“I am here, I am here.” Her hand went to his forehead, just as he collapsed back to the floor, his consciousness failing him. “You are safe, Hampshire.”
“Frederica?” he croaked, using the last of his strength to speak her name.
“She is resting at home,” Nora promised, her hand finding his and pressing it tightly. “It is all at an end now, my love. She is safe. You are safe. All this dreadful darkness has now finally been brought to an end.”
It wasthe rocking of the carriage that finally brought David back to consciousness. Blinking slowly, he tried to sit up straight, only for his head to ache so terribly, he dropped it back to the side of the carriage, where it had been resting.
“You are returned to us, I see.” Lord Broadford leaned towards him, his eyes filled with concern. “How glad I am to see you so.”
“If you had been a few minutes later, then I dread to think what might have happened,” David answered, only to hear a swift catch of breath coming from his other side. Slowly, he realized that Nora was sitting beside him, her hand in his. “But I will not think on that. I will only be grateful for your arrival.”
“You are safe now, Hampshire,” she whispered, just as she had said to him before he had lapsed into unconsciousness. “You are quite safe.”
“For that, I am grateful,” he answered, hoarsely, managing to lift his head again so he could look into her eyes. “Frederica?”
“As I have said, she is safe,” she promised, smiling at him despite the tears in her eyes. “Her reputation untouched also, which is near enough a miracle given what happened to her.”
David nodded and then immediately regretted it, wincing visibly. “Where is Rathbone?”
Lord Broadford scowled. “He ran from the house. I had secured him as best I could, but he managed to escape when we were tending to you.”
Worry bit at David’s heart, but he did not have the strength or energy to focus on Rathbone’s absence at present.
“Let us hope that he will no longer try to injure Frederica.” Nora looked towards him, then smiled.
“As much as I will regret it, I shall now have to return to where I left my maid,” Nora reminded Lord Broadford, who nodded his understanding, leaving David with nothing but confusion. “They will all think that I have taken the most ridiculously long drive, but that cannot be helped.”
“I am sure you will be able to deflect any questions,” Lord Broadford said, with obvious relief in his smile. “We will be back at your carriage very soon.”
“I will have to step out as usual this evening, but mayhap you might call at our house come the morrow? Frederica remains at my home — she is resting in our guest chamber. I think it is time that we all spoke together.”
Nora looked at David, who was struggling to keep his eyes open.
“Would you be willing for us to permit us all to speak?”
David squeezed her hand. “But of course. I think it is necessary.”
“I will be there also, if I may?” Lord Broadford asked, as David closed his eyes, weariness began to push down at his eyelids, regret tying itself within him that he had not managed tocapture Rathbone as he had hoped. “I should like to understand all that has taken place.”
David rubbed at his eyes, wincing at the pain that tore into his vision as he did so. “Yes, tomorrow,” he managed to say, through lips that felt bruised and heavy. “So long as Frederica is safe, that is all that matters.”
18
Nora paused at the door of the morning room and smoothed her skirts before going in.
“Miss Longleat is asking for me, Mama,” she said, glancing back into the hall. “Lord Hampshire has sent word that he and Lord Broadford will call this afternoon to speak with her, and she has asked particularly that I be present. I should not like her to face it alone.”
“Of course, my dear,” Lady Somerset replied, with a softness that suggested she had understood more of the situation than she had said aloud. “Tell the housekeeper to send up tea when the gentlemen arrive.”
Nora nodded her thanks and hurried to the morning room, where Frederica was already waiting. The colour had begun to return to her cheeks, but there was still a thinness about her face that spoke of broken sleep.
“Nora.” In an instant, Frederica rose to her feet, hurried across the room and embraced her tightly, surprising her with the strength of her welcome. “Oh, how glad I am that you are come down.”
“Frederica.” Stepping back, Nora caught the young lady’s hands. “Are you well?”
“I am,” came the reply, with Nora glad to see the colour returning to the lady’s cheeks. “Your housekeeper was very kind to me. I slept more soundly than I had thought possible.”
“I am very glad to hear it.” Frederica gestured to the chairs by the window. “Please, sit with me. Lord Hampshire and Lord Broadford are expected within the hour.”
