Page 30 of A Masked Lady for Mr. Kenworthy
As she closed the door behind them, she saw Mr. Kenworthy’s inquisitive gaze. She answered him before he could ask his question.
“My cousin is not here now,” she said. “I do not know when he will return, though, because I do not know where he has gone.”
The countess reached out and put gentle hands-on Faye’s shoulders.
“Fear not, my dear,” she said. “I shall stay here in the drawing-room and keep watch. If your cousin should return, I will rush upstairs and help Thomas and Dr. Hosh exit the house without being seen. I trust you can keep your cousin distracted to facilitate that, can’t you, darling?”
Faye nodded fervently. If Mayson did return while they were still there, she knew her news of the invitation to the marquess’s country seat would certainly distract him for a moment.
“I can, my lady,” she said.
The countess nodded, leaning forward to give Faye a kiss on the cheek. Then, she gestured with her hands for her to hurry on and get to the business at hand. Faye did so promptly, leading Mr. Kenworthy and the physician up the stairs and directly to her mother’s room.
When they reached the dowager countess’s bedchamber door, Faye held up her hand.
“I should let Mother know that you are coming,” she said. “She is so weak that I do not know how she will handle a sudden shock like a visit from a complete stranger.”
The doctor nodded, giving her a compassionate look.
“Of course,” he said. “I shall wait here.”
Faye smiled gratefully. Then, she slowly opened the door to her mother’s room. Truthfully, she did not know if her mother would even realize that anyone was there. She had been sleeping much more and had become difficult to rouse. Faye had noticed that her fever seemed especially high during those times. She bit her lip as she looked at her mother. For a terrible moment, Faye feared help had come too late for the dowager countess because she seemed to be lying too still. But, as Faye reached the bed, she could see that her mother was, in fact, breathing, albeit shallowly.
She gently touched her mother’s arm and shook her. Even through the fabric of her gown, Faye could feel that her skin was impossibly hot.
“Mother?” she said loudly, suddenly praying the dowager countess would wake.
But the frail woman did not stir. In fact, her breathing ceased for a moment, sending Faye’s heart into a sudden race.
“Mother?” she called again, still to no avail. Faye knew instantly that her mother would not awaken, and she hurried from the room. She hurriedly explained her mother’s condition, both prior to that day and as it was in that moment, to the physician, who did his best to console and calm her down so that he could make sense of what she was saying.
“Please, try not to worry, my lady,” he said kindly. “I will do everything I can for your mother.”
Faye nodded, stepping aside so the doctor could enter her mother’s room. As soon as the door closed behind him, she found herself fighting against a tidal wave of tears. She began pacing up and down the hallway, wringing her hands so that her fingers began to ache.
When Mr. Kenworthy touched her arm, Faye jumped nearly out of her skin. She looked at him with wide eyes as he gave her a sad smile.
“I cannot imagine what you are going through,” he said softly. “But Dr. Hosh is one of the best in all of London for the symptoms your mother is experiencing. He will take excellent care of her.”
Faye nodded, wishing she felt as confident as the gentleman sounded. It was her mother, after all, and her mother was everything in the world to her. But she also knew she was fortunate even to have someone helping her mother at all. She did not wish to be seen as ungrateful or insult the help that was being given by expressing any doubt. She looked at the gentleman and did her best to give him a grateful smile.
“Mr. Kenworthy,” she said, clasping her hands nervously in front of her, “I want to say thank you for everything you are doing for my mother and me. I do not know how I will ever repay you for sending Dr. Hosh to see my mother, but I assure you that I will begin trying straightaway.”
The man shook his head gently and, to her surprise, grazed her chin with his fingertips. She found herself calming instantly, and she took her first steady breath since she had found her mother unconscious moments before.
“You need not ever worry about repaying me, my lady,” he said.
Faye shook her head, setting her jaw.
“I must insist that I do,” she said. “My family may no longer have our fortune, but I will see to it that our debts are settled, in one form or another. I must never allow us to become people who must accept charity.”
Mr. Kenworthy took her hands in his and squeezed, giving her a small smile.
“You do not understand,” he said. “This is my way of repaying you. It is the very least I can do after kidnapping you.”
Faye looked at him for a moment, stunned. It was clear he was being completely serious; there was no hint of jest in his voice or his eyes. Yet, after a minute, she found herself beginning to laugh. Now the fear of a strange man abducting her was long behind her, she found humor in the entire situation. The perplexity in the gentleman’s face at her reaction made it funnier still, and she stifled her giggles with her hand.
“I am sorry,” she said. “But it is rather amusing to me now. And, in case you were not aware, I do not begrudge you for any of that.”
