Page 7 of A Daring Desire

“Oh, but….” Cat turned back to the bed, where Kilbane was sleeping for the moment.

“Jefferies has promised to stay with him and call the moment he wakes or there is the slightest change,” Rose said firmly. “And I know he’s the only person you would trust with such an important job.”

Cat sighed as she saw Jefferies standing behind Rose and knew they would bully her into going. “Very well. But just for a moment.”

“A quick cup of tea and a bite to eat,” Rose agreed amiably, taking her arm and propelling her towards the stairs before she could change her mind. “Mr Berrycloth is waiting for us.”

Cat groaned. “He thinks I’m a madwoman.”

“Nonsense, I have explained all about Pippin, so he understands why we trust her so implicitly.”

“Truly?” Cat said, turning to stare at Rose. “I’ve been in such turmoil. I know he thinks the doctor ought to have treated him, but… Oh, the things he wanted to do, and it all went against everything Pippin ever taught me, and she—”

“Hush,” Rose said, taking Cat’s hand in hers. “You don’t need to tell me. I don’t have the slightest doubt she saved darling Izzy’s life when she was so poorly last winter, and so I told Mr Berrycloth. My only fear is that Jack won’t let her come.”

Cat nodded, having been worrying about the same thing. Pippin’s rogue of a husband, Jack, adored his wife and protected her fiercely. That he would not want her travelling up to London in bad weather at her age was something Cat accepted. She felt wretched for asking it of her beloved Pippin, but she was horribly afraid she could not nurse Kilbane with as much skill herself.

Rose guided Cat into the parlour, where a footman was just setting down a laden tea tray and found Mr Berrycloth waiting for them.

Cat greeted him, wondering if he had really forgiven her, and sat down as Rose prepared the tea.

“Well, his lordship will be most entertained to discover he’s being physicked by a witch,” he said with a wry smile.

Cat shot a look at Rose, who grinned. “Well, she is,” Rose replied calmly. “There’s no point in denying it.”

“Yes, but you need not say such things to Mr Berrycloth. I thought you were trying to reassure him?” Cat exclaimed.

“And so I did. Did I not, sir?”

“Yes, rather surprisingly. She can believe herself to be the Queen of the Fairies for all I care, so long as she’s competent, and Lady Rose has recited an impressive history of her skills to reassure me. Providing she arrives,” he added, looking at his watch.

Cat glanced at the clock on the mantel and sent up a silent prayer before accepting her cup of tea from Rose.

“One thing I do not understand,” Cat said, “is why he undertook such a journey when he was so unwell?”

“Ah,” Mr Berrycloth said, grimacing. “There is rather a lot you don’t know about the past weeks in France, my lady, and I have not had the opportunity to explain things to you.”

“Then pray do so now,” Cat said, an uneasy sensation stirring to life as she noted Mr Berrycloth’s obvious discomfort. Whatever it was he needed to disclose, it would not be pleasant. The man glanced at Lady Rose and shook his head.

“The subject is one I hesitate to discuss with you, my lady, let alone an unmarried lady.”

Cat quirked an eyebrow at him and Berrycloth blushed.

“Well, what I mean to say is—” he said hurriedly, but Cat silenced him.

“Rose, if you wish to leave—”

“Not on your life,” Rose replied, aghast at the suggestion. “We are neither of us shrinking violets or the least bit fragile, Mr Berrycloth. Don’t go into paroxysms worrying about our tender sensibilities, for we have none.”

Cat laughed at this rather forthright, if accurate, summation of their characters. Berrycloth regarded them both doubtfully, but apparently took them at their word.

“Lord Kilbane was wrongfully arrested for the murder of a French politician and has lived for some weeks with the threat of ending his days upon the guillotine quite literally hanging over his head.”

Rose and Cat gasped in unison, and Rose reached for Cat’s hand, holding on tight. Mr Berrycloth noticed this but carried on, apparently committed now.

“A man called Mr Franklin set him up in retribution for an affair his lordship had with his wife—many years ago, I might add. Lord Kilbane has been held in a vile prison cell for the past weeks, while Miss de Montluc chased down and brought Mr Franklin to justice. You see, Franklin kidnapped a Mr Harris, who was Lord Kilbane’s alibi, and brought him back to England. Miss de Montluc, most courageously, followed him across France to London and discovered where he was holding the man hostage.”

Cat and Rose stared at him in stunned silence.