Page 73 of Captivating the Countess
Leaving the drama to others, Rain verified that Bell was still upright, then abandoned her to her sister while he performed his task as host to calm his guests. If his terrifying specter of a grandmother was still about, he didn’t want to know it. He hugged each of his sisters, grateful they didn’t batter him with questions he couldn’t answer. Instead, they helped him make the rounds of terrified ladies, assuring everyone all was well. He prayed they weren’t lying.
He needed to learn to rely on his family more often. Once the room was properly lit, the servants ran about, offering drinks. His guests, being of sound mind and strong curiosity, settled down with the beverages of their choice and watched as Gerard and Teddy lifted the armor off the furious actress.
Estelle approached him as family spokesperson. “Is she guilty, Rain? Does this mean our grandmother believes Lady Pamela pushed Bell? It makes no sense.”
He wished he had an answer for that.
“Can you translate Pamela’s curses?” Rain watched as Teddy lifted the screeching actress while Gerard and one of the younger footmen restored the armor to its place. “Why don’t we invite the monkeys and parrot to join her in a chorus? They’d make as much sense.”
“Bell suggested we have the animals removed to the conservatory. That’s why we brought the more poisonous plants in here. I’ll be happy to fetch them, if you like.”
Rain was pretty certain that was his sister being humorous.
“She’s possessed!” The actress finally screamed something perceptible if not sensible. “The countess is a witch possessed by a demon!”
That shout went over well in a room full of women who called themselves witches. Several snickered. Rain rather thought that was not the reaction Lady Pamela intended.
To his surprise, Bell rose and deposited the child into the arms of her weeping mother. Her twin attempted to hold her back, but Bell shook her off and approached the ugly scene at the door. Gut clenching, Rain immediately followed.
In that fashionable gold gown with the bustle and train, her hair caught up in gardenias, with pearls at her throat, Bell looked the very last thing from demonic. Uncertain what she meant to do after that raging insult, Rain thought he might offer to cut the screaming banshee’s throat for her. If nothing else, he’d stand between the women and protect Bell from harm.
He didn’t interfere after Bell shook her head at him but waited cautiously.
“Having your own theater is important to you, isn’t it?” Bell asked, radiating sympathy. Teddy prevented further violence by holding his inamorata in a bear hug.
“People like you don’t understand!” Pamela cried. “You have everything. I was born with nothing. I need him more than you do.”
Rain watched his cousin’s face, but oblivious Teddy merely looked puzzled.
“I was born with very little except the opportunity to work and learn,” Bell said calmly. “I have no funds of my own. Teddy has no interest in me. I’m not the actress he needs.”
Iona swept up to hug her twin and whisper in her ear. Rain planned on asking for a full explanation of this evening as soon as he dragged the damned countess from the room, but he understood that Iona had some ability to smell emotion. She’d already mentioned Pamela’s avarice. She’d been right on the mark.
“Teddy can’t marry me without money!” Lady Pamela fought his cousin’s embrace. “Everyone knows if Rainford doesn’t marry before the duke dies, the money goes to Teddy. The marquess won’t starve without the trust, but we might!”
Charming. The grasping actress thought herself more important than Teddy’s family, which made sense from her perspective—except the trust wasn’t hers. And she seemed to believe it ought to be. Still, why Bell?
“Rainford can marry any woman he likes. Why pick on me?” Asking the question they all needed answered, Bell examined the butler’s reddened cheek. The old man reddened more.
“Because the duke is dying, and you’re the only woman the Ice King notices. You’re as cold a fish as he is. You deserve each other, but you have to know he’ll never marry a servant like you. That doesn’t mean you can have Teddy instead!” She quit struggling, and Teddy loosened his hold. He appeared as puzzled as everyone else.
Rain didn’t need to hear more. He started forward, until Bell held up a hand. “Iona says she smells of guilt,” she whispered, for his ears alone. With a lifetime of practice, he reined in his temper and impatience and stepped back. But he stood within arm’s reach of her.
“So you thought murdering me was the answer?”
That, the company grasped. The entire room descended into deafening silence.
Lady Pamela didn’t appear to notice. “You’re not dead, are you? You didn’t fall that far. I broke my nose and ankle when I fell off the stage. I can’t get the good roles anymore because I can’t dance. I wanted him to see you’re nothing special.”
“Who?” Teddy asked, a frown creasing his wide brow. “Whowould be stupid enough to see Bell as nothing special?”
Pamela finally wept. “You, you fool. You kept saying if you could marry Lady Craigmore, she would handle the money and everything would be fine. But you’d toss me out soon enough. She’d see to that.”
“I meant to marryyou!” Teddy sounded as appalled as he looked. “I just asked Rain for a settlement. Bell doesn’t wantme!”
Rainford couldn’t allow the family drama to continue for the delectation of the gossips. He had to end this bad opera. “Lady Pamela just admitted to assaulting Lady Craigmore, Teddy. As magistrate, it’s my duty to send her to assizes, if the countess wishes to press charges. How do you want me to handle this?” He studied Bell.
She looked exhausted but still brushed his cheek with her reassuring fingertips. “She’s dangerous to herself and others, but she’s a lady. I don’t know what’s best.”
