Page 40 of The Baroness of Sin
“It has been no trouble at all, Miss Johnson. Please, get your rest. We can sort out who can take over in the morning,” James assured her.
“It would be terribly improper for me to make you tend to Martha longer; please My Lord, you deserve rest as much as the rest of us,” Emma said, encouraging James to let them take over.
“I’m afraid I can’t, in all good conscience, leave the post I have created for myself,” James confessed. “I would feel far too much worry if anyone but me were to watch over her.”
Benjamin spoke the words that woke his sister before he sighed and straightened himself up, asserting his role as present patriarch. “My Lord, I assure you that I understand the peculiarities of the relationship between your lordship and my sister, it would be improper for me to simply allow…”
“I love Lady Carrington,” James stated firmly, the interruption halted Benjamin and caused Emma to look up in surprise. Only Aunt Barbara kept eating undeterred. “I love her deeply and truly. And though our courtship may have been a tad unconventional, that doesn’t affect how much I care about her. And once she is well, I fully intend to marry her.” The silence that followed was heavy and awkward. “Following the proper protocols and approval, of course,” James said a bit more uncertainly, and more silence followed.
“I believe, Benjamin, that such a course of action allows us to have a night's rest after such travel, even at the detriment of the Lord of Barristen. Presuming,” Aunt Barbara added with a sly look over at James, “he will take the time to take care of himself at his own home once morning arrives. I believe that would be an appropriate compromise,” she told her nephew before adding on, “if I were the one deciding on such matters, of course.”
Benjamin pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, which as a gesture amplified the advanced age his face seemed to hold for his twenty-nine years. He turned his gaze to the oldest of his sisters, and Emma simply stared at him wordlessly through her owlish spectacles, only realizing with a start that he was looking to her for guidance. All she had to offer was a sheepish shrug.
“I don’t know if this is necessarily the right decision, but I suppose we shall retire for the evening. Emma will take your place as soon as she feels ready, then we kindly request you use that time for yourself and allow us to reconcile with this accident as a family. Would that be acceptable to you, My Lord?” Benjamin asked rather tersely, clearly exasperated by the complexity of the situation and the hand he was essentially forced to play.
James let out a sigh of relief and dipped his head. “Thank you, Mr. Bradford. I appreciate your consideration at this, frankly, confusing time.”
Benjamin returned the nod. “Yes, well, speaking of frankness, I am exhausted, and I wish to retire for the evening. I believe my aunt and my sister will be joining me. I strongly suggest you don’t get too comfortable, My Lord, as you have a long night ahead of you, and I believe after all this contention that we will be quite cross if you fall asleep on the job.” Benjamin’s words were harsh, but James could sense an undeniable element of humor hidden amongst them. That would be the only joke that he had ever heard Benjamin make, and it was a rough one at that.
* * *
When Martha awoke, she felt simultaneous delight and disappointment. Her sister Emma waited beside her with a fresh face and a warm smile, but her dear James was nowhere to be found.
“Glad to see you're awake,” Emma said cheerfully. “I’ll have the cooks prepare breakfast for you.”
“When did you arrive?” Martha asked.
“Late last night,” Emma told her. “We spared no time and left as soon as we could, riding through the night. The horses weren’t happy, but we had no word of you and wanted to know that you were okay.”
“I am doing very well,” Martha assured her sister.
“Oh, I am sure you are, with his lordship at your beck and call. I believe you will be absolutely spoiled by the time you are up from your bed rest,” Emma tutted playfully.
“As nice as that has been, I honestly cannot wait until I am back on my own two feet and tending to myself again,” she said while passively thumping the mattress. “Speaking of which, where is James?”
“Well,” Emma began, “he fought tooth and nail to stay by your side last night, and the compromise we reached was that he must go this morning to tend to himself and his own home. Which is what he did, albeit a bit reluctantly.”
“Oh my,” Martha tried to hide her pleasure at James caring for her so fervently, “I hope he didn’t give Benjamin too much trouble.”
“Well, his lordship certainly surprised us with the announcement of his intent, that is to be sure. Not that the overall outcome is surprising, mind you,” Emma said with a bit of a laugh as she adjusted the curtains to let in the spring morning light.
There was a small pause before Martha asked, “What intent?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Despite the circumstances, James was glad to be in his own home again. The first thing he did was tend to his basic needs. After some sleep, a meal, and a shave, he felt reinvigorated, and, while he meant to busy himself in his study, instead he was gallivanting about the house, playing with his daughter, and updating the house staff on Martha’s situation and positive turn. If one wanted to see an instance of a gentleman in love, Lord Barristen was an example of it at its finest.
“Papa,” Amanda tugged at her father as he casually spoke about the state of the house with a smiling Vickers, “did you make up with Lady Carrington?”
“Make up?” James asked, a bit confused.
“Amanda! What have we talked about? You shouldn’t ask improper questions about Lords or Ladies,” Miss Blake hissed lightly behind the young lady before addressing her father, “I do apologize, My Lord.”
“But Papa is so much happier now, he must have made up,” Amanda said more quietly.
“Young lady!” Miss Blake snapped again.
“It’s quite all right, Miss Blake. This concerns her too,” James said before he turned to address his daughter. “Lady Carrington and I weren’t fighting, Amanda.”
