Why?Alaric felt something stir in the back of his mind. He could hear his father’s laughter. Pain seared across his head, and he groaned.
A warm hand pressed against his forehead. “Alaric?”
He opened his eyes and, for a moment, wondered why he was looking into a crystalline lake. “What happened?”
Alaric swallowed the bile rising in his throat, focusing on the sound of Catherine’s voice. “A memory or... I do not know.”
“I will fetch something for the pain.” He felt Catherine move from his side.
“I am fine.” The room came swimming back into focus. “Honestly.”
“You look like hell, Deverell.” Frederick’s voice sounded a long way away.
“Your opinion is not needed, Hale,” Alaric snapped.
“It is good to know that you are just as stubborn with Lord Hale as you are with me.” He could hear the mingled amusement and frustration in her voice.
“Stubborn as an ox,” Frederick added.
“I can hear you both.” He glared at them.
“Good.” Catherine’s hand was resting on Alaric’s shoulders, the warmth of her fingers spreading through him. “Lord Hale, will you stay with him while I get something from Cook?”
“Of course.” Frederick stood up and bowed solemnly.
Alaric resisted an urge to throw a pillow at him. “I do not need anything.”
Catherine squeezed his shoulder but continued speaking as though he had not said anything. “I will go check on how Mrs. Langley is getting on. And I may have some peppermint tea prepared for you as well, that should settle your stomach. I know that with these headaches you are often nauseous. And that you will not take anything to help with the pain.”
“I need my wits about me.” Alaric met Catherine’s gaze. “And you do not have to go to the kitchens yourself.Mrs. Langley is perfectly capable, I am sure.”
“I am sure she is, but I am not sure what is in her tonic and I suspect if I task the maids with bringing you peppermint tea as well, you will send them away.” Catherine arched an eyebrow at him.
He heard her mutter several distinctly unladylike things under her breath as she swept from the room. His eyes followed her as she left.
“I like her,” Frederick proclaimed, downing the last of his whiskey. “She has considerably more spark than I gave her credit for. She is quite something.”
“She is.” Alaric turned to face Frederick; he could still feel her fingertips against the scar on his forehead. “It will be an adjustment once she has left.”
“What do you mean?” Frederick’s head snapped toward him so quickly that Alaric heard it crack.
Alaric felt a vice grip around his chest. “Once all of this Oliver business is settled, she will go back to London. I will stay in Bath. We will lead separate lives once more.”
“Why?” Frederick’s frown deepened.
“It is what she wants.”
“Are you sure?” Frederick asked.
“She has made it abundantly clear. It is why she hired the governess. To prepare Oliver for her departure.” Alaric felt his voice catch and cleared his throat. “She has always said that once she knows his father is looking after him, she will leave.” Alaric ran his hands through his hair and glanced toward the door. “Before Catherine returns, tell me truly, Hale, how bad are the rumors?”
Frederick’s face fell. “Bad. Not quite ‘murdered you’ bad, but… they are not good.”
Alaric growled. “I will hunt them down and remind them what comes from spreading such slander about my family.”
“Which will only make it worse.” Frederick pointed out. “They will likely say she has driven you mad or some nonsense.”
“The more I learn of the fickleness of theton, the more I understand why I kept myself apart from that nest of vipers.” Alaric gritted his teeth. “This needs subtlety.”
