Page 2 of Avenging the Earl's Lady
“Well, then.”She nodded at both of them, dodging Shaldon’s dark scrutiny.“I thank you for bringing it.”
The letter bore Lady Sirena’s handwriting, but the girl wouldn’t send a missive this thick with news of thetonor the latest fashions.As Sirena would say, a fairy was whispering in Jane’s ear, telling her that this letter was one more in a string of troubling messages.
It was appalling that one young man, so carefully brought up, so well provided for, could get himself into such a costly tangle, one that she’d been unraveling at no small expense.
She rushed in and took the stairs to the bedchamber she was sharing with Lady Perry.
A knock brought no answer, and so, she entered.The spring green counterpane was as smooth as it had been the morning before when she’d made up the bed.No one had slept there.Lady Perry had no doubt taken advantage of the previous night’s chaos to visit the bed of her new fiancé, Fox.
She herself had spent the night in an armchair at Shaldon’s bedside, taming her worries and her regrettable flutterings, and barely dozing between his bouts of nausea.By the time the dragoon captain’s surgeon had come to examine him at daybreak, he’d recovered enough to call his council of old fools for a meeting.
His dosing of laudanum had worn off, and she’d escaped with not even a heated glance from his lordship.
She sighed and settled on the edge of the bed, studying the letter.Sirena’s penmanship lacked elegance but it was clear and direct, like the girl herself.
The seal cracked neatly and she saw that the thick parchment surrounded another letter, its wax still in place.That letter’s handwriting sent her nerves thrumming.
She took a deep breath, set the second letter aside, and unfolded Sirena’s.
Dearest Jane,
I must dash this off quickly as Bakeley is at my elbow demanding all haste.Be assured that all is well with the babe and I am even deigning to take some of your advice.I’ve shortened my time in the saddle and I limit myself to a boring walk—no trotting or galloping!Bakeley accompanies me on every ride to ensure the safety of his heir.
You’ve likely heard the good news that Captain Kingsley is found and is on his way to England.
That was indeed wonderful news.Shaldon’s other new daughter-in-law, Graciela, would be happy that her missing father had been found.
Though perhaps, Lord Shaldon being Lord Shaldon, he hasn’t shared the news from the letter Bakeley sent him by the same courier.(And Dear Jane, must you keep running off with my father-in-law?First Bath, now Yorkshire; tongues will be wagging, though not mine, I assure you.) And, by the by, Mr.Oliver Morton drew me aside at last night’s ball to inquire about your absence…
Her hand fisted around the paper.Sirena knew Jane had been called to Bath by her cousin and his ailing wife, playing the poor relation at yet another noble establishment.Shaldon might havesaidhe was in Bath, but if he was, he hadn’t been there to take the waters or mingle with polite society.He hadn’t been there to makeherheart flutter—perhaps he had a ladybird tucked away there, a spy or a French emigre from his past.
And Mr.Morton?Sirena’s fey senses had picked up the man’s interest, but she couldn’t know the old goat had made Jane a grabby proposal of marriage.One she’d refused.
She smoothed the paper and read on.
I’ve enclosed a letter just delivered by messenger, unopened, though I confess, I was sorely tempted.The messenger asked that it be forwarded to you in all haste.I do hope all is well, and if it is not, you must apply to me for assistance, as I am now wife to a wealthy viscount and forever in your debt, dear friend.Never fear, I have ways of convincing Bakeley to part with his money.
Jane rubbed at the ache in her temple, stuck a loose lock of hair behind her ear, and read on.
Barton and Madame send their love.They are drowning in orders, poor dears, working from dawn until midnight, and Bakeley is quite smug about the success of his investment in their enterprise.
Do take care and come home soon.Without you and Perry, I am hopelessly lost running Shaldon House.
With love,
S
Dear Sirena,always so perceptive and so kind.
Asking her for help was a solution, one that was totally unacceptable.Her husband, Bakeley—Shaldon’s heir—had generously invested in the partnership of Jane’s former lady’s maid and a French modiste, and with the new King’s coronation festivities in full swing, he was seeing a good return.
There would be no return on any money given to her.She would simply be sinking to the utter, humiliating charity she had managed to avoid her entire life.
Besides, Bakeley would want to know why she needed it.
She weighed the sealed letter in her hand, thetap-tap-tapon her nerves growing more insistent.With her even-tempered and orderly man of business,all hastewas a rarity.All haste was grounds for a whole host of fairies to plague her.
The shakiness of the script reminded her that she should be thinking about a successor to Mr.Phillips, who worked with only a clerk as elderly as himself.
She cracked the wax wafer and scanned the lines, her heart sinking.
