“Excellent. Until the morning, Mr. Stackpoole,” James said, inclining his head, dismissing the young man. He turned to their innkeeper. “Mr. Drupple, if I might have a brandy before bed?”
“Yes, sar, immediately.” He scurried away.
James gathered Cecilia into his arms and pulled her onto his lap as he sat in the corner of a tall-backed settle near the hearth.
She snuggled against him.
“Now about this plan you have…”
CHAPTER 5
THE PLAN
“How is your wrist this morning, Mr. Stackpoole?” Cecilia asked when she saw him awaiting them the next morning at the base of the inn stairs. James followed behind her as they descended to the taproom floor.
Stackpoole glanced down at his arm in a sling, his hand wrapped to keep it still. “Much better, thank you,” he said. His clothing looked a little rumpled, but otherwise clean. He brushed a lock of brown hair away from his glasses with his good hand.
“Glad to hear that,” James said gruffly as he and Cecilia attained the ground floor. “Are we ready to leave?” he asked curtly.
Mr. Stackpoole drew back at James’s tone.
Cecilia laughed. “Don’t mind my husband,” she said, leaning forward confidentially. She straightened and tucked her arm through James’s arm. “He is quite put out with me and has been like a grouchy old bear since last night after you left, and I told him my scheme for helping Lord Soothcoor.”
“I don’t like it,” James said as they left the inn and walked to their waiting carriage.
“What plan is this?” Mr. Stackpoole asked as he trailed behind them then hurried forward to hear what was said.
“For James to check me into Camden House,” she said as she ducked into the carriage.
“What!” exclaimed Mr. Stackpoole.
“Those are my sentiments, precisely,” James said. He followed his wife into the carriage and sat next to her on the forward-facing seat.
Mr. Stackpoole climbed in after them, tripping on the carriage edge.
James reached out a hand to help him catch himself.
Mr. Stackpoole blushed bright red as he got both feet into the carriage and sat facing them. “Thank you, Sir James,” he said.
James tapped the roof of the carriage to signal Mr. Romley they were ready to leave. The carriage started out briskly, without rain to impede them.
“I don’t think Camden House would admit you, Lady Cecilia,” Mr. Stackpoole said, as they rocked to the motion of the carriage. “Dr. Worcham says he must see evidence of issues.”
“I am recovering from a severe influenza,” Cecilia explained.
“Lady Cecilia was sick in bed for over two weeks. We were worried for her and the child she carries…,” James said softly. He looked down at Cecilia and gently squeezed her hand.
Cecilia nodded. “There was worry for the health of the babe,” she said, “I’ve suffered terribly with fatigue and lack of energy. It is only the news that Lord Soothcoor needs us that has dragged me out of that affliction.”
“For which I am grateful, not that I wish that it be in this manner!” James stated.
She looked over at Mr. Stackpoole. “I clearly remember the worst of those feelings. I am certain I can bring them forward such they will convince the good doctor. How is it your mother seems to come and go from Camden House?”
“The doctor claims her condition is rooted in seasonality and the weather that comes with the seasons. And she and the doctor’s wife have become good friends.Do not mistake me, after the holidays her mienisquite distraught. There is only so much of my father she can handle for any length of time, and the weather this year has been especially troublesome.”
Cecilia nodded. “I sometimes wonder if we’d had spring sun and spring warmth on more days, I would have improved faster. The rain and cold has been hard on everyone.”
“How might I help with your investigation? I had intended to do some investigation on my own, anyway. I don’t wish to be acting in cross purposes to what you do,” Mr. Stackpoole said earnestly while grabbing the leather strap and swaying with the carriage as it crossed a particularly bad patch of road.
