“Or it might be . . .”
Reese closed her eyes. “There’s sometimes a blood incompatibility between the father and mother’s blood types.”
“Blood incompatibility?” He shot her a sidelong glance, his brows furrowed. “Bloodtypes? I have never heard of these before.”
“You wouldn’t have yet.” Reese rubbed her face. “When a couple’s first child does fine but every baby born afterward sickens with severe jaundice and dies, that’s probably the cause.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes.
“Is there nothing to be done for the child?” he finally asked, and she wondered if he was thinking of his own son who had died a few hours after his mother.
“Nothing more than I’m already doing. We should know by tomorrow,” she said.
***
The day had been a bust. Not once had Jem been able to get close to Reese. He’d been so sure if she saw the lengths he’d taken to see her, help her, that she’d soften toward him. But no. Once again that Earl had wormed his way in. Could it get any worse?
Jem had stared in disbelief at the sight of the Earl holding that baby while Reese had examined it. And she had been holding his hand when they’d left the cottage. Jem had to get over there to see her. A night rendezvous was in order.
Chapter 19
REESE TRIED TO NAP AFTER her return, but even the hot water of her bath did nothing to relax her muscles. She kept telling herself that the little boy was long dead in her time. But the only thing she remembered was the feel of the child’s soft skin under her fingers, and the confidence in his mother’s eyes.
With a somber mood, Reese joined the others for dinner. Ellen glanced at her in concern but didn’t say anything in front of the others. From the conversation of the Earl’s guests, he must have taken them and Ellen for a drive that afternoon.
Reese didn’t really care and gave simple answers to any questions they directed at her. Eventually they ignored her. She spent the meal racking her brain for something more she might do for the baby. If there was anything else, it eluded her. Where was the internet when she needed it?
When the ladies withdrew, the Earl walked her to the drawing room.
“You must not wear yourself out over that baby,” he whispered.
“Is that the attitude that lets you sleep at night?” she snapped and immediately regretted it. The Earl had been a good sport and, from the comments made by the servants, had done some digging alongside them. She wondered if he realized how much he had gone up in their esteem. “I’m sorry. You were very good today and didn’t deserve that.”
“Miss Clarisse,” he said, his voice soft, almost tender, “I mayhavedone good today, but you have shown me rather forcefully that I have much to atone for in regards to my tenants. It is not right that you should make yourself ill in your efforts to mend my negligence.”
Reese met his gaze, confused by the intensity of his concern. “I’m a strong woman, my lord, both physically and emotionally. One troubled night won’t . . .” She searched her memory for the antiquated phrase. “. . . cause me to go into a decline.”
“Yes, I think you would defy even that feminine state.” He brushed her cheek with his knuckles. At her surprised expression, he dropped his hand. “I did not mean to overstep my bounds.” He bowed and strode back to the dining room.
Bemused, Reese entered the drawing room. What was the Earl about, to touch her like that? Ellen had mentioned that he was promiscuous, what they called in this time as being in thepetticoat line. Did he think she might fall for his flirtation and jump into his bed?
Fat chance. She resented that the Earl’s tender touch had made her think of Jem. Two men messing with her head, one a skirt-chaser and the other . . . WhatwasJem? She gave herself a mental shake. It didn’t matter what he was. She would never make the mistake her mother had.
Reese entered the drawing room. The Earl’s female guests exchanged glances that came close to eye rolls, so she went to a chair near the French doors that led out to the gardens. She wished she could go out there and work off some of her frustration. The men had taken to using the fencing room, so she hadn’t dared go there, even in the early morning hours.
She picked up a book, but she wasn’t in the mood for reading. She checked the clock. Maybe, when the gentlemen joined them, she would excuse herself on the pretense of going to bed. She glanced outside. It was dark enough that if she chose to use the farthest section of lawn, near the trees, no one from the house should be able to see her.
It brought to mind the night she and Jem had worked out together. She clenched her jaw, as though sheer will could force him from her thoughts. She had been doing so well too. Why was he on her mind so much tonight?
The men finally joined them. The ladies made some suggestions for the evening’s activities, and Ellen came over to Reese.
“Are you well?” she asked.
“Just worried about one of the tenants,” Reese said.
“I miss your company,” Ellen said. “I fear I have said a few shocking things to our guests.”
“You go, girl.” Reese grinned, her spirits lifting for the first time. “Are they finding you not the doormat you used to be?”
