“All that is true. I admit I believe a woman of lesser merit would suffer, but I have come to believe you are made of sterner stuff, Lady Emma Donoghue. You have stood before lords of the British realm and spoken, or perhaps I should say, shouted their shame for all to hold them accountable. You have held the peers of our land equally and personally responsible for the actual nucleus of any society: the family. Lord Duncan did what you hoped all would do—what you have missed yourself for too long. Duncan presented Orson, Marksman, Beaufort, Thompson, and Graham a sense of family, where none existed. Through their formative years, his lordship gave the children of other peers a model for their lives. Though you do not wish to hear this, your parents’ absence has you questioning the idea of whether you have ever known family.”
“You think my attack has something to do with my parents’ absence?” Emma asked, confused by what the surgeon meant for her to comprehend.
“Lord Davidson has claimed he is in negotiation with Lady Emma’s father regarding a marriage contract,” Lady Theodora shared.
“That toad?” Rheem said in disgust. “Davidson is the perfect example of what your acquaintances have protested against: He is a man who thinks himself superior to every female, and most of the men, who walk on this earth. Men like Davidson have forgotten that God created Eve from Adam’s rib. They were made to live together. To assist each other. Davidson does not want to admit that his lack of children is his fault, not the three women he has married and publicly divorced while ruining their reputations with charges before the Lords. His lordship cannot simply move to Scotland for six months and obtain a quieter divorce there; he wishes to belittle the women he could not bring to child, despite it likely being his fault.”
Emma knew she blushed, but she did not wish to think of the prospects of having to succumb to Davidson’s touch. Instead, she asked, “I repeat myself: Do you believe my mind is purposely, or perhaps better said, subconsciously, choosing not to remember my ordeal? That I would be better off not remembering?”
“I suppose I am,” Rheem admitted.
“Why?” Emma demanded.
“Because you trusted the person who attacked you, and he or she betrayed you,” Rheem said. “Remembering means knowing you trusted the wrong person, and you fear you might do so again.”
“Pardon, my lady,” Mr. Fields said when Lady Theodora responded to a knock at Lady Emma’s door. “Lord Davidson is below and demanding he speak to Lady Emma.”
“Demanding?” Lady Theodora asked. “In my father’s house? Interesting. Might you inform Lord Duncan of the situation? Meanwhile, I will conduct Lord Davidson to my father’s quarters. I shall join him there.” She turned to Rheem. “If you have finished with Lady Emma’s examination, might you also join us? If necessary, you may address Lady Emma’s prognosis.” To Emma, Theodora said, “You are not to leave this room. Lock the door behind us. Even if Davidson dares to demand to search this house, you must stay here until I return for you.”
Emma nodded her gratitude. “God blessed me, indeed, when Lord Orson carried me into this house. The Duncans will forever know my loyalty.”
He still questionedhis permitting Thompson and Hartley to convince him to seek a special license to marry Lady Emma Donoghue, but when Richard spotted Lord Davidson’s carriage before Duncan Place, his qualms quickly disappeared. Hartley was to send over a copy of Lady Emma’s birth registration and the special license later on this very day, both of which would be signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Richard would use the birth notice to convince Emma to travel in secrecy to Beaufort’s hunting lodge, where she would stay until Monday, when she would be legally able to choose who she might marry.
Mrs. Chester opened the door when Richard reached it. “Where is Davidson?” he asked quietly.
“In the master’s quarters with Lady Theodora and Mr. Rheem,” the housekeeper provided.
“Do they have a need of me?” Richard asked.
“Not to my knowledge,” Mrs. Chester said with a smile, “but you might eavesdrop from the servants’ passage,” she instructed. “Just as you were accustomed to do as a child whenyour curiosity was more than you could keep under reasonable control.”
Richard smiled also. “And Lady Emma?”
“Confined to her quarters by Lady Theodora.”
Richard squeezed the back of the woman’s hand in a gesture of gratitude. Mrs. Chester had been more mother to him than his own mother, for the late Lady Orson was too weak-spirited to do more than to be the mistress of her husband’s households, and, of course, satisfy her lover. She had rarely expressed any true affection for Richard, whereas, Mrs. Chester had often prepared his favorite sweets and allowed him to use one of the garrets for his study of the stars with a telescope purchased by Lady Elsbeth Duncan, and, more importantly, Mrs. Chester and Lady Elsbeth had held him close when he had been sad or lonely.
Climbing the main stairs, Richard darted into the servants’ passage to make his way to Duncan’s quarters, but he was brought up short to discover Mrs. Braylon outside of Duncan’s suite of rooms.
Richard caught the nurse by the arm and dragged her along the passageway. “What in blazes do you think you are doing?” he hissed.
“It is my responsibility to assure Lord Duncan does not become overwrought,” she said as she stood toe-to-toe with him.
“Trust me, Mrs. Braylon, the only time Lord Macdonald Duncan could be termed ‘overwrought’ was when his wife passed.”
Uncharacteristically, the woman frowned. “I was performing my duties,” she repeated.
“And I am performing mine. You have thirty seconds to make yourself scarce.”
Duncan’s raised voice drew Richard’s attention long enough that the woman had taken Richard’s suggestion and managed to disappear without further ado. Richard would address what hehad discovered to Duncan a bit later. For now, he returned to the door leading to Duncan’s chambers and pressed his ear closer to the opening.
Duncan warned Davidson, “No one enters my home and makes demands and comes to know satisfaction, especially a man whose political leanings go against mine. Mr. Rheem has assured you that Lady Emma is not yet well enough to address your concerns. You must abide by Rheem’s words and mine until Lady Emma is capable of speaking for herself.” Duncan called out, “Mr. Fields.”
The butler appeared immediately. “Yes, my lord.”
“Lord Davidson’s business is complete. Please see that his lordship is shown to his waiting carriage.”
“Yes, my lord.”
