Page 74 of Captivating the Countess
Before Rain could reach for her, her twin took her waist and led her away.
Crap dung and other filth. Maybe the family eccentricity shouldn’t propagate. Maybe the distant cousin would make a better duke. Because he damned well wasn’t marrying anyone else but Bell, and he thought quite possibly they were both mad.
Another man might have stormed after her, but Rain had spent too many years controlling his emotions and doing his duty. He had a responsibility not only to his family, but the community at large. If Lady Pamela truly was violent, she needed to be put away. But he was a damned physician, trained to cure, not to punish.
Rain raised his eyebrows at his cousin.
“She’s high-strung. That’s what makes her a good actress. I’ll send her away.” Teddy had not taken the weeping actress back in his arms, but he still looked defensive about the woman he’d brought into their home.
“You might want to take a closer look at what you sketched, Teddy.” Alicia approached with Teddy’s sketchpad in hand.
Rain stifled a groan. It was hard enough reining in his temper and not flinging Pamela into a dungeon to rot just so he might run after Bell. But if he had to deal with one more ghost...
Lombard, his solicitor brother-in-law, came to stand beside him. “Let the court handle her. She’s not worth your time.”
Gerard appeared at his other side. “I’ll take her in in the morning. We’ll lock her up for the evening.”
Rain wanted to shoutShe’s all yoursand run after Bell. He was more than ready to share his duties. But he couldn’t ignore Alicia’s warning, especially since Teddy seemed to crumple in on himself at seeing the sketch.
“I was just drawing the scene. Séance scenes sell well,” Teddy said in despair as Rain’s sisters gathered around Alicia to study the drawing.
“Séances with your duchess grandmother haunting the room probably aren’t a good choice.” Rain grimly took the drawing pad his sisters handed to him.
“I can’t help what I sketch!” Teddy protested.
Garland and Delahey studied the paper over Rain’s shoulder.
Included in an excellent representation of the actual drawing room was the outline of a transparent apparition in an ethereal Regency gown, her hair piled high with diadems and a tiara. The ghost pointed condemningly at Lady Pamela, who was all but engulfed by a black-draped specter of death.
“Does that mean she’s dying or has killed before?” Lombard asked in legal mode, studying the sketch along with Rain.
Not that anyone outside this insane household would have seen anything except an imaginative picture—but Teddy had a reputation in the family for drawing warnings.
“I didn’t mean to kill anyone,” Lady Pamela whimpered, clinging to Teddy’s broad chest. “But he called me a talentless cow, and I yanked the cord—”
Teddy held out his arms, not touching her, but he looked so startled and torn, that Rain almost felt sympathy for his thick-headed cousin. “Before she incriminates herself any more, lock her up. Put a guard on her door. Teddy, I’m sorry, but we’ll have to take her into York in the morning. I refuse to be judge and jury in this case. Let the professionals decide what else she’s done.”
All Rain wanted to do was go to Bell and see that the evening hadn’t harmed her.
He may have just condemned a lady to death. He thought that was quite enough for the night. It was time to hand the reins over to others. He didn’t have to do it all, he reminded himself. That’s what family was for.
“Gerard, I’ll take you up on the offer to take Lady Pamela to York in the morning, thank you. Lombard, Delahey, Garland, I leave you in charge of seeing she’s guarded and kept safe. Ladies, I leave the company to you. Ted, let’s go upstairs. You can pour us a night-cap.” He caught his stunned cousin’s shoulder and steered him from the room.
Sometimes, one had to be a man and not a marquess. Rain thought this might be one of those times. He’d have to trust Bell was safe with her sister.
“This is your apartment?”Iona swept through the immense suite Bell claimed for her own. “May I move in with you? Gerard’s castle tower might have a lovely bath, but it’s nowhere as elegant. I swear, only men have lived in it for the past hundred years.”
“My apartment doesn’t include your husband,” Bell remarked, amused. “I could have an entire house in the village, but that seemed much too complicated. I like it here.”
“Does your apartment have Rainford? He loves you, you know.” Iona swept back to confront her.
“He lusts after me. That’s not the same. And I’ve barely had time to learn to like things as they are. You’ve not had the full effect of his household yet. Tonight was only a taste of the ongoing drama. I can hide away in here when it all becomes too much.” She lacked authority to do more.
“Or you can leave and go to Craigmore any time.” Iona nodded understanding. “After seeing that ghost at work, I can see the appeal. Our haunts are more phlegmatic.”
Bell attempted a smile. “Not entirely certain that’s true, but a dying duke probably stirred the duchess. Now, if you don’t mind... I’m exhausted. And Gerard will be galloping the halls looking for you.”
Iona exclaimed, hugged her, and swept out, leaving her to her maid.
