Page 62 of Marrying the Wrong Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 2)

Nash was finishing up his correspondence in preparation for leaving for Clarendon Manor. He would put a few hours on the road today, spend the night at an inn, and reach the Manor tomorrow. It had been a good decision.

After Manchester had left him the prior evening, Nash had sat and considered his situation. Yes, Arabella was stubborn. Yes, Arabella enjoyed taking care of injured animals. Yes, Arabella disdained Society and was not what he’d planned on when he’d decided to take a wife.

But she was his wife. Their two weeks apart had convinced him he did not want to live without her. Her deep commitment to helping those in need spoke a great deal about her character. So, she was not a frivolous miss, who lived to attend parties, and talk about styles and gossip, and cut other young ladies down. There was not a mean bone in the woman’s body.

That was what he loved about her. And love her he did. As Manchester had said, if it made her happy, then it would make him happy, as well. Who needed a well-run house, anyway? He chuckled at the thought as Quinn entered the library. “My lord, a messenger has arrived from Clarendon Manor.”

A messenger? “Send him in.”

“My lord.” The man Nash recognized as a lesser groom at Clarendon Manor entered the room, his hat in his hand. He held out a missive that Nash took and read. All the blood left his face, and he tried to control his breathing.

Lady Clarendon took a spill from her horse. May lose the babe.

It had been signed by his housekeeper. Numb for a moment, he recovered himself and addressed the groom. “Go to the kitchen and have Cook fix you something to eat.” He turned to his man of business. “An emergency has come up, and I must leave immediately for the country.”

“What about the rest of the correspondence? And I have a very promising report from the man who is running the venture you invested in. While I would not say your financial problems are over, they are certainly much less dire than they had been.”

Despite the good news, Nash was anxious to be on his way. “Pack it up and bring all of it with you to the Manor. Take my carriage. I will be riding one of the stable horses.”

He left the room and instructed Quinn to have Andrews pack him an overnight bag and to notify the stables that he will need one of the sturdier horses saddled and ready to leave post haste.

May lose the babe.

The words echoed in his brain as he changed into riding clothes and made ready to leave. Arabella must be terrified. And alone.

What a fool I’ve been.

…

The two-day trip turned into ten hours with Nash only allowing himself stops at inns along the way to switch horses and eat a quick meal. He was tired and scruffy when he rode over the rise before Clarendon Manor. He paused for a moment, which he did whenever he arrived home. The sight of the place he’d been raised, and where generations of Lords Clarendon had lived, always caused his heart to swell.

He rubbed the back of his neck, not sure what he would find, then kicked the horse to finish his journey, riding into the stable. With a quick nod to the stable master, he jumped from the horse, tossed the reins to the man’s outstretched hand, and headed to the house.

All was quiet when he entered. “Good evening, my lord.”

Nash nodded at the butler at the door, a new man. “Is her ladyship in her bedchamber?”

“Yes, my lord. I believe the surgeon is with her now.”

His lips tight, Nash bounded up the stairs. He knocked lightly on the door and entered. Arabella lay in bed, apparently asleep. She was pale, her lustrous hair spread over the pillow where her head rested. The surgeon spoke with Sophia, who turned at his entrance. “Oh my lord. Thank heavens you are here.”

Suddenly his mouth dried up, fearing what he would hear. Gritting his teeth, he moved toward the bed. “How is she?”

The surgeon smiled. “This is my second visit. Her ladyship bruised her hip when she fell, which is a minor concern. My fear had been for the babe she told me she was carrying.”

Nash nodded and held his breath as he waited for the man to continue. “She has had some bleeding, but as of this morning, it has stopped. If it does not start up again, I think the babe will be fine.”

Nash released the breath and tears flooded his eyes. He wanted to drop to his knees and thank God, but right now he needed more information. He swallowed several times to keep the tears from falling. “And she is well?”

“Yes. Only a bruised hip. But she was very lucky. A fall like this in her condition could have been quite catastrophic.”

“Nash?” Arabella’s weakened voice called to him from the bed. “You came.” Her smile lit up her face, causing him to grin.

“Yes, sweetheart. I came as soon as I received word of your accident.”

She rested her hands on her stomach. “The doctor thinks the baby might be all right.”

He walked to the bed and sat alongside her, taking her hand in his. “Yes, he just told me.” He kissed her hand and rested her palm on his face. “How do you feel?”