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His nanna’s observations about his feelings and Felicity’s manner were true. And he himself had concluded she would make a good mother. But he could only defer to nanna’s experience on what made a good wife, but he did so without reserve, for his nanna was quite shrewd. He was not ready for marriage, but many men before him entered the state for far fewer reasons and less connection between them and their intended.
“All right, Nanna. I will speak with Jane about making the arrangements for the upcoming days. You may rest at ease. I will fulfill your dyin…” His throat tightened around the word, “your wish.” He leaned in and placed a kiss on her hand, “If you will excuse me, Nanna, I must find my fiancée posthaste.”
He was unsettled, an odd feeling nagging at him. Hurrying down the stairs, he saw Felicity walking toward him, a book clutched in her hand. They stopped on the stairs, and she went into his arms and hugged him. Just feeling her against his body eased some of the fear he had not realized curled his belly.
Why had nanna fainted so suddenly?His father, who had been robust and presumably in good health, had also passed suddenly. Phineas knew many diseases were silent killers. A surge of helpless fury filled his veins. “I must speak to Dr. Greaves at once.”
Felicity pulled away; her face was creased in gentle understanding. “He is conferring with the countess.”
“We must speak afterward,” he said.
She lifted the book. “Your grandmother was discussing it earlier. I…I thought to read to her now.”
Her calm support steadied him. “Good. I will speak with the physician and perhaps…” He raked a hand through his hair. “When you are finished, you could come and find me, Felicity.”
She brushed a finger over his brow tenderly. “I will, Phineas.”
To his surprise, she tipped onto her toes and kissed his lips. He felt the offered comfort, and he took it, closing his eyes and trapping her taste. Then she moved away and lightly ran up the stairs. He continued toward the drawing room, where he saw Dr. Greaves leaving with his medical bag in his hand. “Dr. Greaves, surely you are not leaving. The dowager countess has not yet recovered. Please, stay the night with us.”
After the slightest of hesitation, he agreed. Phin invited the doctor to his study for a drink. Once there, he asked, “Tell me the truth of the matter; what are my grandmother’s chances?”
The doctor suddenly looked uncomfortable, and a cold knot of dread drew tight in Phineas’s gut. “Come, man, just spit it out.”
Dr. Greaves sighed. “I am attending to her ladyship as best as possible. I would urge you to make her happy and comfortable. It is most imperative.”
The doctor hurriedly knocked back his glass of port, and they both sat silent for a bit.
“Will that be all, my lord? I should get set up in a guest chamber close to her ladyship at your earliest convenience, so I may attend her.”
“Yes, of course, Doctor.” Phineas summoned a servant and instructed them to get the doctor settled. The doctor, in turn, hastened from the room.
Phineas stood there, peering down into his drink, his senses spinning. Hating the jangled mess of emotions eating at him, he went into the exercise room, stripped from his jacket, waistcoat, and undershirt until he was naked to the waist. Walking over to the sandbag set up by the windows, he allowed himself to sink into a place where there were little feelings and started to pound all his frustration into the bag.
“Nanna,why must you go so far?” A voice cried, rushing into the room, jolting Felicity awake. She looked around the semi-darkened chamber, at first unsure where she was and what she was lying on. It rushed back to her that she had read a few pages to Phineas’s grandmother, who had fallen asleep within minutes, and not wanting to leave her unattended, Felicity had drawn the drapes closed and reposed on the chaise longue by the windows. Somehow she must have fallen into sleep!
“I cannot bear to see that look of worry on Phineas’s face. Dr. Greaves plays his part well, but I fear he will not be able to bear the consequences of your grandson’s reaction. You know he also has a reputation for shrewd ruthlessness when he is crossed!”
“No,” the old lady said, pushing to sit up on the bed. “It was necessary, Elizabeth. Did you not see how he has been looking at Jane?”
And with more vigor than Felicity ever anticipated, the dowager countess shoved back the covers to stand up. Where had the frail nanna she had met gone? Confusion rushing through her, Felicity stiffened in the chair.
“At first, we were so certain this Jane was not real,” his grandmother said. “But he brought her here and…I daresay they have anticipated their wedding vows, and she might even be with child as we speak.”
Good heavens. With child? She pressed her hand over the flatness of her belly, a painful longing surging through her. Then she recalled last night Phineas had withdrawn from her and released outside her body. Felicity suspected that was done to prevent her from accidentally becoming with child.
“I fear you are going too far!”
The older lady harrumphed. “Bah! I thought you agreed it was of the highest importance that Wyndham married and set up his nursery.”
“I do!”
“I know my grandson. Though he looks at Jane as if he is captivated, I clearly see he has no plan to marry Miss Harrington.”
Felicity’s heart squeezed.
“What do you mean?” the countess demanded.
“Whenever I try to mention planning the wedding, he deftly changes the conversation. I ask him to book Hanover Square, and he says Jane has to return to her family soon, and when he is good and ready, a wedding date will be announced. Perhaps a couple of years from now.Bah! Why such a long engagement? That is because that blasted boy plans to call it off as if we are simpletons. We must outmaneuver that sly fox, Elizabeth.”
