CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Mercy paced the hall outside the bedchamber where Blythe had been carried. Dr. Heyburn had been in there for an hour or more now and she was long past the point of merely worrying for her sister’s health. Shouldn’t she have roused by now?
Mercy had no idea what to do, but she couldn’t leave her spot outside the door until she heard his prognosis. She had asked Leopold to take care of their son while she waited on the doctor, and he’d been happy to put Edwin to bed. Tobias was downstairs somewhere, watched over by Wilcox and another footman, and she wanted to speak to him before nightfall.
Dr. Heyburn stepped into the hall and shut the door firmly behind him. “She is unchanged, Your Grace.”
Mercy put her hand to her throat. “Surely there is some sign that she will come back to herself soon.”
“Her heart beats strongly. Her skin is warm. But her gaze is unfocussed, as if she sleeps.”
He sat his little bag on a table and removed a bottle. “I have given a bottle of this remedy to the maid inside; I’ll leave another with the housekeeper before I go. She is to drizzle a spoonful into Lady Venables’ mouth on the hour, every hour, until I return tomorrow.”
Mercy turned the bottle over in her hands, wondering what the concoction would do for her sister. The bottle was unremarkable in appearance and she handed it back to the doctor. “Is there anything else that can be done tonight?”
He shook his head. “From what little you’ve told me, she’s suffered a fright of some kind. Once she’s had time to rest, she may very well wake on her own with no ill effects suffered. If she does not wake on her own, I will begin more vigorous treatments to rouse her.”
Mercy swallowed, afraid of what that might mean. She’d had little experience with doctors and their treatments, but if he thought such measures were required, she would have to consider them. She hadn’t told Heyburn about what Tobias Randall had done to bring Blythe to the point of collapse. Keeping quiet about the terror Tobias had caused spared his reputation. And Blythe would hate to be involved in any gossip concerning him so Mercy held her tongue. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to protect her family. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. May I see my sister now?”
He smiled kindly. “I cannot see why not? Try not to become too agitated by her state. The care of the sick can tax a woman’s strength of will and cause a similar state in a perfectly happy woman.”
Mercy blinked. Did the man think women were feeble minded? It was rare Mercy heard opinions of this kind voiced in her presence. Did he realize he’d just insulted a duchess with his remarks? When he bowed, picked up his hat and hurried away, Mercy glared after him. She had thought him an open-minded fellow once upon a time.
She stepped into her sister’s room. Blythe lay in the center of the large bed, hair unbound; face smooth as if in sleep. Mercy moved toward the bed.
“The doctor said not to do anything out of the ordinary to disturb her, Your Grace,” the young maid assigned at the doctor’s request warned from the shadows.
Mercy sat on the side of the bed and picked up her sister’s hand. “I have always behaved as I wish, child. Wait outside if you please.”
When the maid hurried out, Mercy patted Blythe’s hand. “There now. It’s just us again. You can open your eyes now and talk to me. Everyone has gone.”
Blythe made no response. Mercy had been hoping Blythe was merely pretending to sleep to avoid the embarrassment of her actions as she had frequently done as a young girl. She couldn’t understand why her sister had taken Edwin and kept him from her. She was his mother. He was her responsibility.
She lifted Blythe’s limp hand to her cheek and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “Wake up, Blythe. I need to talk to you very badly. What did I do to turn you away from me? Leopold fears it was you who killed those poor animals and left them about the abbey. How could you do that when little Adam had one as a pet? Wake up and tell me it cannot be? Please.”
Blythe remained still.
Mercy blinked back tears. “I am so sorry that Tobias Randall frightened you by coming through the window as he did. But I had to have Edwin back in my arms. I cannot bear to be apart from him for long. You know that about me.”
Mercy took a deep breath. “I hope you can hear me because I have something important to say and I wanted you to be the first to know so there are no more secrets between us. I’m going to ask Leopold Randall to marry me. You can wake up and scold me all you like, but I love him. You were right before in the drawing room. I did meet him years ago, but I never knew his name. Edwin couldn’t give me a child and the old duke demanded one. Leopold is Edwin’s father. I am sure of it now. He came back to me as I’d hoped. I don’t want to lose this second chance to be loved.”
She searched for signs that her plans had outraged Blythe’s strict sense of propriety. She would be giving up her rank, her position in society for the love of her life. But nothing changed in Blythe’s bearing. Her chest rose and fell evenly. Her skin remained pale.
Mercy placed Blythe’s hand beneath the covers so she wouldn’t grow chilled. “I will also ask his brother, Tobias Randall, to stay here at the abbey. They have spent so much time apart and I am willing to forgive him, slowly mind you, for the trouble he’s caused. You need to know that for when you wake. You will likely find him searching for clues about Oliver and Rose’s location alongside Leopold and I and I do not want you to be alarmed. Did you get very far in deciphering those books? I wish you would wake and tell me. I want to tell Leopold about the room soon. If I have the deciphered journals to show him, maybe he will not be so upset with me for keeping secrets.”
Mercy sat back and waited, hoping Blythe would blink and speak her mind. When she remained silent for another hour, Mercy pressed a kiss to her brow, summoned the maid, and left her to sleep and heal.
~ * ~
There were worst things in life than putting your child to bed with a bedtime story and a long hug. In fact, Leopold could grow used to such events very easily. He trudged down the stairs to the library and peeked inside. Tobias sat draped over a large leather chair, drinking directly from a bottle in hand. He stepped into the room, surprised and pleased to see his brother had remained at Romsey Abbey. “Are you jug-bitten already?”
“No, only mellowing.” Tobias peered at his bottle. “I must say the duke keeps a fine cellar. You have no idea the rot they serve up in some of the ports I’ve been. Melt your boots off, but you get used to it, given enough leave.”
Leopold glanced uncomfortably at Tobias’ damaged hand, bound tight in fine white linen, a stark contrast to his ragged clothes. He took the bottle from him, poured a generous amount of liquid in a glass, and put the bottle back on the shelf. He handed Tobias a fresh glass to help numb the pain of his injury. “Thank you, for retrieving Edwin. The duchess would say so too if she could be persuaded to leave her sister.”
Tobias waved away the thanks. “After my mistake, a bit of pain will be an easy burden. Besides, once the ladies get a gander at this they’ll be swooning all over me.”
Leopold raised a brow. “Does that happen a lot? Ladies swooning and you injured.”
“It’s a fluid thing. What’s life if not to take a risk?” He drained the glass and held it out for more. “What did you do with the mad one?”
“Lady Venables is secured in a chamber upstairs. The doctor has come and gone and servants are assigned to watch over her. She hasn’t spoken to anyone since you broke through the window. We fear she’s suffered a great shock.”
“Possibly. Reminds me of the time when a young man on board my first ship, an officer from a well off family, froze in battle. He stood dumb like an oxen on the quarterdeck. Don’t know how he wasn’t killed or set upon. When the ship was taken, and we were rounded up, he didn’t move. The French, being a merciful lot, dumped him over the side. He never came back up.”
“Tobias,” Leopold growled. “That is not very reassuring.”
Tobias shrugged. “I’m out of practice. Spent most of my time staying alive, avoiding the hard jobs, than observing the niceties. The mad one won’t have the same problems that fellow faced. Someone will clean up her drool, force food down her throat, and keep her warm. She’s much better off here than not.”
“What am I going to do with you now?”
Tobias lifted his empty glass and wobbled it. “I imagine you might allow your errant brother a few drinks, a decent meal, and place to sleep before kicking him out.”
Leopold crossed his arms over his chest. The idea of Tobias loose on society as he was now was utterly impossible. “I won’t kick you out. It will be up to the duchess to decide if you remain. It is her house.”
“Then I shall await Her Grace’s delicate foot connecting with my backside.” He shrugged. “I’ll be all right here until then.”
“Do you have funds, land, friends in England?”
Tobias squirmed. “I do all right. Don’t trouble yourself.”
“You’re my brother. I will always trouble myself for you. I have saved every penny, Tobias. Tomorrow, we will discuss what you would like to do with your life.”
Tobias stood and refilled his own glass. “Are you sure you want me to stick around that long? Aren’t you worried about what I might do overnight?”
Leopold snorted. “I’d be more worried if you left here. Besides, I have my spies watching you. Behave yourself and I will see you at breakfast.”
“He will see you at lunch,” Mercy said from the doorway. “After this, we shall be all indulging in a quiet morning tomorrow. You don’t mind if you speak with him later in the day, do you?”
Tobias waved his hand about. “Of course, Your Grace, we wild Randall’s are yours to command.”
An impish grin crossed Mercy’s face. “Perhaps another time. Do excuse me; I need your brother as a matter of some urgency.”
Tobias chuckled. “Urgent again. Perhaps this time he will slip you out of your gown before he ravishes you. Poor form, by the way, brother. Even I know a proper lady requires better treatment for a tryst than a hard wooden bench.”
Leopold had forgotten what it was like to be teased by a brother. He hadn’t missed this aspect of his former life and it would take a while to grow accustomed to the discomfort.
Mercy blushed. “Enjoy your brandy tonight, Tobias. Tomorrow, you and I will also have a long discussion about what a lady likes to hear in her presence. When my sister comes to her senses, you had better be prepared. I should hate to see you gelded at such a young age.”
She stepped out onto the balcony ahead of Leopold.
Leopold glanced at his brother. “It really isn’t too late to end your life, Tobias.”
“No chance of that now. Besides, life is just getting interesting. Imagine us all here at Romsey Abbey. Who’d have thought it could ever be?”
“The old duke. It’s what he feared most. Don’t disappear overnight, brother. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“I’m not moving.” Tobias wriggled to get more comfortable.
Leopold stalked to the door, eager to catch up with Mercy and find out what she wanted.
Behind him, Toby called out. “I’d like another nephew when you can arrange one. Mother was always said ‘one’ was too lonely a number.”