Page 40 of A Momentary Marriage

“Of course.” Laura opened the door wider, stepping back. “Come in. But I fear he isn’t awake.”

Demosthenes took the opportunity to go to the bed and give James a nudge with his nose. James muttered something that might have been, “Good Dem,” and rolled over on his side. Apparently satisfied, the dog padded back to Laura.

Walter didn’t enter the room, just hung in the doorway, staring across at his brother. “Why is he here? I don’t understand.”

“I spilled water on the bed last night.” Laura told him the story she had concocted, hoping that by the light of day it still sounded reasonable. Between him and Owen, who had come up behind Walter, the word would be all over the house in minutes. “I think we may remain for a while. It’s easier for me to care for him here.”

Walter didn’t question her words, merely nodded. “Is he . . . any better?”

“He’s holding his own.” In Laura’s opinion, it was better that the others in the house knew as little as possible about James’s condition or her efforts.

As long as the would-be murderer thought James was at death’s door, surely he wouldn’t try to do him further harm. It was difficult to picture Walter, the youngest and mildest of the de Veres, plotting to kill James, but she wasn’t about to let down her guard.

Owen slipped past the other man to set the tray on the dresser. “I brought you a bite of breakfast, ma’am. I’ll take Demosthenes out now, if you like.”

“Thank you, Owen.”

Walter finally moved into the room, though he stopped at the foot of the bed. Laura followed Owen and the dog into the hall. Keeping an eye on Walter, she said in a quiet voice, “Owen, I need you to stay with James for a while when you return with Dem. James asked me to talk to his aunt.” She was becoming frighteningly adept at lying.

“Yes, ma’am. Shall I have the carriage brought round?”

Laura nodded and went back into the room. Walter still stood at the foot of the bed, watching James. He turned toward her and summoned a smile. “I mustn’t keep you from your breakfast. I only wanted to see how he was doing this morning.”

After Walter left, Laura closed the door and crossed to James’s bed. James opened his eyes. “Laura.” His gaze went beyond her to the tester above him and he frowned, twisting his head to glance around. “Where—oh.” He relaxed. “This is your room.” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “We—we moved in here in the middle of the night.”

“Yes, we did. So you remember.”

He nodded. “You were—did you say someone wanted to kill me? Was that a dream?”

“No. It wasn’t a dream.”

“But how . . . why . . .” He frowned, raising a hand to rub his forehead.

“Mercury. They placed some under your bed. And it was in your tonic. You were breathing it in with every treatment.”

“I can’t . . . I can’t think. Damn!” He pushed himself up. “I’m so bloody useless, Laura.” He took her arm. “You must be careful.”

“Don’t worry. I haven’t let on that I discovered the mercury; I said you moved in here because I spilled water on your bed. We’re safely away from the poison, and Demosthenes will stand guard at the door.” She took his hand between both of hers. “All you have to do is get better.”

“I’m not sure I can.”

“You can. You must.” She leaned in closer, staring into his eyes. “James, I need you. You have to get better and help me figure this out. I’m all alone here, and you can’t leave me.” One thing she had learned about James in the past few days was his overriding sense of responsibility.

He gazed at her for a long moment. “I won’t.”

“Good. Now take this medicine.” She mixed a measure of milk thistle with a tiny amount of water.

“What is it?”

“Bitter.”

“Of course.” There was a glimmer of his old self in his eyes.

“It’s milk thistle. My father used it with success.” Her father had always said that medicine worked better with belief.

He swallowed it without protest. It was harder work getting him to drink any of the cup of broth Owen had brought for him, but she managed that as well. Laura couldn’t bring herself to eat anything. Her stomach was too tied up in knots. Going into her dressing room, she changed clothes, then sat down before the mirror to put her hair into some rudimentary order.

By the time she was ready, Owen was waiting on a bench in the hall, Demosthenes in his usual place. The dog made his routine check on James before returning to his spot at the door. Laura leaned over James, checking a last time for fever.