“What are you doing?” Oliver said when he found his voice. “Where’s Kate?”
Rather than turn around, she spoke to Oliver’s reflection in the mirror, her ice-blue eyes fixing on his face. “What do you think?” She ran her hands down the sides of her hips. “Does it suit me?”
“It’s far too small,” Oliver said. His words were blunt, partly because he didn’t like seeing her in Kate’s clothing and partly because of the disappointment he felt upon seeing Emilia instead of his wife. “Where is Kate, and why are you wearing her clothes and jewelry?”
“She fell asleep in my bedroom as soon as tea was over,” Emilia chuckled. “Poor thing, she’s simply exhausted. She told me to help myself to anything in her wardrobe. My dresses won’t be ready until next week.” She turned to look at him and widened her blue eyes as if to plead her innocence. “You don’t think I’d use Kate’s things without her blessing, do you?”
“No, of course not.” Oliver felt somewhat foolish. Emilia and Kate had been dear friends—almost sisters—long before he’d married Kate, so there was no need for him to overreact. And he imagined it was common for sisters to share clothing. Still, he couldn’t rid himself of the feeling that something wasn’t quite right as far as Emilia was concerned.
“Good,” Emilia said, putting her hands on her hips and striding toward Oliver, “Now tell me, how do I look in this dress? Will it suffice for our dinner party tonight?”
Oliver frowned and took a step back. “What do you mean tonight? We’re not having a dinner party tonight.”
“Yes, we are. Remember the dinner party Kate arranged in my honor? She was so sorry about how she behaved yesterday that she insisted we have the party tonight. However, she wastoo fatigued to make the arrangements, so I had to take over. It’s unfortunate, but I don’t think she’ll be able to attend. She’s far too exhausted. Carrying a babe uses all of a woman’s energy.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Miss Harrington, but I’m not throwing a dinner party if my wife is unable to attend.”
“But the invitations have already been sent out.”
“Then I will send my messenger to deliver cancellation and apology notices to all invitees.”
“If you prefer a quiet night at home,” Emilia said, inching closer, “then we can have one together—just the two of us.”
“What?” Oliver took a step back.
“Oh, Oliver, you don’t need to put on a brave stance with me. I know how difficult it must be for you—a newly married man—forced to sleep separate from his wife because she’s carrying another man’s child. But you needn’t spend any nights alone while Kate is with child because I am always here for you.”
“That’s enough, Miss Harrington!” Oliver said. “I’d like you to take off Kate’s clothing and jewelry. I think it’s time I arranged alternative accommodations for you.”
Emilia snorted. “You jest! I’m offering you a gift that no man would turn down. Kate never need know anything about it.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but your offer holds no interest for me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find my wife.”
Emilia’s face hardened, and her eyes turned glacial. “Go ahead. She’s in my chamber, dead to the world.”
The hair on the nape of Oliver’s neck stood on end. Emilia was dangerous. Why hadn’t he seen it before? He turned and strode out of the bedchamber. He needed to find Kate immediately.
Chapter Twelve
Oliver raced downthe hallway to the guest chamber where Emilia was staying. True to Emilia’s word, Kate lay fast asleep on her bed. He breathed a sigh of relief as he walked over to her and stroked her hair lovingly. A smile formed on her lips in response to his touch, though she did not wake. Oliver bent to kiss her forehead and then turned to leave. But paused when the tea tray caught his eye. Remnants of half-eaten teacakes and two teacups with shallow pools of cold tea left behind sat on the table. But the tea in one of the teacups had an unusual dark reddish hue. He picked up the cup, tilting it forward to reveal powdered sediments at the bottom. Smelling the contents, he recoiled.
The strong smell of laudanum mixed with lavender filled his nostrils. Gingerly, he tasted the tea. As soon as the cold liquid touched his tongue, he winced at its bitterness. The tea had been tainted with a large amount of laudanum powder and masked with sugar and lavender. How could Kate not have noticed?
He turned to his sleeping wife. He had to get her out of Emilia’s room and send for the doctor immediately. Oliver rang the servant’s bell and paced the room until Elspeth appeared.
“My lord!” she said, startled to see him in Emilia’s room.
“I need you to send for the doctor at once,” he said, gently lifting Kate in his arms. “Direct him to Lady Knox’s bedchamber when he arrives.”
Elspeth gasped. “Is my lady ill, my lord?”
“Just do as I ask, Elspeth. Hurry.”
Elspeth reached for the tea tray.
“Leave it!” Oliver said.
Elspeth nodded and hurried down the corridor, and Oliver carried Kate back to their bedchamber, setting her down on the bed just as Emilia came out of the dressing room, after having changed back into her own dress.
