“Nothing, my lord. I’ve said all I am going to say. If you need to hear more, it must come from Jenna’s lips.”
“Get out,” he roared. “Get out of my house before I have you thrown out.”
Gray stood firm, returning the earl’s icy stare. “I am not leaving until I know Jenna is going to recover.”
“You dare to defy me?”
“I won’t leave her.”
The two men stared at each other across the space of a few feet, neither looking away. The countess stepped between them. “Now isn’t the time,” she said sharply. “Jenna is under the surgeon’s knife, and we stand here arguing like petulant children. If Mr. Grayson chooses to stay then we should accommodate him. We do owe him for helping Jenna.”
The earl spun around and strode back into the house. Sebastian and Quinn followed behind him. Lady Penbury sighed and turned to face Gray. “Don’t mistake my words for acceptance, Mr. Grayson. My first concern is for the safety of my daughter. Once that has been established you may be certain I will not stop my husband should he choose to beat you senseless.”
Gray nodded his acceptance. “I can well see where Jenna gets her temper.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t push your luck, Mr. Grayson. I’ve no need to hear how well acquainted you are with my daughter.” She turned to go back into the house. “Come, Mr. Douglas, you are welcome to stay until we hear of Jenna’s condition.”
He followed her into the house, and they were immediately met by Lord Penbury. “Go to my study, Catherine. You needn’t see the scene in the drawing room.” Though his voice was firm, his eyes softened when he spoke to his wife. “There are men here seeing to the body. I’ll join you just as soon as I’ve determined what the hell went on here.”
He gestured for Sebastian and Quinn to escort their mother away from the drawing room and into the study.
The countess stared pointedly at all of them as they filed into the earl’s office. “I expect everyone to act with decorum.”
Silence descended on the room. Gray turned his back on the others, choosing instead to stare out the window overlooking the garden. Anxiety ate at him. He didn’t care that he was in the same room with men who wanted to do him bodily harm. What concerned him most was the fact that a few rooms away Jenna was fighting for her life.
He closed his eyes against the tears that threatened to seep out of his eyes. She had to live. She was a ray of sunshine and not just in his life. Her family obviously doted on her. He would not be blamed for taking yet another woman from her loved ones.
He opened his eyes again, sucking in his breath to keep grief from overwhelming him. His shoulders shook slightly, and he cursed his inability to steel his emotions. It wouldn’t do to let her family know how affected he was. He wouldn’t give them the power to hurt him.
The earl returned after a while and whispered in hushed tones. The countess gasped, and Gray could hear the excited buzz of Sebastian’s and Quinn’s voices. But he refused to turn around.
The earl paced back and forth behind him, and Sebastian and Quinn murmured in low voices across the room. As he glanced over his shoulder, he saw Lady Penbury hold a drink in front of her husband, and he waved it off. Shrugging her shoulders, she downed it herself and set the glass on the sideboard.
An hour passed, each minute lasting an eternity. Gray leaned his head on the warm glass, closing his eyes against the reality that she could die.
He could feel their eyes boring into his back, hating him for what he’d done. By refusing to elope with her, he at least hadn’t given them reason to despise Jenna. These people obviously loved her and were a close-knit family. He couldn’t take that from her, no matter how much they desired to be together.
The door to the study opened and Gray jerked around. The others turned their attention to the physician as well. “I’ve removed the ball with minimal blood loss. She should be fine provided she doesn’t succumb to fever.”
Heavy sighs of relief filtered through the room.
“She is resting comfortably. She regained consciousness briefly, but I gave her a dose of laudanum.”
“Can we see her?” the countess asked.
“Of course. Just don’t overly tax her. She needs rest and absolutely no activity for the next several days.”
The earl’s voice sounded close to Gray. “You’ve heard of her condition, now get out.”
Gray stared at Jenna’s father for a long moment. “I am not leaving here until I see for myself that she is well.”
“You are in no position to refuse.”
Sebastian and Quinn stood menacingly by their father, looking all too eager to assist in throwing him out. Again the countess stepped in. “Enough, all of you!” Irritation marked her voice, and she glared at all of them. “Get you in there and see her, Mr. Douglas. Then kindly take your leave so that I may see to my daughter. I won’t have all of you fighting over her bedside like a pack of wolves.”
“You can’t mean to let him in her bedchamber,” Sebastian said in horror.
“Judging by his comments, I’d say the two of them have seen quite a bit of a bedroom,” she said dryly. “He won’t be staying long, will you, Mr. Douglas?”
