Page 77 of The Quiet Wife
Frances was rigid. She stood, lifted her chin, and looked up at him. “It is now.”
Leyland smirked, seeming self-satisfied.
“So, despite all the howls and protestations, none of my children died after all?”
Jemie’s heart nearly stopped in his chest. What in God’s name…
Lizzie audibly gasped. His mother’s hand flew to her mouth.
Frances paused for one perfect moment, then walked over to where he stood, looked him in the eye, and slapped the bastard across his smug face.
All hell broke loose.
CHAPTER 24
Speke Hall – Liverpool
Frederick recovered from the shock swiftly. He snarled and grabbed Frances’ arm, bending it and her backwards.
Lizzie screamed and attempted to yank him away from her sister. Jemie’s mother shouted at him to stop and let Frances go.
When he didn’t, Jemie seized Leyland’s arm. It took considerable effort. The damned man was a good six inches taller than him, but Jemie fought dirty and squeezed on the pressure point by his elbow, forcing him to let go of his wife with a surprised yelp.
“Let her go!” Lizzie shouted and pulled Frances away. “You’ve hurt her, you brute.”
Jemie wanted to weigh in, but his mother’s words rang in his ears. He watched as Leyland collected himself with an air of momentary uncertainty. He studied the red fingerprints on Frances’ arm and frowned.
“I… I apologise. I did not mean to harm you.” The words were stilted and awkward.
Anna stepped forward and spoke softly. “Everyone is overwrought,” she said. “Perhaps we should sit down?”
Lizzie led Frances to a sofa where they both sat so Jemie followed suit, followed by his mother, and eventually Leyland sank into a chair. He kept staring at Frances’ arm as though shocked by his own actions.
Frances cleared her throat, and everyone turned to her when she spoke. “We have had a very difficult few hours. Yesterday, Elinor’s fever returned, and Doctor Emslie feared she would not make it through the night.” She regarded her husband. “We sent word for you to return.” Her chin quivered, but she held herself together. “I sat with her. I thought we were going to lose her.”
Leyland said nothing and looked unmoved by his wife’s account.
“The doctor has just told us she seems to have weathered the worst of the storm. She is not out of the woods by any means, but today he is more hopeful. However, for a long time, I thought she was going to die.” She swallowed and blinked as she kept her gaze fixed upon her husband. “I thought my baby was going to die. Hence my… outburst just now.”
“Why was I not informed of this?” Leyland asked calmly.
“We wrote you a note,” Lizzie said. “A footman delivered it late last night.” She paused. “He had some difficulty locating you.”
Leyland twitched. “He most certainly did. I never received any note.”
Jemie would have bet his life that Leyland was lying through his teeth, and judging by their expressions, so would Lizzie and his mother, but Frances appeared shocked.
“You didn’t receive it?” she floundered.
“No, but as usual, you jumped to conclusions. Now, if you would excuse me, I would like to see my child.” He heaved himself from the chair and stalked from the room, slamming the door.
Frances fiddled with the rings on her fingers, clearly shaken. “You are all probably wondering what on earth prompted me to behave so badly?”
“Itwasn’tbad behaviour,” Lizzie said vehemently. “He deserved everything.”
Frances watched her with measured consideration. “But if he didn’t receive the note, then he did not know Elinor was so ill.”
Lizzie glanced up at Jemie, an element of despair in her eyes before answering her sister.
