Page 23 of A Countess of Convenience

Mr. Welbourne’s right hand shot out and gripped John’s arm, despite how poorly the man looked. John motioned for the chambermaid to bring a chair for him, and he settled down beside his longtime neighbor. “I want to ease your mind where your family is concerned, Louis.” John glanced at Judith and her mother then spoke lower. “No matter what happens, I promise I will take care of Judith and Caroline, and little Anna when we get her back. You have my word on that.”

“Th…ank y…y—” Welbourne struggled so much to bring the words out it was painful for John to watch.

“Think nothing of it, sir.” John patted the weathered hand. “I am glad to do it. I have always had a fondness for Judith.”

One side of Mr. Welbourne’s lips lifted fleetingly.

John chuckled. “I am certain that is no news to you. So you should rest assured I will do everything within my power…well, everything she will allow me to do to help her. We have agreed to proceed to London as soon as may be to consult with my solicitor.” He paused, not wishing to upset the man further. “You had a letter from Lord Downing, I take it.”

“D…dastard.” The vehemence with which Mr. Welbourne spat the word out gave John further hope for his recovery. Anyone with that level of forcefulness would not allow himself to succumb. “M…must c…call in P…P…Piper.”

Mr. Piper was the local attorney. A decent enough lawyer, but if they wanted to gain an advantage with the Chancery Court, John might need to insist on using his solicitor, Blanchard, in London. Of course, Welbourne might instead be thinking of a will. “I will have him fetched as soon as the doctor leaves.”

Loud thumping of boots in the foyer gave way to Lord Farringdon’s appearance, windswept with his hair disheveled and his cloak swirling around him. His gaze sought out Judith, taking her in from head to toe, as he rushed to her side. “I was on my way here when I met your groom. What has happened?”

Fighting to keep a neutral countenance, John rose. Farringdon’s fixation on Judith made his blood boil. He fought to keep disinterested, though he was anything but. The doctor had taken too close an interest in Judith, in John’s opinion.

Judith threw off her mother’s arms and rose. “It’s Pappa.” Her voice caught, and John’s heart stuttered. “He’s had some sort of fit.” She indicated her father, who hadn’t moved, but who looked much more alert than when John had entered the library. “Can you help him, Miles?”

Farringdon plucked off his cloak, tossed it to one of the maids, and strode toward the new patient. “How long ago was he seized with the fit?”

“Mamma?” Judith went back to her mother, who sat dazed. “How long since Pappa was taken?”

Her mother shook her head. “Half an hour, three-quarters? I…I don’t quite know.”

The doctor sat in the chair John had vacated while he sidled up to Judith.

“I am going to fetch Piper. Your father asked for him, and I am loath to wait, in case…”

Judith grasped his arm, her whole countenance filled with a warm gratitude. “No, you are right to go. Thank you, John.” She patted his arm. “I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for us today.”

“If there is any other way I can be of service to you or your parents, you must send to Donningham Manor at once.” How he longed to tell her he only wanted to care for her and protect her as long as they both lived…but this was not the time.

“You are too good to me, my dear.” She looked up into his face and her lips parted.

“Judith, come here please.” Farringdon’s voice broke the moment. “Your father wishes to speak to you.”

“Pappa is talking?” With one wild look of joy, Judith sped away from him toward the little group clustered around the patient.

Forcing himself to tread slowly out of the library, John restrained his first instinct to flee the house before he could see again the look of desire in Farringdon’s eyes when he beheld Judith. Striding into the foyer, he gazed about, but Inman was still with his master. He rummaged around, found his cloak and hat, and headed out the door. Thankfully, his carriage had waited in the driveway. Climbing aboard, he rapped on the trap. “To the village, Porter. We must tell Mr. Piper he is wanted here immediately.”

“Very good, my lord.”

John had no sooner sat on the leather cushion than the team started, rocking him back in the seat. He would return tomorrow to check on Mr. Welbourne’s condition. Undoubtedly, Farringdon would be there as well, but he must speak to Judith about their plans—that must now be altered once again—and try to salvage them as best they could. Pray to God Mr. Welbourne recovered, not only for Judith’s sake, but so he’d be able to take Judith away from Farringdon and his bold looks. Before John did something ungentlemanly to the man that he would absolutely not regret later.

* * * *

A wave of relief crashed over Judith as she stood at the foot of her father’s bed, listening to him rail against Lord Downing. His speech was still slurred somewhat, but she could understand him and be thankful he was recovering so quickly from what had seemed to be a devastating attack. Between all of them, they had managed to transport her father upstairs to the bedroom he’d shared with her mother for thirty years. Indeed, her mother had planted herself in a chair drawn up next to the bed, holding Pappa’s hand, hanging on his every word. A sight she’d thought never to see again an hour ago.

“Judith.” Miles stood beside the door and jerked his head toward the corridor outside.

As Mamma and the servants fussed over her father, she slipped out into the dim hall.

Miles had moved further toward her room at the opposite end of the hallway. Obviously, he had something to tell her he did not wish her parents to hear. A foreboding came over her, sending a chill down her back.

When Miles had arrived and examined Pappa, his manner had been as curt as ever, his face a neutral mask. But the corners of his eyes had crinkled with worry lines. Her father’s speech had improved greatly, just in the time it had taken to move him from the library up to the first-floor bedroom. She’d thought that would be cause to rejoice, but Miles’s continued sternness troubled her.

“He seems much improved, does he not, Miles?” She smiled brightly, trying to ward off the bad tidings she could see in his eyes.