Page 32 of The Earl and His Lady

“You ought to take off your jacket. You are going to catch your death of cold.”

He looked down at the sopping, dripping material and sighed. The coat he’d left in the servants’ hall, but the jacket had suffered as well. He began to undo its buttons as he spoke. “I did not think taking the boys down to the stream and back would cause such a panic. We truly were gone only half an hour.”

“Half an hour is more than ample time for a person to worry,” she said, a trifle waspishly. “And by the time I realized the boys must be with you, it was raining.”

“You cannot hold that against me.” He slipped the jacket from his shoulders and tossed it onto the bench next to the towels. “We were in the middle of testing our boats, and it wasn’t a very cold rain. You should’ve seen them—”

“Edward suffers from croup.” The words snapped from her like a whip. “He’s had two bouts since winter. The weather brings it on, and then he cannot sleep for the coughing.” She picked up another towel and nearly threw it at him, her movements jerky and fast, but he caught it. “His throat is nearly torn to pieces.”

Croup. That was no small thing. Severe cases turned into worse infections.

“I’m sorry. I did not know.” What more could he say? The woman before him looked torn between anger and, he finally realized, fear. “It was thoughtlessly done.” He twisted the towel in his hands, uncertain what he ought to say or do.

Virginia raised her hands to her forehead, smoothing back her hair, then came forward to take the towel. He relinquished it to her, expecting she would storm away, perhaps. But instead she raised the cloth up to his face and wiped at his cheek, her eyes not on his.

“It is difficult to talk to a grown man when he’s covered in mud,” she muttered, scrubbing at whatever splotch must be on his face.

To Lucas’s further surprise, having her stand near him, even in the midst of her upset, caused an unlooked-for reaction. Every hair on his body stood on end, his heartbeat sounded loudly in his ears, and when he drew in a breath the air held the most heavenly scent. What was it? Some sort of fruit? Oranges. She smelled like oranges, bright and fresh. It must’ve been perfume. They had no oranges at Annesbury Park.

They should consider getting some.

She stepped back and examined him with a critical eye. Hastily he composed his expression to one that would not reveal his strange awareness of her.

“Better.” Virginia tossed the towel aside. “I understand we are not used to each other,” she said at last. “But I would ask that in future you please inform myself or Nurse Smythe if you plan an excursion with the boys. It will save us a great deal of anxiety.”

“What can be done about the croup?” That seemed to him the next logical thing to address, and hopefully it would take his mind off of the alluring scent of the woman berating him. “Should I send for the apothecary?”

Virginia shook her head. “No. I know what to do. Thank you.” She didn’t sound pleased about it. “I had better see to the boys and make certain they are behaving for Nurse.”

Lucas stepped forward, not certain what to say but wanting to stop her from leaving. “How did they escape her? They were with me for some time before we went out. She never came looking.” She must be concerned about the lack of attention to them, mustn’t she?

His wife stilled and did not turn around when she answered. “Nurse Smythe fell asleep. The last several days have been taxing on her.”

He frowned. He had provided the nurse with a maid to care for the nursery and assist with the boys. Of course, most nursery maids were young girls, usually no older than sixteen. “Have they? Are the boys giving her trouble?”

She turned at that, her eyebrows raised. “Of course not. She is only a little tired—it is all the change, I think.” He didn’t miss the defensive note in her voice.

Curious, Lucas prodded further. “Change is generally considered to be difficult on older people. She is getting on in years, I believe.” The woman had to have been around fifty. It wasn’t ancient, but it was a good deal older than any nurse he had met.

Virginia drew herself up to her full height, which would’ve been impressive if he still didn’t have her bested by a head. “Nurse Smythe has been with the family since my husband—” She stopped and swallowed, lowering her eyes though her chin stayed at a stubborn tilt. “Excuse me. Since my late husband was a boy. She is a loyal servant and adores my children.”

Her husband Charles Macon. The man for whom she still mourned. He had to remember, no matter how wonderful she smelled, how enchanting he found her, she did not truly belong to him nor did she seem to think of him as her husband. It was part of their agreement, after all.

Lucas crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows at her. “I didn’t say anything against her. Only what is generally observed in people of a certain age. If she has been with the family so long, perhaps it is time to consider a pension. The boys are nearing an age for a governess, aren’t they? Or a tutor?”

Her lips parted in surprise, but then her shoulders went back and she continued in her servant’s defense. “It was one little mistake, compounded by your thoughtlessness.” Her voice was raised, but it was not quite shouting.

His ire rose to meet hers. “And I apologized for that. It will not happen again. But perhaps while we are discussing thoughtlessness, whether it is mine or the nurse’s, we should also address yours.”

Her body stiffened. “Mine? What on earth have I done?”

“Your display before the staff was not appreciated.” Indeed, and he hadn’t intended to mention it at all. But he couldn’t keep himself from drawing her attention to it. “You spoke to me as if I was one of your children, due for a scolding. While I appreciate you waited to berate me in private, I would ask that you refrain from showing such marked disdain for my actions when we are in front of the servants. The new countess need not be seen brow-beating their lord in public.” There. He felt better for saying it.

For all of half a second.

Virginia’s eyes went wide and her face turned pale. “Yes, my lord.” She gave him the slightest curtsy before turning and fleeing the room, gray skirts swishing behind her.

That hadn’t been the reaction he’d expected.