Page 6 of A Countess of Convenience

Staring dully at the blue-striped counterpane that covered her, Judith sank into her thoughts. Dora had been right to tell her about Simon. Although the ache of his continued infidelities stabbed her to the heart, she needed to know that the husband she’d once been truly fond of had been unfaithful yet again. This latest perfidy cut her to the bone when she thought of herself lying helpless in bed while her husband debauched unsuspecting women. Tears oozed from her eyes, and she turned her head into her pillow. “Please leave me alone.”

The quiet click of the door closing gave her permission to cry in earnest. But she didn’t want to cry, to show weakness. She had to be strong. If she was a widow now, she must be able to manage her own affairs. Since the day she married Simon she’d done nothing save please him and his father and mother. Harper’s Grange had been a prison in some ways, perhaps, but a pleasant one that had sheltered her from the necessity of making her own decisions about anything other than her choice of clothing. Now life had changed irrevocably. Whether for better or worse was yet to be discovered.

The door swished open.

“Go away.” She burrowed deeper into her pillow. Couldn’t they leave her in peace for a few minutes at least? Let her grieve the loss of her husband, of her belief that he’d loved her?

“I am sorry to intrude, Mrs. Harper.” The deep voice of Lord Farringdon brought her head up off the pillow. “But I insist on checking on you before I leave.”

She struggled into a sitting position then wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her nightgown. “I’m sorry, my lord. I didn’t know it was you.”

“I wouldn’t bother you after you’ve received such devastating news, but I must assure myself that you are as well as can be before I take my leave.” He approached the bed and lifted her hand, first feeling her wrist then looking into her eyes, lifting the lids and peering into them. At last, he removed the bandage over her head and felt about gingerly.

He hit a sore spot, and she winced.

“I’m sorry. It will take several months for the scalp to grow back over the hole I had to drill in your skull.”

Judith gasped. “There’s a hole in my head?”

Lord Farringdon nodded. “To release the blood pressing on your brain. But be assured, Mrs. Harper, if you have survived thus far, you should continue to mend. If you are careful when you wash and style your hair, the wound shouldn’t fester. I’ve left instructions for your mother or your maid to dress it with honey and arnica every morning and night.” He continued to peer at the top of her head.

“But it will mend?” In the wake of the news about Simon, she’d not thought about the delicate situation her own health might be in. Just because she’d awoken didn’t mean she might not still sicken and die. After all, she did have a hole in her head.

“I have every hope that it will, Mrs. Harper.” He replaced the bandages and came around to face her. “I must tell you it is a miracle that you have weathered the operation and come through with only a slowness of your left hand.” He picked the hand up. “Can you squeeze my hand?”

Concentrating with all her might, Judith willed the hand to move. And was rewarded with a very slight curl of her fingers around his.

Her eyes flew open wide then darted to Lord Farringdon’s face. “It moved! Did you feel it? It did move, didn’t it?”

The doctor smiled broadly. “It did indeed move, Mrs. Harper. Well done.” He replaced her hand on the coverlet. “That is progress, to be sure.”

His praise sent a frisson of warmth down her spine.

“And to keep that progress going, you must keep up your strength. Are you hungry?”

Judith grimaced and shook her head.

Farringdon looked sternly down his straight nose at her. “Then I will give the order for you. No nonsense either, Mrs. Harper. You must eat. I will have the cook send up some broth for you tonight and in the morning an egg posset. After that, we will see.” He tried hard to look sternly at her, but something in his eyes belied the severity he tried to portray.

“Thank you, my lord. I promise I will try to get it down.” She smiled at him. He had such a nice manner about him.

“Very well.” He gave a quick bow, lithe as a cat. “And please remember to exercise your hand. I’d like to return in the morning to find your grip as strong and natural as before the accident.”

“I promise to practice it tonight and in the morning.” Suddenly, she was loath to let him go. He was a stranger, true, but he was also a doctor, a man of authority. She wanted that surety in a world that seemed to have none now.

“Then I will say good night, Mrs. Harper.” He turned to go.

“You should call me Judith, my lord.” The words slipped out before she knew it. “Mr. Tucker always called me by my first name. Perhaps it will be more familiar if you do the same.”

He studied her briefly then nodded. “If you prefer it, Mrs. Harper, I would be honored to address you so. A smile touched his lips. “Until tomorrow morning then, Judith.”

“Good night…my lord.” The words came out stilted, but she didn’t know his first name nor had he given her leave to use it. Perhaps she should not have insisted on the familiarity so quickly. Only she’d wished for something consistent from the past in a world now turned upside down.

He left the room, and Judith sank beneath the covers, careful to tuck her left hand beneath them as well. She would exercise it before she went to sleep and first thing when she awoke in the morning. It might be a small thing, but if it would help her situation, she would do it. She must get Dora to come practice with her.

Her poor sister-in-law. Judith had always been extremely fond of Dora, and she wouldn’t allow that to change now that their relationship would be tentative at best, especially when the girl left for Yorkshire. They might not see one another again for years, a prospect that twisted Judith’s heart. Dora had been a good friend to her all those years she’d been married to Simon. Much as she hated the news her sister-in-law had brought, Judith didn’t resent Dora for telling her about her husband. Someone had needed to do it, and Dora was the only one who’d been at Harper’s Grange when it occurred. It helped to know Dora had been ill-used by the situation herself, being made to break her betrothal. Perhaps love awaited her sister-in-law in the north. Judith certainly wished it with all her heart.

With a suddenness that took Judith by surprise, tears welled in her eyes, flowing down her cheeks to wet her nightgown. “Oh, Simon.”