Just then, the noise of a coach driving into the yard interrupted her thoughts. Madeline went to the window and pulled the lace curtain aside.
“Who is it?” Diana asked.
“Good heavens, it’s the lieutenant-governor, Lord Blackthorne. He’s returned.” With unsteady fingers, Madeline quickly untied her apron.
Diana shouted at her. “Wait! You can’t leave now. I look terrible!”
“You have a maid, Diana, and I have work to do.”
With that, she hurried downstairs to greet the viscount, thankful to have something to keep her mind occupied. For she was damned if she was going to think about her heart, or ever try to awaken it again.
Chapter Twenty-One
“You don’t say.” Lord Blackthorne lowered his quizzing glass and followed Adam and Madeline into the parlor. “My word, Coates, what an abominable turn of events.”
“Shall I get tea?” Madeline asked.
Adam gestured for the lieutenant-governor to take a seat. “No, Madeline. Please stay. I’m sure Lord Blackthorne would like to hear your story as well as mine.”
“Yes, yes,” the viscount replied, raising his quizzing glass again and shifting his attention toward Madeline. “I understand you were the one to find Lady Thurston. Heavens, you did well, Miss Oxley. It must have been a terrifying night for you.”
For the next half hour, Adam and Madeline described the events of the flood, as well as the current condition of the marsh and what the future held for Cumberland. Lord Blackthorne was both sympathetic and optimistic, and promised to do all he could at Government House, to attend to the matter.
“And what about Lady Thurston?” he asked. “How is she faring?”
Adam and Madeline glanced at each other. After an awkward pause, Adam answered. “Her spirits are rather low, I’m afraid.”
“Ah. That is to be expected. I presume she is still in some pain.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“And what does the doctor have to say? Is he a dependable fellow?”
“Yes, he’s very capable,” Madeline said. “I have complete faith in him. He did his best for Diana the night of the accident, and he saved her leg.”
Lord Blackthorne gestured toward his own wooden leg. “I wish he had been on the battlefield in ’42.”
Madeline smiled in understanding.
The viscount waved a dismissive hand through the air. “But that was so long ago, now. I rarely think of it. Perspective,” he said, raising an authoritative finger. “Lady Thurston must look to the future and see her life as a whole, and know that this is just a small piece of it. These difficult weeks will pass, and she’ll be up and around before she knows it. Soon, everything will seem normal again. It’s just a matter of acceptance and determination, and perhaps a little reassurance from those who care about her.”
Quite unable to mask the despair in her voice, Madeline lowered her gaze to her hands on her lap. “I wish she had your vision, my lord.”
Madeline did care about Diana, she truly did. Even though Madeline was angry at her for all the cruel things she had said in their lifetime together, Madeline still wanted her sister to rise from this setback. She wanted her to find joy in life again, no matter what became of their sisterly relationship.
There was a moment of grief-filled silence, then Lord Blackthorne pushed himself to his feet. He squeezed the polished brass handle of his cane. “May I see her? I might be of some assistance. I have personal experience with this sort of thing after all.”
Madeline rose. “I will go and tell her, my lord. I’m certain she would be grateful for your concern and your generous regard for her welfare. I’ll need just a moment.”
She calmly left the parlor, but Adam followed and took hold of her arm. “What happened with Diana?” he whispered. “Did you talk to her?”
She saw the hope in his eyes again, and couldn’t bear to look at him. She lowered her own gaze. “Yes, I did, Adam. Nothing has changed.”
Adam let go of her arm and dropped his hand to the side. His dark eyes narrowed and hardened. She felt she had failed him. Shehadfailed him.
“Right. That’s it, then,” he said flatly. “I see I was wrong to have thought there was more to you than what you have shown me. Go now. Go and be with your sister.”
He turned on his heel and went to join the lieutenant-governor again in the parlor.
