctor, after all. Who would have more of a place than he to do so?" Vanessa inquired calmly.
"I'm astonished that you should not send for us at once, Cousin. Why did you not send a message around at once informing us of your condition?"
"Condition? You make it sound like something positively indecent," she could not help observing. "It was merely a bad oyster, nothing more."
His thin, sharp features grew even more pointed. If he had sprouted pointed ears and a long bushy tail she would not have been surprised. Even his waistcoat, a deep rust color, was reminiscent of a fox. Well, it might steal hens away from their houses, but she was no chicken.
Peter looked around the room and then let his eyes rest on Clifford, who was attending upon her with tea and crumpets.
"Forgive Vanessa if she does not speak too much," he said smoothly. "Her throat is still sore from her own self-purging, and she needs to eat."
"Vanessa?" Peter said softly, oozing disapproval from every pore.
"Indeed. Soon to be my wife. I can't think why you would object to my using her Christian name if she doesn't."
Toby spoke up at last. "We object to everything about this situation! Our cousin staying at a bachelor's establishment. You laying claim to her hand after that disgraceful card game the other night."
"Which neither of you had any qualms about participating in."
"That was different! She is our cousin."
"Indeed. All the more reason why you should have protected her before, rather than after the fact."
Toby's eyes darkened, and Peter let out a low growl. "How dare you--"
He stood as straight and tall as an oak, refusing to be cowed. "I dare because you did nothing to stop the game even though it was in your own house. The interests and safety of your cousin should have been paramount compared to the spurious excuse that you did not wish to, what, appear bad hosts to the guests attending you ball?"
Clifford could not quite keep the disapproval from his tone with his last nine words.
Peter visibly bristled. "I ought to call you out--"