Aunt Ruth stilled, stoically folding her arms. “You’ve succumbed to hysteria. It is no surprise. Mr. Crest, kindly fetch a doctor. My niece may need something to calm her nerves in these trying times.”
“Yes, madam.” He pivoted to go.
“You will do no such thing!” Amelia cried. But he only glanced back at her. He would take their instruction over hers? He was almost out the door. This was the last straw; she would never let these people near her or Sam again. She turned back to her aunt and cousin, livid. “Get out.”
Nelson grabbed her shoulders. “Amelia, please let us help you. I have always sworn I’d take care of you, and my feelings have not changed.”
“Sam is upstairs!” she cried, pushing out of his grasp. She put a chair between them.
Nelson and Aunt Ruth stared at her. Mr. Crest paused at the threshold.
“If that is true, summon him,” Nelson said.
“I won’t,” Amelia said. “He returned late last night and needs to rest.”
“Amelia,” her aunt pleaded falsely, once more trying to approach her. “He isn’t there. No matter how much we all wish he were safe at home, Nelson and Mr. Crest have confirmed his death themselves. Please, let me comfort you.”
“I’ll summon him myself if I must.” Nelson turned and tugged on the bell pull.
“He won’t come down here,” Amelia argued. “He can’t. He was injured on his journey. He must remain in bed.”
Her Aunt Ruth only frowned at her with pity. Nelson folded his arms and waited.
Even if they saw Sam alive, he didn’t look well—he wasn’t well, not yet. They’d interfere and ruin all semblance of peace here. She was sure they would badger him until they made him worse.
“You’d better hope he never hears what you tried to do this morning.” She looked past them to Mr. Crest. “And you will be fired shortly.”
“Show us,” Aunt Ruth said.
“I will not. He has a right to his privacy.”
“Then I don’t believe you,” her Aunt Ruth said. “Your behavior has been troubling for weeks now. This cannot go on. Send for the doctor, Mr. Crest. It is far more urgent than we thought.”
He hesitated, scrunching his hat in his hands.
“Don’t you dare, Crest.” Amelia ordered. What was she to do? She couldn’t bring her brother down here. Not in his state. Maybe if she could simply convince them of his injury? “He took a fall from a horse. He has a bruised rib.”
“I was not informed of this,” Mr. Crest said.
“Why would you hide that information unless it weren’t true?” Nelson said.
A maid had appeared in the doorway, watching them nervously.
“I feel it necessary that I confirm his condition, my lady,” Mr. Crest said. “As an impartial witness.” It seemed she wouldn’t be able to avoid them seeing Sam. She’d have to bring them to him.
“Inform Mr. Blakewood that my brother will have visitors shortly,” Amelia said to the waiting maid.
“Your fiancé is here at such an hour? This is scandalous behavior.” Aunt Ruth tried to corner her again.
“He visits Sam often. He always has. Once you see him, you will leave, and if you know what is good for you, you will never return. You will remain here until summoned. I won’t have you barging into his room without warning.” Amelia quit the room and began hurrying to Sam’s bedchamber herself. “Delay them,” she said to a footman as she passed. He nodded. She knew very well they wouldn’t wait to be summoned.
Amelia sprinted up the stairs to Sam’s room, out of breath by the time she arrived, just as Graham was exiting.
“What is going on?” he asked.
Amelia drew a deep breath. “I had to tell them he was here, and he is injured, but not how severely. They won’t leave without seeing him. They had Mr. Crest confirm the body of the dead man was my brother’s, so he needs to see Sam as well. Is he awake? Does he look well enough?”
Graham winced. “Well enough compared to what he used to look like, I suppose.”
