When Arthur did speak, he didn’t answer the question but took the conversation in an unexpected direction.
‘Do you know something? I envy what you have with Miss Fitz-Pennington– that closeness and ease.’
‘Dora is not easy. She keeps me on my toes.’
Arthur chuckled, winced and touched his bandage. ‘I suppose so. But she is warm, and I would go as far as to say she is your friend, if friendship between the sexes is possible.’ His dubious expression suggested he thought that unlikely. ‘Diana and I—’ He cut himself off.
Poor Arthur. He really knew nothing about women. Jacob felt the gulf stretch between them. They had known each other as boys but the distance had grown as their lives went in different directions. Both had of late formed opinions of the other based on their worst moments, not their best. He certainly had no idea what went on in his brother’s marriage, not being in his confidence. Arthur was usually a Trappist on his personal life with his wife. However, his brother had made his choice years ago, choosing duty, so had to make the best of it. Besides, Jacob liked his sister-in-law.
‘Diana will be a fine viscountess.’
‘Yes, she will. I won’t hear a word against her.’ His expression turned wistful. ‘But I sometimes long for something other than mutual respect.’ Only the shock of nearly losing his life could have prompted such a confession from Arthur.
‘And yet a dutiful marriage was the sort you tried to engineer for me?’
‘Only because I think it best in the long run. Keep the warmth and friendship for your mistress, away from the gaze of those that pry. Weakness, softness, love– your enemies will attack you for it. You might not think it now, but you will need a Diana to take your place in society alongside me.’
‘Then perhaps I do not want to join you there.’
Alex came into the sickroom without knocking. Jacob cursed him under his breath– such moments came so rarely with Arthur that he feared he would never get another chance to resolve their issues.
‘Apologies, my lord,’ said Alex.
Arthur scowled but didn’t push his luck by objecting to Alex’s presence.
‘Trouble?’ Jacob asked.
‘Isn’t there always? You’re needed at Chapel Holm.’
Jacob reached for his jacket. ‘Explain.’
‘I was at Waterhead with the searchers when a couple of lads– the Coleridge boys, according to the men I was with– sailed up in a lather. They told us they’d spotted Knotte earlier in the day going to Chapel Holm. They’d persuaded Dora to take them?—’
‘What!’
‘Yes, I know, but this is Dora, not a milksop. The three of them discovered your client, Barton, lying in a tent with a fever.’
‘He’s alive?’ That was a surprise.
‘Yes– he needs your aid.’
‘What about Knotte?’ What part had the young man played in getting Barton to the island?
‘No one’s seen him.’
Jacob grabbed the medical kit he’d put together from the household stores and stuffed them in a satchel. ‘Stay in bed, Arthur.’
His brother grabbed his wrist. ‘Don’t do anything foolish.’
‘What? Like throw myself in front of a bullet?’ He squeezed his brother’s hand, then disengaged. ‘Let’s go, Alex.’
They hurried out of the house, Alex grabbing a telescope from its stand overlooking the lake.
‘Mr Wilson has a boat we can borrow. I ordered some of the staff to make it ready,’ said Alex, leading the way through the gardens to the boathouse on the lakeside. ‘Don’t be too alarmed. Dora isn’t on her own. I sent one of the men to back her up and I dispatched the boys with Moss. I asked the boys to keep Ruby company so they are out of harm’s way.’
Jacob faltered. ‘Who did you send to the island, Alex?’
‘A chap called Langhorne. He said he was a local friend of yours.’
