His lips moved though she heard no words.
“It had also occurred to me that your sisters might be worried by your absence. At least now Mr. Westbrook knows where you are and why. I left it up to him to explain why you missed rehearsal.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, a clean dry cloth in her hand, and sponged the sweat from his brow. “The night we met, you abducted me in order to rescue me.” She hadn’t ever intended to tell him. Looking at him in her bed, she now had a deeper understanding why the young ladies at the academy were strongly admonished to never be in a darkened room with a handsome man. Shadows lent themselves to temptation.
The left side of his mouth lifted in a faint smile. “Liam said you’d figure it out.” His words seemed to come from a long way away. His voice became so quiet, she had to lean close to hear him.
She dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Yesterday, in trying to rescue you, it seems I inadvertently abducted you.”
He shivered. “What are you asking for ransom?”
She folded her arms and tapped one finger on her chin. “I think a peer of the realm should be worth at least ten thousand pounds, don’t you?” She grinned at her silliness.
He smiled and gave a slow blink in response.
She wiped his face again. “Try to sleep, David.”
* * *
After what seemed only minutes of sleep, Sally roused her to get dressed and go downstairs to keep to her morning routine. Ashley noted David’s fever seemed unchanged, and his sleep restless. He let out little sounds now and then, less than a moan but more than a sigh.
“He must ache abominably,” Sally said, as they stood side by side staring at him. “I had a fever last winter. For a week I felt like I’d tumbled down two flights of stairs.”
Ashley went down to the dining room to have her usual cup of chocolate, toast, and today asked for soft boiled eggs. Starting the day by reading the newspaper while eating was a habit leftover from the academy, when she needed to be well versed in what was going on in the world. The staff would also look to see if any of their former students had been mentioned in the society columns—hopefully for having made an advantageous match and not because of scandal. Since coming to London, Ashley had been paying more attention to the Help Wanted advertisements.
“This morning’s mail, miss,” the butler said, setting a silver salver on the table.
“Thank you, Farnham.” She waited until he left the room to excitedly break the seal on the first letter addressed to her.Thank you for your inquiry. We regret to inform you the position has already been filled.“Blast. Well, I didn’t want to move to Liverpool anyway,” she muttered. She had another sip of chocolate, a bite of toast, and opened the next letter.Thank you for your inquiry. After careful consideration, we have decided your qualifications do not meet the high standards required of our teaching staff. Best of luck, etc.
The third and final letter began,We regret to inform you…She wadded it up and drew her arm back to fling it across the room, then decided it would be more satisfying to watch all three letters burn in her fireplace. At least she still had three more queries that she’d sent out earlier this month, plus those she’d sent out this week.
She sat back in her chair, refusing to let her shoulders slump because poor posture would prove the author of the second rejection letter was correct. “Manchester isn’t any better than Liverpool.”
“Beg pardon, miss?”
Ashley almost dropped her cup. “Nothing, Farnham, just thinking out loud.” She hadn’t heard him return, and only now noticed he was carrying a package.
“This just arrived. Would you like to open it here, or shall I have one of the footmen deliver it to your bedchamber?”
“Here, please.”
After he set it on the table, she resisted looking at it until a maid had delivered her soft-boiled eggs and she was alone again. She untied the string and opened the paper wrapping, revealing a beautiful rectangular wooden case with a carrying handle. Inside was a ten-string lyre and a note from Lady Mansfield.Perhaps we can play a duet again soon, on instruments that are easier to transport.
Ashley lifted out the instrument and admired it from all angles. Nestled in the bottom of the case was a sheaf of music, from beginner to more advanced compositions. “How thoughtful,” she murmured, grinning with delight.
As she put it all back together and tied the string, she noticed another letter.
Uncle David is no longer in Mother’s black books, Georgia wrote.Well, he is partially, as he is still missing rehearsals. Uncle Liam told us the Ravencroft steward notified him of some emergency at the estate in Surrey, and left town so quickly he didn’t even say goodbye. Liam didn’t see the note until yesterday afternoon.Did he answer your question about mandolins?
As soon as Ashley finished her chocolate and toast, she dropped an egg in each pocket of her skirt, gathered up her letters, package, and a spoon, and went upstairs. Watching the letters of rejection curl up, burst into flames, and be reduced to ashes in the fireplace did indeed feel satisfying. She set down her things on her writing desk and with only a tiny sigh, jotted updates in the journal in which she tracked her employment search efforts.
David still slept, fitfully.
She washed her hands, treated the bruises she could reach on his face and chest, and then called Maggie and Sally over to help turn him on his side. She’d neglected the bruises on his back last night, and noted these bruises were healing more slowly than those she’d anointed more often.
“You just want to look at my bum,” he mumbled, startling all three women.
Sally tittered.
