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‘I have heard no more than the sniping that seems commonplace between young ladies in the Marriage Mart. And amongst married ladies, come to that.’
‘You have made up your mind that she is perfection, in other words!’
‘By no means, if by that you mean I intend to fix my interest upon her. Frankly, my dear, your antagonism towards her makes me incline towards Lady Amelia. I doubt I would wish to marry someone who had your approval.’
‘And why, exactly, is that?’ she demanded, twisting in his arms in an attempt to face him.
‘Because you are inconstant, flighty, deceitful—’ They were at the door. Avery bit off the words, smiled. ‘Ah, thank you, Lady Amelia. Lady Laura’s maid is just the person we want. And two footmen with a chair. Excellent.’
‘You sanctimonious libertine,’ Laura hissed and pushed against his chest as he turned to place her in the chair. It was so unexpected, he was so off balance that his grip slipped and she slid free. Avery reached for her, his wrist cracking down on the carved wooden arm with a sickening thud.
Laura landed on her feet, clutching at him. She gave a gasp of pain as her injured foot took her weight and then she was slipping down. This time he caught her, held her tight despite the pain in his wrist.
‘I never faint…’ she whispered, and passed out.
*
‘That’s a new pair of half-boots ruined. And a good pair of stockings without a single darn in them covered in grass stains and as for this gown, I don’t know I’ll ever get it clean.’
That was Mab. Laura turned her head on the pillow and squinted against the light. She was lying on the bed with her foot propped up and something cold and wet draped over her ankle. She wriggled her toes experimentally. ‘Ow!’
‘You’re awake then.’ Mab came over and peered down at her. ‘What a pickle. His lordship’s none too pleased, believe me.’
‘And what has it got to do with him, pray?’ Laura reached behind her for more pillows so she could sit up.
‘Miss Alice was frightened and was in floods, saying it was all her fault that you hurt yourself, so he had to cope with that until Miss Blackstock arrived. Then he banged his hand on the arm of the chair, trying to catch you, and it must have hurt like the devil, but being a man, he can’t or won’t admit it. And on top of that he’s surrounded by silly chits all of a-fluster because he was striding about carrying you, like some fool in a poem, and they were ogling his arms and his chest and cooing about how strong and noble he is… Well, you can imagine, I’m sure.’
‘Only too well.’
‘Like I always said, he’s a fine figure of a man. But with his coat off I can see what they were carrying on about. Buttocks you could bend a sewing needle on, I’ll be bound.’
‘Mab!’ But a snort of laughter escaped her.
‘That’s better. No use you looking like a dying duck in a thunderstorm, that ankle’s bad enough without you getting yourself in a pother about a man.’ She scooped up the discarded clothing. ‘We had to cut that half-boot off. I’ll take these downstairs and have a word with the laundry maids, see what we can do with the grass stains. I’ll have some tea sent up, shall I, my lady?’
Alone, Laura lay back with a sigh. Now she was doomed to be an immobile audience as Lady Amelia wormed her way into Avery’s favour. She did not trust her one inch over Alice, for surely no one went from spluttering with disgust over the presence of a love child to finding themselves charmed out of their prejudice in a matter of hours.
A tap on the door heralded a maid with a tea tray and, hard on her heels before Laura could think of the words to deny her, Lady Amelia.
‘I thought I would come and keep you company as your woman is struggling to salvage your wardrobe,’ she said with a sweet smile. ‘Put the tray there.’ She nodded to a side table and sat beside it, regarding Laura across the chinaware with perfect composure.
‘How kind.’
‘Not at all? Milk and sugar?’
‘Lemon, thank you.’ At least it would give an excuse for a sour face.
Amelia stood to place the cup on the bedside table, inconveniently, and no doubt deliberately, at the exact angle that ensured Laura must twist inelegantly to pick it up. ‘Miss Alice is quite unharmed by the incident,’ she remarked as she resumed her seat, sweeping her pretty skirts around her with some emphasis.
‘I had no r
eason to suspect otherwise. She seems a sensible child who would say something if she was hurt.’ Laura managed to pick up her tea without slopping any in the saucer and took a sip. ‘You seem very concerned about a child who you referred to as a bastard and whose presence you deplored only yesterday.’
‘Naturally, a lady is concerned for the well-being of any creature.’
‘Especially if she is intent on ensnaring the creature’s father?’ There, at least we both know where we stand now. ‘Might I trouble you to pass me a biscuit?’
Amelia stood again, placed the entire plate on the bedspread next to Laura and returned to her place. ‘Do have them all. Ensnare? I have no need to aggressively hunt after a gentleman. They come to me and seek my approval.’ She gave her skirts another twitch. ‘After all, in addition to breeding, connections and style, I have an impeccable reputation.’
