“Ezzactly!” Nigel struggled to make his mouth form words.My father died at 27 and his father before him, and his father and his father.“I’m old!”
Alexander opened his mouth, closed it, and shrugged. “If you insist… Ahhhh! I know. You’ve already found her! You dog! Who is she?”
Nigel only just remembered not to shake his head again and settled for waving his hands in negation instead. “No. You’ve… You’ve got it all wrong! I just. I need to find a wive. A wife.”
“Wives are quite lovely.” Alexander nodded sagely. “Though hardly – hic - a decision to be… rushed.”
“We can’t all – hic - have your luck.” Nigel laughed and almost lost his footing.
“Or my meddling mother-in-law.” Alexander glanced over his shoulder as if looking for someone. “Shhh. Don’t tell Rose.”
“Tell Rose what?” Nigel tried to remember what Alexander had just said.
“That I said her mother was meddling!” Alexander put a finger to his lips. “Although it’s true. But… nonetheless. Don’t. Tell. Rose.”
“Your secret’s safe – hic - with me.” Nigel put a hand over his heart as he tried to make eye contact with one of the three Alexander’s swaying in front of him. “I shwear it!”
“Good.” Alexander linked an arm through Nigel’s, and they began to stumble towards the castle.
Alexander showed Nigel to the guest room and then departed to his own chambers. Nigel flopped onto the bed, trying not tofocus on the sickening way the floor moved or the roiling in his stomach.
Every part of him seemed to cry out for sleep, but his mind was whirring. Nigel sighed and propped himself upright, glancing at the door.
“I should make sure I cannot get out of these chambers. Move something against the door maybe.” He attempted to stand, and the whole room swayed ominously.
“You can do this. Just one step at a time. Get a hold of yourself man!” Nigel gave up attempting to walk to the door and settled for crawling.
Like his father and grandfather before him, Nigel had recently had a spate of waking up in chambers other than his own with no recollection of ever making the journey. He needed to stay in his chambers tonight, and that meant blocking his only escape.
“Just a little farther,” Nigel murmured to himself.
As he reached the door, he slumped against the cool wood, closed his eyes, and pressed a hand to his temple. He tried to ignore the way it trembled.It’s just the wine. You’ve had far too much to drink, that’s all.He clenched it tightly into a fist.
He thought back over the evening and what he had not said when Alexander had told him he had more time.How could I tell him the truth? That my line is cursed. One son, all dead attwenty-seven.Nigel had no time. He knew it. Already, he felt the tendrils of the curse creep towards him.
He forced his eyes open and tried to reach for a nearby table. As he stood to pull it towards the door, the room tilted violently, and Nigel crumpled. For a moment, he feared he would be sick. He gave the table a push towards the door.
If I am too drunk to move even this table, I doubt I will be able to get up to much mischief in my sleep. Perhaps if I sleep in front of the door that will be enough.The thought was a comfort to him as he gave in and let sleep take hold.
Chapter Three
A Rude Awakening
Olivia was on the edge of consciousness as early morning birdsong filled her room. She stretched in her bed, luxuriating in the unexpected warmth of it.Perhaps one of the maids has prepared a hot water bottle.Surprising, given the time of year, but pleasing, nonetheless.
She was just debating opening her eyes and accepting the reality of waking when a piercing scream forced the issue. She sat up, heart hammering in her chest, and smacked into something hard and warm as she did so.
Nigel Maxton stared sleepy eyed at her, the confusion replaced by horror. Olivia leapt from her bed hastily grabbing for a robe. The maid was still screaming or was that Olivia herself.No, no. Get a hold of yourself.
“What are you doing here?” Olivia yelled to make herself heard over the hysterical maid. “Why on earth are you in my bed chambers?”
Nigel opened his mouth to reply, but at that moment, two more people burst into Olivia’s room. To her immense relief and horror, Olivia turned to see her mother and Lady Cotswalts staring at the pair of them, looks of utter indignation and confusion evident on their faces.At least it is not Alexander.
The maid was shaking her head, looking in horror from Olivia to Nigel to the two women in the doorway. For a moment, nobody spoke. Lady Cotswalts moved to the door and closed it.
“What is the meaning of this?” Olivia recognised the tone in her mother’s voice. Dangerously quiet — fury sitting behind a tightly walled dam. “How can you have acted so recklessly? Have I taught you nothing?”
Olivia held up her hands trying to calm the situation as her sleep addled brain tried to make sense of it all. “It is not what it appears. I mean. I have no idea how Nig- Duke Glassley has ended up here. I am as surprised as you are.”
