Page 35 of Finding Hope
The Duke seemed to be having a grand time, and planned to take the hounds out the next morning. Even if Max did not narrow down a bride in time, he had made his father happy, as opposed to the Duchess, who was never happy. Such commonplace emotions were beneath her.
As the games were ending and the picnic was being laid out, Max spied Hope walking back towards the house with her sisters and he wondered how Joy was doing.
He turned to follow them to find out. A hand on his arm stopped him.
“Rotham.”
He only just stopped himself from emitting a heavy sigh. “Your Grace.”
He turned around and looked down at his mother, whose eyes were following the Whitford ladies’ movements.
“Are you leaving your guests before the picnic?”
“I intend to return as soon as possible, but there is something that needs attending to. Diana and the servants have everything well in hand.”
“Indeed.” Her voice indicated she thought she knew exactly what he was going to attend to.
He did not wish to explain himself. Grovelling like a sniffling schoolboy would give her too much power. “The sooner I go, the sooner I may return.”
“What is so urgent that you must go at once?” she asked scornfully.
Would she have questioned his father in such a manner? Of course not.
“If you must know, one of the guests has taken ill. If you will excuse me?”
“You are making a fool of yourself, Rotham.” Her voice dripped with bitterness.
“Then that makes two of us, I suppose.” He turned on his heel and returned to the house, determined not to let his mother infuriate him. His primary concern was for Miss Joy’s welfare, and if that made him look a fool, then so be it.
He entered via the front door in order to speak to Gilford to discover if there had been any change. “Has it been necessary to send for the doctor again, Gilford?”
“Not to my knowledge, my lord.”
He then found Mrs. Watson as he traversed the house. “Has there been any change in Miss Joy?” he asked.
“The last I heard, things had settled, and she was resting, my lord,” she answered in her stiff manner.
“That is excellent news, thank you.”
“I did question the servants, sir. No one else has fallen ill,” she added.
“Thank goodness.”
Max went on through to the east wing, wondering what could have happened to Joy. He knocked lightly on the sitting room to the Whitford sisters’ apartments, hoping he was not disturbing her rest.
Hope opened the door.
“How is she?” he asked softly.
“She is still resting. Almost two hours have passed since she has been ill.” Hope looked relieved, but also as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Max wanted to take her in his arms, but he settled for taking her hands in his, and giving them a reassuring squeeze. “You should rest.”
She smiled half-heartedly.
“Is something else troubling you?”
Her eyes darted away. She was hesitating. “No, I am only concerned for Joy. Pray the worst is over.”
