Nausea rolled through her stomach when stabbing pain shot through her shoulder. Taking a steadying breath, she inched her way up on the pillow.
“Jenna, darling, you’re awake,” her mother exclaimed, rushing over to help her.
She tried to smile and failed miserably. A low moan escaped as another sharp pain ripped through her arm.
“Don’t try to move,” her mother fussed. “I’ll prop some pillows behind you if you want to sit up.”
“When did you return?”
Her mother stopped and smiled. “We had just returned when Mr. Douglas carried you from the drawing room. It wasn’t the homecoming we’d envisioned.”
“I’m sorry.” Her voice trembled and tears threatened to well up in her eyes.
“Hush. Your father and I are so grateful you are going to be all right. You can’t imagine the fright you gave us.” The countess’s eyes were suspiciously wet as she tucked the pillows around Jenna’s head.
“Oh Mamma,” she whispered. “I’ve made such a mess of things.”
Catherine sat down on the side of her bed and gently tucked Jenna’s hair behind her ear. “I would be willing to listen if you want to talk about it.”
“I don’t know where to start.”
“How about you start with a certain Mr. Douglas.”
###
Catherine descended the stairs just as Thomas admitted Stuart to the foyer. Indeed he was a far cry from the Stuart of the last four years. He looked up and saw her standing on the bottom step, and his expression became shuttered. She stepped down and crossed the foyer to stand in front of him. “I’m glad you’ve come, Stuart. We have a lot of questions, and apparently you are the only one qualified to answer them.”
“Is Jenna awake? I wished to speak with her,” he said, ignoring her statement.
“She is resting. Perhaps you could wait in the drawing room?”
She took his arm and led him toward the drawing room where the rest of the family was gathered. He paused at the entrance, a pained look coming over his face.
“How thoughtless of me,” she said in a stricken voice. “Would you prefer we convene in the study?”
“The drawing room is fine,” he said after a moment’s pause.
Her hand tightened on his arm as they walked in together. Everyone stood when Stuart entered the room, and the earl converged on him immediately.
“Stuart, you’ve a lot of explaining to do. We’ve been waiting for your arrival.”
“I know I owe you all an explanation and my sincerest apologies as well, but first I must speak to Jenna. My first obligation is to her.” His voice rang with such pain that Catherine’s heart constricted.
“That isn’t acceptable,” Quinn burst out, striding over to confront Stuart. “Damn it, Stuart, we trusted you. Suffered through your masquerade. I never imagined you would be involved in something that could have gotten Jenna killed.”
“Quinn, enough,” the earl said softly.
Quinn turned around and stalked to the window, refusing to look at any of them.
The earl turned back to Stuart. “I agree, you have a lot to make up to Jenna for, but I will be waiting for an explanation as soon as you have spoken with her.”
“Thank you, my lord. I know I have let you down.”
The earl put a hand on Stuart’s shoulder. “No, son, your father let us all down. If it weren’t for you and Mr. Douglas, my daughter wouldn’t be alive.” His voice cracked and he looked away.
Stuart struggled to maintain his expression, but he looked precariously close to tears. “I’d like to go up and see Jenna now. I promise not to upset her.”
The earl looked inquiringly at Catherine, and she nodded her approval. “I’ll see you to her room,” Catherine said taking his arm.
