“The next day, Lady Bentick returned with Lady Liverpool, likely to learn of Miss Groves’ fate. She knew Lady Liverpool would be unable to resist learning of yours and the duchess’s charitable endeavor. With the prime minister’s wife in tow, it lent legitimacy to Lady Bentick’s visit.”
Gabby cried softly. “What an evil, evil woman.”
The door flew back, and the Ryleigh clan of sisters filed in: Antonia, Claire, Rose, followed by the duchess of Ryleigh. The duke closed the ranks. “I tried to stop them. As you can see, I failed miserably,” he said with a hint of apology in his voice.
James, as an only child, was momentarily bereft of words, seeing the entirety of the Ryleigh clan congregated in such a confined space.
Antonia dashed forward. “Gabriella, we’ve been in the drawing room awaiting word.”
James had only met her once—at his and Gabriella’s wedding. She was increasing, and rapidly, it appeared.
Rose, Lady Stanford, was clad in full-mourning black. Her features were strained with tension, and how could they not be with the events of the past week?
Lady Beaumont, Claire, stepped forward. “Forgive us, Huntley. We stayed away as long as we dared. We only wished to reassure ourselves our youngest sister was still among the living.” She sounded the voice of reason but for the slightest catch.
“As you can see,” Gabriella said softly, “I shall live.”
James was tempted to toss the lot of them out on their ear, but he understood the hell they were experiencing. How could he not? He arranged the coverlets around his wife and moved to stand next to Ryleigh beside the hearth as the party went about arranging chairs and seating around the bed. Lady Macbeth monitored the activity with sharp eyes. If anyone ventured too close, she let out a low growl.
“Is it appropriate for that… that mongrel to be on the sick bed?” Antonia said.
“Lady Macbeth has been instrumental in aiding my wife’s recovery,” James said mildly. “Besides, she is only slightly murderous and not deranged in the least.”
Gabriella’s giggle, silly and… alive, warmed him.
Antonia opened her mouth—clearly, not only to refute him, but to exert whatever hierarchy power she thought she wielded over Gabriella.
The surprise counter came from Rose. The person Gabriella seemed to bear the most contention. “That’s enough, Antonia. Can’t you see your sister is in pain? For the sake of heaven, she was shot.”
Gabriella’s eyes widened, seemingly surprised by Rose’s sudden defense of her.
The duchess moved to the other side of the bed and took Gabriella’s hand. Lady Macbeth gave her approval with a quick lick of her fingers. “Goodness, Gabs. You know you are no match for violence. You must leave that sort of thing to me,” she said with a confident matter-of-factness that drew a groan from Ryleigh. She spoke lightly, but her trembling fingers revealed the depths of her fear.
“My living nightmare,” the duke murmured.
Gabriella’s hand squeezed the duchess’s fingers. “I shall keep that in mind, dear.” She gave a slight smile. She was tiring quickly. “Why are you all here? There must be some reason.”
“There is news regarding Lady Bentick.”
“Yes, Huntly informed me she is to be publicly hung.”
“I’m afraid it’s more grim than that,” Ryleigh said.
James’s head whipped to the duke. Dread swirled through him. “She didn’t escape?”
Ryleigh’s lips tipped but his eyes were a brutal cold. “No. She was found dead in her boudoir this morning. By her own hand, I believe.”
“What of the baron?” James asked.
“Sleeping off his latest bender. Apparently, Lady Bentick’s maid found her mistress and screamed down the house. As I understand it, Bentick himself slept through the entire ordeal.”
“Well.” James rubbed a palm over his scruffed chin. “Can’t say I’m broken up about it.” He looked at Gabriella and the duchess, their connected hands. “It appears Hope House is back on safe grounds. And with the Lady Liverpool’s endorsement, it should be a great success.”
Tears glistened in Gabriella’s eyes. “Yes. Yes, it should.”
~~~
“At the risk of offending any of you, I insist you leave. My wife needs her rest.” Huntley moved to the door and opened it.
