Page 34 of The Nabob's Designing Daughter
“There now.” Ann stroked the boy’s head. “All will be well. You needn’t be troubled. Dr. Robillard is a kind man and a good doctor. Why, the duke himself brought him here to deliver the duchess’s baby. He’ll fix it so you’ll be running faster than ever after the wee ones at lambing time.”
She sent him a long look and smiled.
His heart squeezed. She was the woman for him, if he could but find a way.
“Thank you,” he said.
When they looked down, Rolly’s eyes were fluttering shut.
“Now,” he said. “Hold him well, Ann.”
It wasfull dark when they crept up to Kinmarty Castle in the duke’s carriage. Errol had deemed it impossible to return the boy to the Gillespie cottage, so Forbes had ridden to Kinmarty and fetched the carriage back. The crofter’s wife and son would spend the night there.
Ann hadn’t had a moment’s chance to speak freely to Errol that afternoon, and she saw immediately that she wouldn’t have a chance that evening. Her father scowled from the doorway as two footmen under Errol’s direction transferred the board carrying Rolly into the castle, his mother following in his wake.
Another footman helped Edme descend, and Ann followed.
“What’s the meaning of this, Kinmarty?” Father asked the duke, who was shaking Errol’s hand.
“Forbes said the inn is no place for this injured child,” the duke said, “and now that I see him, I agree. Devil of an afternoon, eh, Robillard? Strachney, I congratulate you on your daughter’s good sense. You did well, Miss Strachney, Forbes said. You as well, Miss Beecham.”
“The hard job was Dr. Robillard’s,” Ann said. “I’ve never seen a bone set.”
Errol smiled, looking terribly tired. “And I’ve never seen a terrified child persuaded to take medicine so easily.”
Edme laughed. “She had a great deal of practice on my little brothers.”
“We’ve delayed dinner for you,” the duke said. “But as you all look done in after this day, we can send trays up to your rooms if you’d prefer.”
“Nonsense,” Strachney said. “Ann will go and change for dinner.”
Edme scoffed and quickly turned it into a cough. “Well, if you go, I go, cousin.”
“Please go ahead without me,” Errol said. “I’ll see my patient settled in and then I’ll check on the duchess before she retires.”
Ann watched the housekeeper lead Errol and his party up the stairs.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would have a chance to speak with him.
The next morning,she and Edme were the first to arrive at the breakfast room. Cottingwith appeared, his eyes drooping until he saw Edme. He claimed a seat next to her and went to fill her a plate.
“Did the card game run late?” Ann took the plate prepared by the footman on duty.
“Until the wee hours, I believe. I left before I lost my estate.” He smiled. “That was a joke. I never play for high stakes.”
But Warton and Hatherot did. “Did Father play?”
“Yes, and he was holding his own. The duke wisely begged off. Ah.” He looked up. “Robillard, how are your patients today?”
Errol’s smile sent a shiver of hope through her. He was unaccountably cheerful, like the old Errol she’d once known. “Rolly is on the mend, and the duchess is not in labor.” He went to the sideboard and then took the seat next to her.
“The others are sleeping late?” Edme asked. “No shooting for you today?”
“No shooting, and no fishing,” Cottingwith said. “What say we try a different sort of hunt? I’ve heard you ladies discussing gathering pine boughs.”
“And mistletoe,” Errol said. “You mustn’t forget that.” He passed her a dish of preserves and his fingers brushed hers.
Ann’s heart leapt in her chest and pounded. Would she be able to steal a moment alone with him? Would he hate her forever when she told him the truth? Or could he possibly care for her?
