Chapter 32
Theo sat up in the twilight-soaked room and peered into the dusky shadows. Momentary disorientation gnawed at her until a familiar voice whispered past the heavy oak door.
“I am quite capable of carrying a dinner tray to my daughter-in-law, Mary. There is no need for you to dart about me like a bee.”
The dowager countess’s strident but muffled tones relieved her moment of panic while raising her curiosity. Why was Mary here? Feet firmly planted on the floor, Theo rose from the bed and stood as the door swung open.
“What in the devil do you think you are doing, child?”
“Standing.” Theo stated the obvious in lieu of wading into battle outright.
“The doctor ordered rest for you, at least for a day or two.” Lady Stonemere cut to the chase as she set her burden down on a nearby table.
“I feel quite recovered. There is no reason to act as though I have been stricken with some disease.” Theo huffed and determinedly moved farther away from the bed.
“Well, here is beef tea and some bread crusts for you. It should be a nice restorative after your episode. If you won’t lie down, then at least sit down while you partake.” Her mother-in-law ushered her over to the table and sat her down as though she were a young girl and not a countess.
“What time is it?” Theo ignored the pang in her heart at the notion that night was falling and yet her husband had not appeared to at least attempt to convince her to return home.
“It is half past seven. Dinner was served an hour ago, since I prefer to eat early.”
“I see.” Theo’s stomach dropped, and had she not already heaved up its entire contents earlier, she would have done so. She stared at her dinner and blinked rapidly in hopes of holding back the tears that seemed determined to make an appearance.
“Yes, well, you have been asleep for a few hours. I’m surprised you slept right through your husband’s rather boisterous arrival earlier as he demanded word of his missing wife.”
Theo’s gaze snapped up to the dowager’s knowing smile. “He came?”
“Of course he did, my girl. The man is so besotted with you, I couldn’t have kept him away had I tried. He insisted on seeing that you were resting comfortably before he would leave.”
Hope bloomed warm and bright in her chest. “And where has he gone?”
“He is off dealing with some pressing matters associated with Odey’s return. Once those are settled, he will return to sort out whatever it is that stands between you two, and he has requested you stay with me until then. He even sent Mary over with some of your things, though I daresay his request has nothing to do with the child you carry.” She looked pointedly at Theo’s stomach.
Firmly ignoring her mother-in-law’s probing for the moment, she eyed her beef tea and crusty bread with listless interest. What could be more important to Stone than addressing their marriage? She couldn’t begin to consider the ramifications on their relationship if they could not resolve his high-handed behavior.
And what of their child?
Her hand flattened over the barest hint of a bump in an instinctively protective move. A fierce need to defend the life nestled within her swelled at the notion of anyone or anything threatening her babe. No, regardless of what might come, she would protect her child with her last breath. Even from her husband’s overbearing ways.
On that note, she resolutely lifted her spoon and filled the bowl with broth. She would eat for her child and ensure they had every advantage she could provide. But as her husband was surely well aware, her patience would last only so long.
She let the silence stretch a bit longer before replying. “He does not yet know about the child, and I do not wish to keep that knowledge from him. But I shall not tell him until we resolve this issue between us, which means I shall only allow him so much time to attend to his business before I expect him to address my grievance.”
The dowager sighed. “I beg of you, do not be rash.”
“I shall take care of myself and my child. But as my husband has learned, I shall not be ignored.” Determination welled up within her as she shored up her spirit. “A day, two at the most, and then I shall see him.”
“Very well, my dear.” The dowager countess nodded and turned to leave, but stopped midway. “But I caution you not to allow either your head or your heart to rule absolutely. A balance of both is required in a successful marriage.”
And then she disappeared through the door, leaving Theo alone to consider her words and what the next few days might bring. She considered it more than odd that Stone would ask that she remain with his mother, but at the moment, she was far more concerned about her evening meal and then her sleep. It had been a horrible day, and she firmly hoped that with Mary’s assistance, in the morning she would feel well enough to tackle the future of her marriage.
By the next afternoon, Stone, Odey, and Cooper were ensconced in Cooper’s hunting box just across the county from Stonemere Abbey in Southampton. The rest of the Lustful Lords—Linc, Flint, and Wolf—camped around them to keep watch for the would-be killer. Exhausted after spending the evening planning their trap. They had set the lure by carousing at their various clubs and putting the word out of their imminent departure, and the absolute last thing Stone wanted to do now was tramp about the countryside looking for stags. But if the trap were to work, then the bait must be dangled, so the three of them headed out for an afternoon foray.
“I do hope this little ruse works,” Stone grumbled as he stalked through a trickling stream.
“Well, it certainly won’t if you continue to discuss it, ’Chilles.” Odey sounded as exasperated as Stone felt, but likely for different reasons.
“Yes, well, you don’t have an unhappy wife at home. I have made such a mess of things with Theo, I fear I shall never hear the end of it once she learns the truth of it all.” Stone ducked to avoid a low-hanging oak branch.
Odey grunted. “Brother, do not think that because I am unmarried, I do not have my own trials of the feminine form. The fair daughter of the winemaker Seignior Tedesco, the beautiful Mariella, still leads me a merry chase.” Odey sighed and stepped up on a small boulder. “But I declare here and now, I shall return to Sardinia and lay claim to my woman.”
Cooper and Stone chuckled. Odey had declared many things in just such a manner growing up. Most of them never came to pass and were quickly forgotten.
Cooper winked at Stone and Odey. “Lads, what you need is a woman like my Sarah. Soft in all the right places, sweet of disposition, and a widow with no desire to marry. She’s always happy to see me, but never at my doorstep. It’s the perfect arrangement.”
“With the exception that if you fail to marry, then you will fail to produce an heir. Which means that wastrel brother of yours will replace you when you die and leave the family fortunes on the Faro tables in some gambling hell. But please, do go on about dearest Sarah.” Stone cast a gimlet eye at his friend. How Cooper could still be in denial of his responsibilities boggled Stone’s mind.
Cooper sighed. “I’m still looking for a way around it, but should I remain stuck, I shall simply marry some chit who has been conditioned to look the other way once the heir and a spare have been produced.”
Stone and Odey both laughed. “Times are changing, my friend,” Stone pointed out. “Girls are holding out for love, and even if they aren’t, I should stand as your cautionary tale. I married for the requisite heir and have found myself unequivocally, irretrievably, ridiculously in love. I promise you I had no intention of doing such a thing, and if I had, I would have imagined it a far simpler affair. The truth is, love is messy.”
Odey and Cooper grimaced.
“Messy, painful, and hard to manage, but absolutely one of the most wonderful experiences of my life,” Stone continued. “I wouldn’t undo it if I could.”
“Dear Gawd, he’s lost to us!” Cooper cried out, dropping his forehead on Odey’s shoulder in a dramatic fashion.
“Do be serious. We are meant to be bait here, not participating in a stage drama,” Stone groused as he laid his shotgun across his arm and walked away from his brother and his best friend. He’d at least spoken from the heart. Those two fools were still lost when it came to women. Maybe one day they’d each find their way. “Gents, the sun will be retiring soon. I think we should do the same. We shall try again tomorrow.”
“Very well,” Odey and Cooper agreed as they turned to follow Stone back to the hunting box.
The next day went much the same as the first. The three friends walked about the countryside, occasionally taking shots at deer or other wild game they came across. But no attacks were made. That night, they called the other three into the cabin to discuss their options.
“’Chilles, you can’t give up yet.” Odey lounged on the couch with a drink in his hand, the picture of the country gentleman.
Stone felt more like a landed fish still hooked on the line. He wasn’t sleeping, he was tired from all the faux hunting they’d done, and he missed the devil out of his wife. “It seems the plan isn’t working. Flint and the others have seen nothing but the three of us gadding about like motley fools waxing poetic about whatever crosses our minds. If the killer hasn’t followed us, then this is all for naught.”
“Have a little faith, Stone.” Linc, always the jokester, offered a pat on the back. “Perhaps the man had some other business besides killing you he needed to tend to.”
“He could appear at any moment. We cannot afford to let our guards down.” Wolf, ever the somber one among the group, seemed more dour than usual.
“Wolf’s right. Besides, I wouldn’t mind a crack at this mysterious person.” Flint slammed a fist into the palm of his hand.
“I agree, ’Chilles. It’s only been a day and a half. Give it at least one more day. Then you can run home to Theo and plead your case.” Cooper raised his scotch as though toasting the idea.
They were right, of course. He was restless and merely wanted to see his pet again. He itched to have her on her knees for him, willing to do anything he requested. He might even spank her bottom to remind her running away from him would never be the answer to their problems. “You take the egg. Another day, but if he fails to appear, I shall not tarry longer.”
They all nodded in agreement, and then Flint, Linc, and Wolf stepped back outside into the brisk night air and resumed their posts. Stone, Odey, and Cooper remained inside and drowned the aches from such excessive exercise in scotch and companionship.