Page 41 of An Arranged Marriage with a Mad Marquess
“I’d like that,” she said, as honestly as she could. “I don’t… don’t enjoy being separated from you.”
Neil flinched at this, eyes widening. “Truly? I rather thought my presence was irksome to you.”
She gave a short laugh. “Irksome? No, not at all. You are clever, and kind, and I enjoy your company very much. Very much indeed.”
He blinked down at her, eyes wide.
Has anybody ever told him this before?
“Patrina,” Neil began, a little hesitantly, “I ought to tell you…”
But there was never any chance for him to tell her what he meant to, because at that moment footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. They only had a brief moment to jump away from each other before the door banged open, and Clayton strode in.
“There you are, cousin!” he greeted, smiling cheerfully at them both. The cheerfulness did not quite reach his eyes. “I was looking for you everywhere. And good day to you, cousin-in-law. You were awfully quiet at breakfast. Is everything quite all right?”
“Not to worry, Clayton,” Neil said firmly. “Everything is fine.”
Clayton pursed his lips, glancing suspiciously between Neil and Patrina. “Are you sure? You went hurrying out of the billiards room as soon as you got that note. You barely finished your tea. Somethingiswrong, I know it. Come, cousin, won’t you let me share the burden?”
Neil opened his mouth, then froze, a confused expression coming across his face. Patrina blinked up at him, and saw the confusion turn to horror.
And then, just like that, Neil crumpled to the ground like a piece of damp paper.
She couldn’t help it. She gave a shriek of alarm. Neil hit the ground with athud, lying crumpled on the floor. His body moved wildly, limbs twitching uncontrollably. She knelt beside him, turning him onto his side.
In two strides, Clayton had crossed the room, and began tugging on the bell pull to summon the servants. Then he knelt beside Patrina, pushing her none-too-subtly aside.
“Let me do this,” he said brusquely, not looking at her. “My cousin needs help now, not well-meaning fumblings. No offence, cousin-in-law. We have more experience with his condition.”
Before Patrina could think up a reply, the door flew open. Emma came running in, followed by Cynthia, the butler, and, of course, Thomasin.
Thomasin gave a theatrical scream and sank down onto a nearby chair.
“He’s dead!” she gasped. “He’sdead!”
Clayton threw his mother an annoyed glance. “Of course he is not dead, Mother. Please, let us stay calm.”
Thomasin looked as though she felt rather silly. Patrina found herself pushed out of the way, backing off to let others gather around Neil’s prone form on the ground. He was still moving wildly, eyes rolling back in his head.
“We should fetch Harry,” she heard herself say. Her comment was mostly ignored, except for Thomasin, who threw her a disdainful glance.
“The steward?” she responded. “I’m not sure whyheshould be involved in this.”
Patrina flushed. “He’s your cousin, I thought.”
Thomasin sniffed. Her earlier theatrics had disappeared entirely, it seemed. “Not exactly. I’m sure he’s very busy, so we shall leave him out of this, I think.”
“What could have brought this on?” Clayton muttered, shaking his head. “Someone must send for the physician at once, I think. Has Neil not been taking his medicine?”
Emma and Cynthia shot quick glances at each other. Not quickly enough, however, as Clayton saw.
“Aunt? Cousin?” he pressed, eyeing them both sternly.
Cynthia cracked first. “He wanted to stop the drops,” she mumbled, not looking anyone in the eye, “and Mr. Blackburnprescribed a herbal remedy. I don’t believe he’s been drinking it.”
Clayton heaved a sigh. “My poor, stubborn cousin. Who could have encouraged him to do something so foolhardy?”
Again, there was a brief silence. Emma glanced over at Patrina, just for an instant, but said nothing. Patrina found herself feeling relieved.
