Page 45 of An Arranged Marriage with a Mad Marquess
***
“This is a bad idea, Neil,” Harry said, sounding exhausted.
A full day had passed since Neil’s fit. Hefeltstronger, although that was almost certainly wishful thinking.
He hadn’t known about the soiree, not until it was too late to do anything about it. His mother seemed to think it wasAunt Thomasinwho’d pushed for the date to be set so soon, butsheinsisted that it was all Emma’s doing. Well, it hardly mattered now. Invites had been sent out and accepted, so the party was happening.
Patrina hadn’t visited him. Neil tried his utmost not to be too upset about that. No doubt it was too distressing for her.
“What am I meant to do, Harry? Lie in bed and grow weaker, until I have to get up and stagger around in the ballroom for an hour or two, for all to see?”
Harry sighed. “By all means, build up your strength. But horse riding? Really?”
“It’s the perfect exercise,” Neil objected. “The horse does all the work.”
Harry sighed again. He looked tired, and Neil felt a twinge of guilt. The steward would have had his work cut out for him, running the estate without Neil to help at all,anddealing with Aunt Thomasin and Cousin Clayton’s demands. Neil was willing to bet that both his cousin and his aunt had requested money already.
They treat Harry like a servant, not a relative, and I’m not around to stand up for him. I’m useless.
The sharp, familiar sting of not being quite good enough powered Neil to haul himself upright out of bed, swinging his legs over the side. He had already given orders for his faithful old horse to be saddled up and made ready. Harry was coming with him, of course, and he had a feeling that Clayton would invite himself along, too.
“This is madness,” Harry said firmly. In what must have been despair, he glanced up at Clayton. “You must see that this is a bad idea. Can’t you talk to him?”
Clayton spared his cousin only a brief, contemptuous glance. “I’m not sure it’s your place to say as much.”
Harry flushed. Neil spoke up at once.
“You’ll treat Harry with all due respect while you’re here, Clayton. I’ve told you this before.”
Clayton scowled. “Iamtreating him with all due respect. Cousin, he is asteward.”
“He is my cousin – your cousin, too – and my friend. You know exactly what sort of respect I’m referring to. Don’t make me regret letting you stay.”
Clayton coloured at this. Neil hated having to lean on his authority in this manner, reminding his cousin thathewas Lord Morendale.Hewas the Marquess.
You might have your eye on my seat, Cousin,he thought sourly,but you can’t have itjustyet.
“Well,” Clayton said at last, “I can’t see any harm in it. A nice, refreshing ride is just what you need, Neil.”
Neil said nothing. He could hear the spite in his cousin’s voice, no matter how hard the man tried to hide it. Harry only sighed and began lacing up Neil’s boots for him.
***
They had reached the base of a large hill behind Morendale Manor when Neil began to feel dizzy.
Their pace was a leisurely one, slow and even. He led the way, with Harry following close beside, and Clayton brought up the rear. Neil’s horse kept up a steady trot, placid and well-trained.
Even so, the world began to shift and judder around him. He closed his eyes, but that only made the dizziness and nausea worse. Clenching his jaw, Neil gripped the pommel of his saddle, praying for the feeling to go away. Hadn’t he followed the physician’s instructions to the letter, this time? Hadn’t he obediently drunk the herbal infusions, and even taken a few drops to ‘stabilize’ himself? Why did he feel more ill than ever? It wasn’tfair.
Swallowing hard, Neil forced down his pride and spoke.
“I… I think perhaps we might have to stop.”
Harry reined in his horse at once, reaching for Neil’s reins, too.
“Neil? Are you ill? Heavens, you’ve gone white. Clayton, come and help him get down from the saddle.”
Harry gabbled on, climbing down from his horse and helping Neil down in turn, while Clayton stood silently nearby.
