Page 82 of Their Brazen Countess
Arthur wasn’t sure what to say as he looked down at the floor. “He went back to his townhouse to sleep. I…I think he didn’t want to disturb you while you slept.”
“What? Why?” Jo looked as confused as he felt.
He moved over to the bed and climbed in beside her. “I don’t really know. He seemed upset, but he wouldn’t say much.”
“That’s ridiculous. Go fetch him,” she all but demanded.
“I tried, Jo. He locked the bloody door—he clearly wants to be alone. Let’s give him a little space, and I’m sure he’ll come to his senses,” Arthur said as he urged her to lie back down.
“But I need him here with us.” Her soft words pierced Arthur’s heart, because he needed him there as well.
“I’ll check on him tomorrow. Now get some rest,” he urged her.
Arthur spent most of the night wide awake and worried. What was going on with Linc? Why had he pulled away so suddenly?
Why wasn’t their husband with them?
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Three Days Later
JofoundMatthewsittingin the nursery playing listlessly with his toy soldiers. The doctor had come the day after Matthew had been kidnapped and looked both of them over, declaring Matthew’s arm but a minor injury and that the sling was no longer required. As for Jo, he admired Ros’ handiwork and ordered bedrest for a couple of days. If any redness appeared or the pain increased along with fever, she was to call for him immediately.
That meant today Jo could abandon her bed and move about, however gingerly.
Sitting down in the rocking chair that she sometimes sat in and read to him, Jo sucked in a soft breath as the pain flared across her side. “Matthew, what’s the matter?”
Her son looked up as if he’d just that moment noticed she was in the room. “Oh, hello Mother.” He rose and came over to her listlessly.
“Hello, my son. You look sad. Do you want to tell mother what’s wrong?” Jo held her arms open to him.
Matthew happily crawled into her lap, causing her to suck in another sharp breath as she winced at the pain. Perhaps inviting him into her lap had been a bad idea. She winced again as he wriggled around on her lap to get settled.
He plopped his little head on her shoulder and sighed. “I miss Uncle Linc.”
She wasn’t surprised he had noticed her wayward lover’s absence; both Linc and Arthur spent a great deal of time with Matthew, but she hadn’t expected that her son would have felt his absence so acutely. “You do?”
“Uh-huh.” Matthew nodded his head decisively. “He used to come up every morning and say hello, and ask me what I was going to learn about today. Sometimes he would even play soldiers with me. But he hasn’t been here since the night with the bad lady.”
Jo drew in a slow, steady breath. This one was born of the emotional pain Linc had caused her son, not the physical pain that was currently simmering along her side. “I’m sorry he hasn’t been to visit you. I know he has been very busy the last few days.”
“I know. Grown-ups are always very busy.” Matthew fell silent for a few moments, as though he was considering their conversation. Then he straightened up and looked at her with big, solemn eyes. “Did I do something to make him angry with me?”
Jo willed her tears back as she shook her head. “No, of course not. You have done nothing to upset anyone.”
He looked uncertain for a moment. “Are you sure?”
“I am very, very certain that whatever is keeping Uncle Linc away has nothing to do with you or anything you did. I’m sure it is just adult things that he needs to take care of.” Jo wanted to gnash her teeth. Instead, she managed a soft smile for her son.
“All right. If you’re certain.” Matthew sounded less convinced than she would like, but he also seemed less sad.
“Perhaps we should go to the park tomorrow. How does that sound?”
He perked up immediately. “May we?”
“Yes, I’ll ask Cook to pack us a picnic and everything.” Jo smiled as her son bounced up and down.
“Oh, boy!” Matthew chirped happily, his earlier sadness forgotten.
