Marcus took the tray from the maid and laid it across Tessa’s knees, saying.“The doctor who examined you advised me that once you woke, you ought to eat something light and nourishing.It will help you get your strength back.If you don’t want this, I’ll send for some soup.”
She shook her head.She really wasn’t hungry.In fact, thinking about what Edgar had done to her—twice—made her feel quite sick.
He ignored her.“The doctor also said food would help to clear the drug from your system.Now eat.”He shook out a napkin, poured some tea from the pot, and added a little milk and a lump of sugar.Then he lifted a small, knitted cozy to reveal a boiled egg sitting in a little silver egg-cup, and a plate of toast soldiers.
She looked at it.The toast was still warm and smelled enticing.
He beheaded the egg.“Do you want me to feed you?”he said, reaching toward the toast.
She gave him a startled look.“No!”His rather hard gray eyes gleamed, and she realized he was teasing her.But in case he wasn’t, she picked up a finger of toast, dipped it into the yolk and ate it.It was delicious.
And suddenly she realized she was hungry, after all.It had been years since she’d eaten an egg this way.It reminded her of cozy nursery suppers with NannyJune.And though she was hardly a child any more, she felt oddly pampered, cared for.
She was ridiculously aware of Marcus, now sitting on the end of her bed, watching her.No, it was Lord Alverleigh sitting there, and she had best remember that.
“Tell me what happened,” she said while she ate.
His explanation was brief and crisp; he’d set men to watch the house, he’d been notified when the minister arrived, and when he arrived, he realized she’d been drugged.
Tessa frowned.She had no clear memory of any of it.Only hazy impressions.
“So I stopped the wedding and brought you here, and summoned the doctor,” he finished.
Now there were even more questions clamoring in her head.Why had he set men to watch the house?How had he stopped the wedding?And what about Edgar?He’d be furious, she was sure, and she couldn’t imagine him tamely allowing Marcus to stop the wedding, let alone removing her from the house.
“I don’t understand—” she began, then broke off, as a memory floated to the surface of her mind.Edgar, calling her a fool, and forcing a small bottle of something nasty tasting down her throat as she struggled against him.
He hadn’t been calling her a fool, she realized.It was because she hadn’t eaten enough of the strawberry fool for the drug to work.
The realization sent the nausea swirling again.Her own brother ...
She pushed the remnants of egg away.
“Finished?Good,” Marcus said.He rose.“I’ll leave you now.Any further questions can wait until after you’ve rested some more.The doctor was very firm that you should rest.”
Tessa had no desire to rest, but a sudden thought occurred to her.“Where are my clothes?”
He gave her a blank look, then quirked an eyebrow at the maid.
“I have only the dress you were wearing when you arrived here, m’lady,” Sutton said.
The dress Edgar had no doubt put her into for the wedding?Tessa had no memory of what she’d been wearing but whatever it was, she didn’t want to wear it.“No, I don’t want it.Throw it away.I don’t even want to see it.”
“But m’lady ...”The girl looked at Lord Alverleigh.
“I’ll have your belongings brought here,” he said.
Tessa gave him a doubtful look.“I did pack a valise—I was intending to leave anyway—but I’m sure Edgar will refuse to give it to you.He must be very angry.”
“Leave your brother to me.Drink your tea and rest.You will wish to be properly attired when you meet my aunt—perhaps this evening, if you’re feeling well enough to come downstairs.In the meantime, let Sutton know if you need anything else.”He strode from the room.
#
MARCUS TOOK TWO MAIDSand a footman with him to Tessa’s former home.He anticipated no difficulty in collecting her things—by now Edgar Blaxland would be well on his way to America—Jackson and Sims and a note from the ship’s captain had confirmed it.It was too good for the swine, and Marcus half wished he’d left him to the Greelings, or better still, instructed the captain to toss him overboard but Tessa, despite her hurt and anger, still had some loyalty for the man, and he doubted she’d ever truly forgive Marcus if he punished her brother as he truly deserved.
Arriving at Tessa’s former home, he found the landlord, cursing his tenants’ abrupt departure owing several months’ rent.
“I know nothing of that,” Marcus lied.“I am here to collect some personal belongings and to inquire as to whether any note or letter has been left behind?”Surely Blaxland would have left a note for his sister.
