“I’ll keep your confidence, Miss Burghley, if you’ll seek medical attention.”
“I’m fine.” Frederica rose, as if to prove him wrong, but wobbled like a lame pony.
The viscount folded his arms. “See how much worse it has become with the thirty-minute ride over here? I shouldn’t have listened to you.”
“It’s my powers of persuasion, my lord.” Frederica flopped into the side chair. “I’m good at persuasion. I just need to rest. Please don’t tell the duke. I don’t want him to be concerned. And don’t tell your brother. Theodosia can’t be upset.”
Tucking his hands into his coat, he nodded. “As you wish. However, if you do not send me a note in a few days telling me you’re dancing on the moon again, I’ll consult your father.” He nodded his head. “Mrs. Bex, Mrs. Croome. Send a note, Miss Burghley.”
At the sound of the outer door closing, vibrating, Frederica sank fully into the chair, as if a pin had pricked and deflated her, letting all the hot air out.
“Dear, you look quite ill.” Mama moved to her and put a hand on her forehead. “You feel warm. Let me send for a doctor.”
“Please, Mrs. Croome—
Waggling her finger, Mama was already out of the parlor.
“Frederica, you’re in Croome territory, so sit back and take it. My mother rules here. The strong woman knows best.” Ester picked up the yarn again before putting the tangled strings on the table. “You’re such a good rider. What happened?”
“I think,” Frederica said, her voice sounding low. “Someone wants to kill me.”
“What?”
Her friend lifted her swollen ankle up onto the table. “Well, he didn’t exactly say those words, but something to the effect of if he couldn’t have me, no one would.”
“Did you hit your head, Frederica? That’s not funny.”
She rubbed at her brow. “Someone vicious is answering my newspaper advertisement. I received another threatening note saying he’s watching me. The note described the dress I wore to yesterday’s outing at the Burlingame Arcade. He had it perfectly, down to the gold pins in my hair.”
“Someone is having fun. Since my marriage to Bex is more public, I think any of us Blackamoors that straddle the classes are gaining more attention. You saw Gilroy’s awful cartoon of yesterday’s meeting in the cellar.” She held the picture up, resisting the urge to shred it. “I could laugh off Bex and I with a half-black, half-white baby, or even Wilberforce with a Blackamoor woman on his lap, but showing Papa on a table playing his cane as if it were a fiddle… That’s outrageous.”
“Horrible. How did Mr. Croome take it?”
“Papa hasn’t seen it, but Mama has, and she’s been very quiet. You being here will give her a distraction.”
Frederica put her head back. “I’m glad my life crisis can be of use. Has your husband seen that dribble?”
“No, but he will. We have no secrets.”
Leaning forward, her friend sat up, her mouth falling open. “None? Not even something for convenience?”
“None, Frederica.”
She flopped again into the chair. “What am I going to do? This note wasn’t in my box at Burlingame. It came to my father’s house this morning. The duke will find out.”
Ester stood and took hold of Frederica’s palm. “Whatever this is, we’ll face it. No one’s going to hurt you.”
Frederica shook her head, sending her tight ringlets jiggling. “The scandalmongers will ruin me. My father will disown me and make a new family with Miss Stevens.”
Giving Frederica a big hug, Ester picked straw from her golden curls. “You’re overreacting. This is some horrible joke. It’ll pass. Stay here for the next few days. All will calm down.”
Mrs. Fitterwall and Mama returned.
“Come on, Miss Burghley.” They came on either side of her.
The housekeeper had Frederica lean more upon her. “Upstairs with you and soak that foot. The physician will be here soon.”
Ester arose to help, but Mama’s icy stare made her sit back down. “Miss Burghley will be down for dinner. You two can begin your scheming then. Jonesy says that the carriage has pulled up. You need to see if your husband will commit to living here. That’s your one task. Ruth and her son will be coming at the end of the month. My family will be whole. That’s my wish.”
