Page 62 of The Pleasures of Passion
“Gone!” Niall said. “Gone where? Why?”
The footman colored and mumbled something about fetching Clarissa’s lady’s maid, then hurried off.
When the maid appeared, her morning cap was askew and her apron streaked with dust. “Forgive me for looking so disheveled, my lord, but I’m in a rush to pack for her ladyship. It’s all very sudden, I’m afraid.”
That didn’t sound good. “What has happened?” he asked, his gut knotting.
“Yesterday her ladyship had a bit of a scare concerning the babe, and Dr. Worth insisted that she be taken to the country, away from the upsets of town. So the mistress and master left for Stoke Towers at dawn this morning.”
Niall’s heart sank at the idea of Clarissa having complications this early in her pregnancy. She was only six months along, for God’s sake! “Is she all right?”
“The doctor says she will be. It was only a little blood, but still . . .”
“Blood!” Damnation. “Is there any chance she may . . . lose the child?”
“The doctor says no, sir, but his lordship doesn’t want to take any chances and neither does she.”
Niall could well understand that. Clarissa and Edwin had been so thrilled about the child’s approaching birth that Mother had taken to complaining that all they ever talked about was the baby.
God only knew what they’d do if Clarissa lost the baby. The very thought of that sent his stomach roiling.
“Is Dr. Worth attending her in Hertfordshire?” he asked.
“He says there’s no need,” the maid said. “He has explained to me and his lordship what must be done. And he promised to drive out to Stoke Towers whenever summoned. In the meantime, he means to visit her once a week, more often if necessary, though he says he feels certain it won’t be necessary.”
That relieved Niall enormously. If the doctor didn’t think the situation dire, then perhaps it was simply one of those freakish things that happened to women while they were breeding.
Still, this newest development didn’t help his situation. There was no way in hell he dared speak to Clarissa of the rape now. Though perhaps he could talk to Edwin about it. Edwin might be able to say whether Clarissa would care if Niall revealed the truth to Bree. In strictest confidence, of course.
“My lord?” the maid said, dragging him from his thoughts. “Do you wish to send a message with me? I hope to be following the master and mistress shortly in the second carriage.”
It was a none-too-subtle attempt to point out that she had things to do, and he needed to leave her to them. “Do you think his lordship would mind if I rode out there to speak with him? I should like to find out more details about her condition, for my own peace of mind.”
“I’m sure that would be fine, though I doubt he will let you see her ladyship.” She flashed him a rueful glance. “His lordship would wrap the mistress up in cotton until the day of the birth if he could.”
“Yes, he is nothing if not overprotective. And under the circumstances, I wouldn’t expect him to let me see her anyway. But thank you for telling me what you know. I’m relieved to hear my sister is in such good hands.”
With a bob of her head, the maid started to walk away. Then she paused. “If you would keep this under your hat, I’m sure his lordship would much appreciate it. He doesn’t want a slew of concerned friends running out to the estate to attempt seeing his wife.”
“Of course.”
“And . . . er . . . if you could delay telling Lady Margrave for a while, that would be good, too. Your mother . . . can be . . . well . . .”
“Difficult. Trust me, I know.” Niall smiled. “I’ll put off mentioning it to her as long as I can.”
It wouldn’t be that hard. Yesterday Mother had spent her time paying calls on her many friends to wax poetic about the upcoming wedding of her son to a rich widow. It would take her a good week more to tire ofthatenterprise, and by then, perhaps Clarissa would be feeling well enough for visitors. He could only hope.
Niall left with his head in a muddle. He’d intended to call on Bree this morning, but he also wanted to head out to Stoke Towers as soon as possible. And since he couldn’t explain to her why . . .
A thought occurred to him. He’d promised to help Bree learn how to manage her estate. And his own manager had sent him a note only this morning asking when he’d be coming to Margrave Manor, since they needed to discuss a few items of business.
Why not invite Bree to the estate for the day? They could make an outing of it, chaperoned by her aunt, and even bring the lad, if she wished. Then, at some point, he could slip away to speak to Edwin at the adjoining estate, and return before she even knew he was gone.
Of course, all of this was assuming that Bree had made up her mind to let him keep courting her. God, he hoped she had. Because the urge to see her, kiss her, touch her, was suddenly overpowering.
He glanced at his pocket watch. Nine o’clock. It was a trifle early to pay calls, especially if Bree and her aunt had gone to the ball last night, but neither of them struck him as the sort to lie abed half the day. And he wanted to leave for the country at once.
With that decided, he headed straight for Lady Pensworth’s town house. But before he could knock, he heard a child’s laughter coming from the Bedford Square garden across the street.
