Page 74 of An Arranged Marriage with a Mad Marquess
Memories flashed through his head, mostly of Clayton and himself running about as children, playing and laughing without a care in the world.
“Neil did begin to get worse after Clayton and Aunt Thomasin arrived,” Cynthia said suddenly, her voice shaking.
Emma rounded on her daughter. “How dare you! Howdareyou! This is nonsense. This young woman…” she paused to point at Patrina, “…is simply making up stories to get attention.”
Patrina sat up a little straighter, meeting Emma’s eye squarely.
“I think you know that isn’t true,” she said quietly. “Emma, please. Think for a moment. You aren’t a foolish woman, and we all know how much you care for Neil. Are you going to risk losing him?”
Emma swallowed hard, throat working. Neil shifted to look up at his mother.
“Mother? I’d like you to listen to Patrina. I want her wishes respected in this manner.”
Emma closed her eyes, reaching blindly for her son’s hand. She said nothing, only giving a short nod.
And then there was chaos outside. Neil forced himself into a sitting position, the hairs on the back of his neck rising.
Clayton strode into the room first, smiling briskly around.
“How’s the invalid, then? Don’t worry, Neil, Mr. Blackburn is here. Everything will be all right. I daresay that madwoman who calls herself ahealerdidn’t bother to give you your drops, eh? Not to worry. We’re here now.”
Mr. Blackburn stepped into the room next, eyes shadowed by his heavy brow. He didn’t seem to be looking at anyone in particular and clutched his medical bag tight to his chest.
Aunt Thomasin came next, smiling placidly.
Neil glanced at Patrina. Her face was very white, and she sat very still, clutching his hand. She met his gaze and gave him a tiny nod. Neil drew in a breath.
“I know what you’ve done, Clayton.”
There was a brief silence. Clayton was now standing at the bottom of Neil’s bed, hands on his hips, the very model of a handsome, caring cousin, a marquess-to-be. He blinked, missing a beat, then smiled.
“Done? I just told you. The physician is here. That steward of yours might have fetched him, you know.”
Neil shook his head. “I know what you’re trying to do, the three of you. What you did to my father. You want me dead, Clayton.”
Clayton flinched backwards at this, seeming truly shaken. His loss of composure only lasted an instant, and then the charming smile was back.
“Goodness, cousin, did you knock your head when you collapsed? Heavens, this is not good news. My poor uncle made all sorts of wild accusations towards the end. Aunt Emma, perhaps we might make a plan to…”
“Talk to me, Clayton, not my mother,” Neil heard himself say, voice shaking with anger.
Clayton paused, an uneasy expression creeping into his eyes. He glanced at Patrina, and the expression solidified into pure hatred.
“It’s her, isn’t it?” he muttered, creeping closer. “She’s filling your head with nonsense. Youknowthis is all in your head, Neil. Youknowit’s your illness.”
Neil swallowed. “Look me in the eye, Clayton, and tell me that it’s a lie.”
For a split second, Neil saw the truth cross his cousin’s face. Guilt and anger and regret all mixed there in his eyes, the instant seeming to stretch out forever.
Then it was gone, and Clayton was just Clayton again, throwing off the awkward moment with an easy laugh.
“Heavens, Neil, you’re more ill than I thought! I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Neil glanced past Clayton. There were only two new people in the room now. At some point, Mr. Blackburn had crept out. Outside, Neil could hear shouts and voices, and the clatter of carriage wheels and horses’ hooves on the paved courtyard. Lady Ashworth crossed to the window and pulled back the curtain.
“The constable is here,” she remarked, almost off-handedly.
“If you’re so confident in your own innocence, that all of this is nonsense,” Cynthia spoke up, rising shakily to her feet, “then you won’t mind talking to the constable, will you, Clayton? You won’t mind another physician taking a look at the herb infusion and the drops which were prescribed for my brother. If this is all lies, the medicine will be harmless. Won’t it?”
