The Earl’s Bluestocking Bride (Unconventional Brides #2)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

“How is my Mia?” Mr. Hart asked as Andrew settled onto the chair in his office.

They’d met to discuss business, but it was a pleasant surprise that Mr. Hart chose to begin by discussing his daughter. Andrew had gotten the feeling he wasn’t particularly involved in her life.

“Mia,” he mused. “That’s a sweet name for her. She seems content. If she’s unhappy, she hasn’t said anything to me about it.”

Mr. Hart nodded. “Nor I or her mother.”

He stood and poured tea for himself and Andrew from a teapot positioned on the end of his desk. “Sugar or milk?”

“Sugar, please.”

He added a spoonful of sugar to one cup and stirred it in. “Mia prefers hers sweetened too. My wife doesn’t, so I got out of the habit.”

Andrew accepted the cup and saucer and placed it in front of himself to cool. “Yes, Mrs. Hart made her preference clear. Black tea is the most British tea, if I recall correctly.”

Mr. Hart laughed. “That sounds like something she’d say.” He hesitated, and for a moment, Andrew thought it was time to move on to business, but Mr. Hart surprised him once again. “I’m glad Amelia is content. I worried she would be unhappy in marriage.”

Andrew raised an eyebrow. “Yet you allowed her to marry anyway?”

“You don’t allow Amelia to do anything. If she wants something badly enough, she makes it happen. She chose you, and you seem a decent sort despite your financial troubles, so I didn’t see any harm in the match.”

The man had a point there. He may not have known Amelia for long, but he could already tell that she was resourceful and determined.

“I’ve been very impressed by Amelia over the past weeks. Particularly by her writing. Did you know what a talented storyteller she is?”

Mr. Hart sipped his tea. “She’s always had a way with words. At least, on paper. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see how difficult it would be to make a career from her writing without a husband’s support.”

Biting the inside of his cheek, Andrew swallowed his immediate response. He didn’t want to anger the man who was helping him. Yet he felt the need to stand up for Amelia.

“Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but wouldn’t she have been able to have a flourishing career without getting married if you’d made it clear you were willing to provide for her?”

To his relief, Mr. Hart wasn’t upset by the remark. He placed his teacup down and leaned back in his chair. “That may be true to a certain extent. My wife was determined that Amelia would marry an aristocrat. My daughter herself had no such aspirations. I’m not blind to that fact. But every man has his weakness, and my wife is mine. There’s little I wouldn’t do to please her.”

Andrew understood that. He was beginning to suspect that his wife may also be his weakness. But it still seemed to him that if a couple created a child, they owed that child a certain level of care.

“Would you have allowed a union between Amelia and a man who was ill-suited to her?”

Mr. Hart’s lips twitched. “If Amelia had been truly miserable and came to me for help, I’d have put a stop to it. Luckily for us both, that didn’t happen. The so-called marriage mart was simply another obstacle that Amelia needed to conquer.”

Pressing his lips together, Andrew stayed quiet. While he may not necessarily agree with the way Mr. Hart had handled the situation, he couldn’t deny that he was grateful for the outcome, and he liked to believe Amelia was too.

He wondered whether to break the news that one of Amelia’s stories had been accepted for publication. She’d already met with the editor and agreed upon a few changes. He decided against it. If she wanted to share with her parents, she could do that when she felt ready.

“Shall we move on to other subjects?” Mr. Hart suggested, sliding a sheaf of papers across the desk toward Andrew. “These are the investment opportunities you asked me to review.”

Andrew leaned forward, mentally preparing himself for a long and exhausting conversation.

When he made his way out of the Hart residence an hour later, his money woes were lighter on his shoulders. He took his carriage back to Longley House, pausing along the way to buy a flower from a girl on a street corner. He gave her a silver coin that had her eyes turning to saucers and doffed his hat at her before returning to the carriage.

At Longley House, he breezed inside and went in search of his family. The sound of women’s voices led him to the drawing room, where Amelia, Lady Drake, and Kate were squashed onto one chaise, their heads close together as they talked.

He knocked on the doorframe. Three faces turned toward him. His mother spotted the flower, and her expression softened. Kate spared him only a glance before refocusing on a set of ribbons laid across her knee.

“Amelia?”

His wife’s head cocked curiously, and she rose and came toward him.

He presented her with the flower and bowed. “A rose for my English rose.”

She laughed but took it from him carefully, and a faint blush proved she wasn’t immune to the gesture. “Thank you.”

He kissed her cheek. “You’re very welcome. What trouble are you three getting yourselves into?”

“We’re planning your first ball as the Earl and Countess of Longley,” Lady Drake said.

He frowned and turned to Amelia. “It isn’t proving too much for you, is it? I didn’t intend for it to become a big to-do.”

“All she has to do is make decisions,” Kate piped up. “Mother and I are giving her choices, and then Mother will get Mrs. Smythe to make the arrangements.”

He looked at his mother. “And that’s all right with you?”

She inclined her head. “It will be nice to play hostess again even if the role isn’t really mine.”

“We can share the role,” Amelia said firmly. “This has been your home for much longer than it’s been mine.”

Andrew’s heart warmed. He loved how thoughtful Amelia was and also how well she was making a place for herself in their family. His mother already adored her, and it did Kate well to have a role model with ambitions beyond marriage and children.

He pulled Amelia close and planted a kiss on her lips. Behind her, Kate and Lady Drake exchanged a knowing glance. He ignored them.

“I will be in the office if you need me,” he said, kissing her once more.

She nodded, slightly dazed. He hurried out of the room before his arousal became obvious. That was the last thing he wanted to happen in front of his mother and sister.

Amelia was lying on her bed, reading a biographical account written by a cleric who’d traveled to Australia on a ship full of convicts when Kate rushed in, clearly distressed.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up and marking the page so she could return to it later.

“Mama is unwell.” Kate stopped beside the bed, wringing her hands. “She cast up her accounts after dinner, and now she’s clutching her head and her skin is hot to the touch.”

Her gut tightening, Amelia got up and strode toward the door. “Is she in her bedchamber?”

“Yes.” Kate hurried along behind her.

“Have you told Andrew?”

“No, I wanted your opinion first.”

Amelia reached the end of the corridor and turned into Lady Drake’s bedchamber. The curtains were closed, and a lone candle flickered on the nightstand. Lady Drake lay on top of the covers, curled on her side with her face in her hands.

“Brigid, can you hear me?” Amelia asked as she closed the distance between them.

Lady Drake murmured something.

“I’m going to touch your forehead,” Amelia told her, then pressed her fingertips just below Lady Drake’s hairline. “You’re too warm. Probably not feverish, but that might be yet to come. We need to get you into bed. Can you stand?”

Lady Drake rolled closer to the edge of the bed, slung her legs off the side, and rose, swaying slightly.

Amelia steadied her. “Kate, I need you to pull back the covers and undo the back of her dress so we can make her comfortable.”

Kate instantly did as she was told, pulling the purple bedcover and crisp white sheets down so that Lady Drake could slide between them more easily. Amelia shifted her mother-in-law to make it easier for Kate to access her back.

With shaking hands, Kate undid the buttons and pushed the fabric off her mother’s shoulders so that it dropped to the floor. She loosened the ribbons on the undergarments, unlaced her stays, and slid those down too, studiously avoiding looking at any body parts.

Amelia supposed that Kate didn’t ever have reason to see her mother in a state of undress, so it might be uncomfortable doing so now. Perhaps she should have called for a maid, but it had seemed more important to act quickly.

“Where’s your nightgown?” she asked Lady Drake.

She gestured listlessly toward a dresser in the corner.

Kate headed straight over, dragged a drawer out, and pulled out the first nightgown she laid eyes on. She held it up. “Is this all right?”

“Perfect,” Amelia told her. “Bring it here.”

Together, they managed to get Lady Drake into the nightgown and into bed.

“Can you sit with her and remove her hairpins?” Amelia asked Kate. “She might not notice if they’re uncomfortable now, but she certainly will later.”

Kate nodded. “Of course.”

While she did that, Amelia rang for a maid. “When they get here, I want you to ask for cold water and a cloth. Put it on her forehead and refresh the cloth whenever it warms.”

“I understand.”

After a brief hesitation, Amelia left them. She knew Kate would take care of her mother. It was just hard for her to leave when Lady Drake had gone downhill so quickly. She’d been fine when they were planning the ball only hours earlier.

She knocked on Andrew’s door.

“Come in,” he called.

She opened the door and stepped through. He lay on the bed, propped up against a pile of pillows, his feet crossed at the ankles.

“Is something the matter?” he asked, reading her expression.

“Your mother has taken ill.” She clasped her hands behind her back, hoping he wouldn’t notice how nervous she was. “I think you should call for a doctor.”

He slid off the bed and ran a hand through his hair. “It’s that serious?”

“According to Kate, she’s vomited at least once. Her head appears to be troubling her, and she’s overly warm.” She’d summed up the situation as succinctly as she could in the hope that he’d come to the same conclusion that she had.

After a moment, he nodded. “You’re right. I’ll have Boden send word to our usual physician. I’ll be there momentarily.”

Amelia returned to Lady Drake’s chambers. Kate sat beside Brigid, mopping her forehead with a wet cloth.

“She’s shivering,” Kate said quietly. “Ought we to be concerned? I don’t want to make her too cold.”

Amelia bit her lip. “Your brother is calling for a doctor. I think that the cool cloth is fine because her temperature is high, but they’ll know better than I do.”

There was a chair in front of the dressing table, so Amelia dragged it over beside the bed and sat. She watched Lady Drake carefully, looking for any changes that could be cause to worry.

A few minutes later, Andrew joined them, standing near her shoulder. “Dr. Tanner will be here soon. I offered him a bonus to ensure it.”

“That was clever.”

“Is there anything else we can do for her in the meantime?”

He sounded frustrated, and she understood. It was difficult to sit around and do nothing when Lady Drake was obviously unwell.

“I don’t know.” She wished she had another answer for him.

A while later, Boden let them know the doctor had arrived, and Andrew went to meet him. Their greetings must have been swift, since he returned scarcely a minute after leaving.

Dr. Tanner rounded the bed to the side opposite Kate and bent over Lady Drake. He was a tall, lean figure with salt-and-pepper hair and kind eyes. He pressed his hand to Lady Drake’s forehead and then to the side of her neck. Ducking closer, he examined the insides of her ears and lifted one of her eyelids.

“Hmm.”

“What is it?” Andrew demanded.

“Difficult to say,” the doctor replied, unhurried. “I can see why you sent for me, but I don’t believe that Lady Drake is in immediate danger. Let her sleep through the night and try to feed her broth in the morning. As long as she remains abed, I imagine she will heal in a couple of days.”

Andrew crossed his arms. “And if she worsens?”

“Then send word, and I will come straight away.”

He didn’t seem concerned, and Amelia couldn’t help but be impressed by the doctor’s unwavering gaze as he met Andrew’s eyes.

“Should someone stay with her during the night?” she asked.

The doctor considered this and then nodded. “It’s likely unnecessary, but it would be a wise precaution if you’re worried she may take a turn for the worse.”

“I’ll stay with her,” Kate said.

Andrew rested his hand on Amelia’s shoulder. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she said. “I won’t be able to sleep anyway.”

“Then that would be much appreciated.” He gave Amelia’s shoulder a slight squeeze.

Perhaps it was selfish of her, but she was pleased that she’d be able to share a bed with him tonight. His presence was always comforting.

Andrew walked the doctor out, and then he dragged a chaise in from the library, and Amelia brought Kate a pillow and blankets so she could be as comfortable as possible while Lady Drake slept.

Andrew and Amelia made their way to his bed soon after. They didn’t make love that night, but they did hold each other until they drifted off to sleep.

When Amelia woke, the gray light of dawn was upon them. Andrew was still sleeping soundly beside her, so she slipped out from beneath the covers, doing her best not to wake him, and padded down the corridor to Lady Drake’s chambers.

As soon as she entered, she knew something was wrong. Not with Lady Drake, but with Kate. Only her face was visible from within a nest of blankets on the chaise, and it was flushed, with beads of sweat at her hairline. Shudders racked her body, and she was whimpering quietly.

Whatever had made Lady Drake sick must be catching.

Amelia summoned Margaret, and together they got Kate to her bedchamber and into bed. Torn between whether to start a fire to warm Kate or open the window to cool her, Amelia chose to do neither until Andrew was awake to act as a sounding board.

Margaret stayed with Kate, dabbing her forehead with a cold compress while Amelia went to check on Lady Drake. The older woman was in better condition than she had been last night. While she remained unconscious, she wasn’t shivering or sweating, didn’t seem to be in any pain, and her temperature had come down a little.

Perhaps Dr. Tanner had been right that this illness would resolve itself within a couple of days.

Amelia ran her fingers over the sheets and, finding them damp, requested a new set from a maid. Together, they changed the bedding, shifting Lady Drake from one side to the other to allow them to work around her.

When Andrew ventured out of his bedchamber, she broke the news, and he insisted on summoning the doctor to check on both women.

Unfortunately, the doctor didn’t have anything new to offer. He was optimistic about Lady Drake’s recovery and believed that Kate would also begin to heal soon.

Amelia split her time between Kate’s and Lady Drake’s bedchambers. She made sure they remained at a pleasant temperature, that their bedding was clean and dry, and attempted—unsuccessfully—to feed them broth.

By the time evening came around, she was exhausted. As usual, she ate dinner with Andrew in the morning room, but she struggled to keep up a lively conversation. Her head dropped every now and then as sleep tried to claim her. Andrew moved around to her side of the table and spoon-fed her sticky toffee pudding.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

“Don’t be.” He kissed her temple. “I appreciate you being so attentive to them all day. Taking care of you is the least I can do.”

A glow started somewhere inside her, and she smiled tiredly. “Thank you.”

“What say we get you to bed?” he said.

“That sounds lovely.”

He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and helped her to her feet. They made their way up the stairs slowly, one step at a time.

As soon as they were in her bedchamber, she hurried straight to the bed and flopped onto it face down. Fingers brushed her back, and she realized he was undoing her dress. Much as she’d helped Lady Drake last night, he assisted her in undressing and climbing into bed.

He pulled the covers up to her chin, and as she dozed off, she could have sworn she heard him say, “When I went looking for a wife, I never expected to find one like you.”

All she had time to think was: is that a good thing… or not?