“I have heard enough.”
“I am trying to tell you that you should not have trusted us all those years. You should not have befriended the Northwoods nor believed in us because—”
“I did not believe in the Northwoods, Felton.” The viscount pulled the tailcoat from Felton’s shoulders. “Now roll up your sleeve.”
“My lord—”
“I believed inyou.I confess, I had as many qualms as the rest of Lodnouth about the watch fob by my wife’s body. But I left justice to the hands of God and the constable, and as the latter could not find evidence to punish my neighbor, I saw no reason that I should.” He ripped away the bloodied shirtsleeve around the wound. “Especially when three young boys were already being punished enough.”
“It was both of them. Mamma and Papa—”
“There is no need to speak of it.” He pulled off his cravat and patted at the blood. “Miss Reay has told me quite enough.”
“Lord Gillingham?” From the darkness at the end of the hall, Mrs. Eustace’s steps grew louder as she swept forward. Her keys jangled until she stopped before them. “Lord Gillingham, forgive the interruption.”
“What is it, Mrs. Eustace?”
“A message for Mr. Northwood.” Her eyes slanted to Felton’s and held for a second, with a look more pitiful than anything else. “His father begs him come quickly. It is Mrs. Northwood, I fear.” A pause. “She is dead.”
The words tumbled through Felton. He blinked hard, met Lord Gillingham’s stare, tried to derive comfort in the warm hand already pressing his shoulder.
“Go on, son.”
Felton looked back to the door. Eliza. He could not leave. He would not leave her now.
“I shall be with her when the doctor is finished. You may see her as soon as you return.” The viscount motioned to Mrs. Eustace. “Go and prepare a mount for him. Quickly.”
“Yes, my lord.” Her footsteps and keys thumped and clattered again, then died back into silence.
Felton drew in air. He pulled the numbness up and around him like a shroud and wished to mercy he could never find his way out of such a fog. He wiped his eyes. They were wet to his touch, the traitors. “I do not want to go.” A rough whisper.
Lord Gillingham wound the cravat around Felton’s arm, tied a loose knot, then pulled the torn shirtsleeve back over his arm. “You must.”
Eliza stared at the plaster rose on the ceiling above her. Pain arced through her, sharp enough she fisted the bed linens as the doctor spread a poultice over each of her cuts.
“Don’t’ee hurt her.” Minney circled the bed, voice fraught, eyes wild. “Don’t’ee hurt her one bit.”
“Just you hold that candle still, young girl.” The doctor swung his queue behind his shoulder and lifted Eliza’s left arm. Their shadows moved on the walls, larger than life. “I must make these tight, Miss Gillingham. I trust you shall bear it tolerably?”
She nodded with tears. She closed her eyes before they could flood her cheeks, and the next time she opened them, the doctor was finished and pressing a cup of willow bark tea to her lips.
She sipped the warm liquid down her throat, then rested her eyes again.Thank you, Doctor.She wasn’t certain if she spoke the words aloud or only thought them.
A door opened and closed, as if the doctor had left, then a thin hand grasped hers. “I’ll take good care of ’ee, Miss Gillingham, because’ee are my friend. E’erything shul be just fine now. Even Merrylad be home, and I be feedin’ him again and takin’ good care of him too.” A gentle kiss pressed to Eliza’s cheek, and Minney’s voice whispered into her ear, “Ye be home now, Miss Gillingham. Ye be home safe at last.”
Sleep pulled her away from the bed and the discomfort and the ache of everything she had endured.
But the words stayed still, even as she slumbered.
I am home.
Felton took the stairs one at a time, gliding his hand along the cold banister. When he reached the hall, he almost turned back.I cannot do this.
Dodie and two other maids stood outside Mamma’s door. They huddled close together, whispering, and Dodie brushed tears from her eyes.
Felton strode past them. The bedchamber door was ajar, and the hinges whined when he eased it open and entered. He shut it behind him.I cannot.
Papa was in the bed with her. She was draped across his arms, with the lustrous chestnut hair dangling, her eyes closed and pale lips unmoving.
