Page 38 of A Damsel for the Wounded Earl
He obeyed, of course, although he felt as though he already knew what she was going to say.
“Miranda is resting in one of the spare rooms,” Beatrice said, as soon as the parlour door was closed. “I told her to stay until she’s feeling better.”
Arthur had been expecting it, but his heart sank anyway. “Oh, Mother. Why?”
“Why?Why? Because she almost drowned, and she’s faint and ill, and it would be cruel to make her travel home. Apparently, her mother became ill as soon as she found out and wassograteful that we offered her a place to stay. It’s just until she recovers, Arthur.”
“Which will be never, I imagine.”
“Don’t be so harsh. The Thornhills agreed that it was the only right thing to do. I’m sure it won’t be more than a few days, to let her recover.”
Arthur bit his lip. Once the invitation had been extended, it couldn’t be retracted. Besides, with the show Miranda had put on earlier, on the beach, it would look terrible if theydidn’tinvite her to stay.
He glanced down and found his mother looking worriedly up at him, twisting her hands together.
“I am sorry if I did wrong, Arthur. I should have thought about how it would make you feel. Oh, I am so,sosorry. All of this is my fault. I’ll tell her at once…”
“No, it’s alright, Mother,” he said softly, bending down to give her a peck on the cheek. “You’re always so kind, kind to a fault. And there are much worse faults to have in the world. Of course Miss Sinclair must stay here until she recovers.”
Beatrice smiled, some of the colour returning to her cheeks.
“I’m glad you’re happy enough with it. I’m sure she’ll be no trouble.”
“I’m sure. Now, go on back in there and entertain your guests. I’m going to read quietly in the library for a while.”
Beatrice nodded happily. A burst of chatter spilled out into the hallway, warm and loud, and then closed the door again and Arthur was left in the dark and quiet again, shut out, as always.
Arthur had barely had time to settle himself in a seat and choose a book before the door creaked open.
“Am I interrupting?” Lord Thornhill asked, peering in. “I hoped to talk to you, Lord Lanwood.”
“Of course not, do come in. And since it’s just the two of us, I suppose we can dispense with formalities.”
Lord Thornhill smiled. “I do hate formality. Call me Daniel, please.”
“And call me Arthur. Have you recovered from the excitement today, then?”
Daniel threw himself down in the opposite chair and snorted.
“Excitement? All I did was spectate. You were the hero.”
“I do wish people would stop calling me that. I just happened to reach Miss Sinclair first. Do you know how she is, by the way?”
Daniel didn’t respond for a long moment.
“It depends on who is around,” he said, voice low. “I… I don’t mean to sound uncharitable, but Miss Sinclair’s spirits rise and fall depending on her audience. She was half dead on the beach but revived enough to skip upstairs and throw herself on the bed here, if the maids are to be believed.”
Arthur flinched. That did sound very much like Miranda. But then, hadn’t Beatrice sworn that she’d changed?
Oh, come on. Did you really believe that?
“Let me get to the purpose of this,” Daniel continued, matter-of-factly. “I don’t mean to burden you with this, but you are Lord Lanwood, and this is your house. I daresay my uncle should discuss this with you, but I know he won’t. I feel responsible for my cousin, Felicity, and it’s come to my attention that Miss Sinclair has… has taken rather a dislike to her. She’s been talking about Felicity to others, and we all saw how keen she was to overshadow Felicity’s performance at the musical evening. My cousin isn’t the sort to complain. Her mother, my esteemed aunt, seems to think that a little rivalry is healthy, but I don’t agree.”
“Neither do I,” Arthur muttered. “I am sorry. Miranda – that is, Miss Sinclair – was never one to cultivate female friendships. She’s in Society to look for a match, and I doubt she’ll let anyone or anything get between her and her goals. Miranda is a determined woman, there is nothing she would not do to get what she wants.”
Daniel eyed him narrowly. “I agree, and you should be careful, sir. I’ll say that much.”
Arthur flinched. “I can take care of myself.”
