Page 50 of Their Brazen Countess
Arthur sighed, his frustration clear. “You may be right, but I hate doing nothing to help her.”
Linc stood and walked over to Arthur. Laying a hand on his cheek, he murmured, “Look at me. We aren’t doing ‘nothing’, we are here supporting her the best way we can in the moment.”
By the time Jo had tucked her son in after his dinner several hours had passed, but they had resolved to stay until they were certain that Jo was well. She had just walked into the salon to let them know Matthew was well when her brother-in-law walked in.
“What the bloody hell is going on here?” Bernard demanded, all puffed up in apparent outrage.
Furious, Jo turned on the man before either Linc or Arthur could say a word. “What is going on here? I’ll tell you what is going on here. That incompetent nurse you hired to replace Mrs. Stevens let my son fall and break his arm. I want her dismissed this very minute, as I do not seem to have the authority to do such a thing in my own home.”
Bernard stared. “I am certain Miss Kelley is quite competent, and that unruly child you’ve raised is the one at fault.”
“Someone pushed him,” Jo ground out, her voice nearly a growl.
Bernard snorted in disbelief. “What makes you say such a thing?”
“Matthew told me.” She crossed her arms under her breasts and held her back rigid. She was quite clearly spoiling for a fight.
To Linc’s irritation, Bernard outright laughed. “Did the child hit his head? I certainly can’t imagine why Miss Kelley would do such a thing? That’s outrageous.”
“Nevertheless, I want her replaced at once. I do not trust her with my son,” Jo insisted.
“I hardly think this is an appropriate conversation to be held in front of your,” her brother-in-law glanced over and sneered, “guests.”
“They were just leaving. They were kind enough to stay with me throughout the ordeal this afternoon,” Jo rebuked him subtly.
“Well, I think it is time for them to go.” Bernard swept an arm toward the door of the salon.
Linc hated leaving her alone with this man once more, but he feared insisting on staying would only aggravate the situation. “If you are well, Lady Whitestone.”
“I am. Thank you both for staying with me through this.” Jo smiled warmly, but politely, as she took each of their hands and gave them a squeeze.
Linc had a pit in his stomach as they walked out of the house. He turned to Arthur. “Something is very wrong in there. I do not feel good about leaving her alone to deal with him.”
“Agreed, but she is stubborn and has made her position clear. For now, we must bide our time and help her, however she will allow us.” Arthur sighed as they stepped up into his carriage.
The question was, how long would she wait to allow them to offer help?
Chapter Twenty-Four
A Week Later
Jowalkedintothenursery and found her son Matthew playing with his truck while Miss Kelley sat nearby and darned some of his clothing. A week ago, in the wake of Matthew breaking his arm, Jo had tried to have the woman removed from her household. But Bernard had refused, citing the lack of actual evidence of the woman’s involvement in Matthew’s accident. Jo had pointed out that no one else was up there but her at the time and Matthew insisted he was pushed. Despite this, Bernard had flatly refused to believe her son.
As a result, Jo had remained at home with her son so she could monitor the situation. Nothing else untoward had occurred since then but regardless, she did not trust the woman—could barely stand to look at her. “Matthew, come here, please.”
Her son rose, a little awkwardly as he managed the weight of the cast on his right arm. “Yes, Mother?”
“We must go out.” She turned to look at Miss Kelley. “I shall need Lord Whitestone’s coat.”
“Oh course, my lady.” The nurse eyed her almost suspiciously as she set aside her sewing and rose to find the requested garment.
“Where are we going, mother?” Matthew asked excitedly.
She felt a tad guilty about dragging him to run her errands, but she had put things off as long as she could manage. The gown she’d ordered from the modiste was ready, and she needed to go in for the last fitting—and the last thing she was going to do was leave her son here, at the mercy of Bernard’s underlings. “We have errands to run and I have a gown fitting, but if you are a well-behaved boy, we shall stop for an ice from Gunter’s Tea Shop.”
“Very well.” Matthew sighed as though he was very put upon by her request of him. “I suppose I shall come along.”
Jo nearly snorted as she suppressed her laughter at her son’s pained response, particularly because she knew how much he loved Gunter’s ices.
