“Theodora,” his deep voice intoned, carrying with it a healthy portion of obvious disappointment.
“Father,” she replied in as even a tone as she could muster, willing herself to remain calm. Perhaps sheshouldhave asked for that laudanum.
“Are you quite all right?” he asked first. Ever the gentleman.
“Yes,” she replied simply. “They have taken excellent care of me here.” That much was true.
Her father stepped closer to her bed. He braced his fists on his hips and regarded her down the length of his nose. His voice was clipped. “I’m pleased to hear that.” His lips were drawn tight. He was clearly through with niceties. “I spent the entire ride here trying to think of a reason why I would have received a letter from our neighbor, Lord Clayton, informing me that you had broken your leg at his propertyin the middle of the night. I can only assume this has something to do with that blasted horse. What in the name of God, do you think you’re doing?” His nostrils flared as he scowled at her.
Thea winced and swallowed hard. “I didn’t precisely intend to break my leg,” she began.
“Don’t give me any of your sass. Why were you here in the first place?” Father’s face turned to a mask of stone.
She swallowed hard again and plucked distractedly at the bed covers as she answered. “You’re right. It did have to do with the horse.”
Father pinched the bridge of his nose between his eyes. “Please tell me it’s not true that you were trying to steal the animal.”
Thea frowned. “Did Lord Clayton tell you that?”
“He told me nothing,” Father shot back. “I’ve yet to have a chance to speak to the man much. Instead, I was summoned from bed at an ungodly hour to news that there was an urgent message from the viscount and a footman from his estate was awaiting my immediate reply.”
“What did his message say?” Thea asked, somewhat mollified to learn that Lord Clayton hadn’t told her father that she’d tried to steal his horse. Although his answer meant that Father had justassumedshe’d been trying to steal the horse. Not much better, really.
Father’s voice was clipped. “It said you’d broken a leg on his property and the doctor has recommended that you not be moved.”
Thea expelled a sigh of relief. So, Lord Clayton hadn’t told Father she’d been dressed as a lad or that she’d been caught sneaking into his stables. Good. The less he knew the better.
“I broke my leg in an unfortunate accident while trying to visit Alabaster,” Thea allowed. There, that was true in addition to being less embarrassing for her.
“I understand that,” Father clipped. “But why in heaven’s name were you sneaking aboutin the middle of the night? Why didn’t you visit during the day, with a chaperone? Or better yet, why did you come at all? Lord Clayton won the auction fairly and you know it.”
Thea lowered her head. Her father had the ability to make her feel like a recalcitrant child no matter her age. The worst part was, he wasn’t entirely wrong. She’d acted like a selfish, spoiled little monster. And she had a broken leg to show for it.
“I’m sorry, Father.” She continued to trace a finger around the little embroidered blue flowers on the bedspread so she wouldn’t have to see her father’s disapproval.
“AndI’msorry we didn’t win the auction, Theodora, but that’s hardly a reason for you to behave in this manner.”
There was only one way to handle this. Be as contrite and apologetic as possible and convince him to take her home immediately. Arguing with her father would only extend her stay in this bed, in this house. “I know,” she began. “And I agree with you. My behavior has been abominable. I’ve apologized to you and I shall apologize again to Lord Clayton. I’m quite sorry for my behavior and I promise never to sneak over here again. Now please take me home.” She finished her little apology speech with a resolute nod. There. That was what the man wanted to hear, wasn’t it? She’d made her atonements. She lifted her chin and met her father’s gaze.
To her surprise, Father’s eyebrows shot up. “Take you home?” His voice was filled with disbelief.
Thea narrowed her eyes. A sinking feeling began to spread in her middle. “Yes, we’re going home now, aren’t we?”
“Absolutely not. I spoke with Dr. Blanchard downstairs in the drawing room while I was waiting. He’s come to check on you this morning and shall be up here after we finish speaking. He was quite clear about you not being moved until your leg heals.”
Panic began to claw at Thea’s insides. Panic mixed with nausea. “I know he said that, but surely we can be careful on the ride home.”
Her father shook his head. “The ride home is long and bumpy. According to the doctor, we could do irreparable harm to your leg. He said you would be likely to walk with a limp if it doesn’t heal correctly.”
Thea gulped. A limp? That didn’t sound particularly pleasant. But she was willing to take the risk if it meant escaping Viscount Clayton’s house. “Well, I cannot possibly stay here. I’m not welcome.” There. That was irrefutable logic.
“On the contrary, I’ve only spoken to Viscount Clayton briefly and intend to speak to him at greater length before I leave, but on the walk up here he mentioned that he’s entirely amenable to your remaining here while you convalesce. He realizes how serious the situation is. It’s quite good of him. You should be thankful.”
“Amenable? Thankful?” she repeated. The panic rose in her throat making her voice high and thin. “The viscount was just being gentlemanly, Father. He doesn’t want me here anymore than I want to be here.” She could not believe her father was actually contemplating leaving her here. She pressed a hand against her belly. She might just cast up her accounts.
Her father shrugged. “I doubt Clayton relishes the situation, but it’s extremely good of him to offer his home and his servants for your care. You’re being ungrateful, Theodora.”
Thea clamped her mouth shut. This couldn’t possibly be happening. Was she trapped in a nightmare? Had the laudanum made her delirious? Father had to see reason. “You cannot possibly believe I can stay here for any length of time without the possibility of a scandal. If word gets out that I’m here, the entire countryside will conjecture as to how I got here. And it will take no time at all for word to spread all the way to thetonin London.”
