Page 22 of A Countess of Convenience

Forcing herself to breathe normally, Judith fought to think clearly. “I suppose I thought I was in love with him. He was very dashing and wild.” She raised her gaze to him. “After my staid life here, I wanted a little wildness, John.” She shook her head. “Well, they say one should be careful what you wish for.”

“I always wondered…what would have happened had I—”

“Don’t, John.” The sadness in his voice cut her to the quick. “It was a long time ago. We have both…moved on.”

He gazed at her, and she waited, heart in her throat, for him to say the words she dreaded.

“Mrs. Harper! Mrs. Harper!” A footman was running across the manicured lawn, not minding the plants he trampled in his haste to reach her.

Judith rose, a new dread forming in her heart. “What? What is wrong?”

“It’s your father, ma’am.” The frightened man wrung his hands. “He’s collapsed in the library. You mother begs you to come straight away.”

Before the footman had finished speaking, Judith had picked up her skirts and streaked across the lawn, paying as little heed to the fragile, early blooms as the footman had.

Chapter 8

The moment the footman made his pronouncement, a shiver of dread had wracked John. Mr. Welbourne was not an old man, but he’d always been a volatile one. The situation with Judith and her illness, and Anna being detained by Lord Downing might be the cause here. Even as these thoughts shot through his head, he was running across the grass, a step behind Judith. Frail as he thought her, she had that inner core of steel that would allow her to rise to any occasion, no matter the distress she might be feeling.

They arrived at the house to find it abuzz with servants running to and fro. Judith set out immediately for the library. Though John wished he could spare her the heartache she might find there, he wouldn’t try to hold her back. Might as well try to hold back the ocean. Instead, he kept pace with her, only a step or two behind. Ready to champion her in any way necessary.

As she was about to enter the library, she slowed, as if she had a premonition of what she might find and did not wish to confront it. She turned to him, her mouth trembling, her hands fisted at her sides.

“Steady.” He gave her arm a squeeze. “You have the strength to face whatever awaits.”

Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply, relaxed her hands, opened her eyes, and strode into the room, John just behind her. Never had he been prouder of her.

The scene in the library made the usually quiet retreat appear to be a chamber in Bedlam. A housemaid stood, back against the wall, holding glasses of water and wine on a tray. Another one knelt at the hearth, stoking the already blazing fire. Inman stood behind his master, fanning him with a piece of paper. Mr. Welbourne lay in his leather library chair, head thrown back, the left side of his face strangely drawn and frozen. A wretched Mrs. Welbourne paced back and forth, her face covered in tears, and kept glancing toward the doorway. At Judith’s entrance, she burst into tears, ran to her daughter, and threw herself into her arms.

“Oh, Judith, it was so horrible. Your father had just opened the letter from Lord Downing—”

“He opened my letter?” Astonishment lit Judith’s grave face.

“No, my dear, he sent one to your father as well.” Her mother dabbed at her eyes and glanced at her husband. “Louis broke it open, began reading, and then his face turned a terrible shade of red. He gave a great cry and dropped into his chair.”

John had no idea how to help the man but went to Mr. Welbourne and knelt beside him. “You will be fine, Welbourne. This is likely a temporary fit and you will recover handily, like your daughter. Your family has great stamina.”

His neighbor gazed at him with frightened eyes then seized his hand and squeezed it. A good sign surely.

“Well done, sir. Can you speak at all?”

A soft gargling sound was the only thing to come from Welbourne’s lips. John patted his hand encouragingly, but inwardly estimated the situation grave in the extreme. He rose and looked to Mrs. Welbourne. “Have you sent for Farringdon?”

Judith had seated her mother near the fire, where she had begun crying once more. “Mamma? You sent for Miles, didn’t you?”

Her mother shook her head. “I didn’t know what to do.”

Inwardly, John cursed then turned to the nearest maid. The young woman stared at her master with eyes so wide they looked ready to pop out of her head. John pulled her to the doorway and took her tray. “Run to the stable. Send a groom immediately to the village to fetch the physician, Lord Farringdon. Tell him it is of the utmost urgency that he come straight away. Mr. Welbourne has had a fit of some sort and cannot speak. If Farringdon is out, the groom must discover where he has gone and follow him thither. No matter what, Lord Farringdon must come here immediately, do you hear?”

The terrified maid nodded then bolted from the room. John set the tray on the library table and made his way toward Judith, seated beside her mother. “I have sent for Farringdon. I pray he will be here within the hour. Is there anything else I may do for you?”

A heavy sigh escaped Judith as she looked at her father. “Would you please sit with Pappa until the doctor comes? I would wish to be by his side, but I must take care of Mamma. She is not at all strong, John.”

“Of course. I will be happy to sit with him and bring him what comfort I can.” John took her hand. “You have but to ask, and I will do whatever you require.”

She looked as though she would speak but cleared her throat and shook her head. After a few moments, she straightened her skirts, as if maintaining appearances would make the situation better. “If you can stay with him until Miles arrives, I will be forever in your debt, John.”

“I am your champion to command, my dear.” He bowed, wanting to do anything to take that worried expression off her face. He was rewarded by a brief smile that touched his heart. Brave woman. John moved back to his position beside Mr. Welbourne and bent over the older man. “Hang on, old chap. Doctor’s on his way. Fix you right as rain.”