Page 53 of The Colonel's Ungovernable Governess
“Shall Mr. Darcy make his displeasure known as to the condition of the house?” she asked with a bit of apprehension.
Edward chuckled. “My cousin owns an estate that some say rivals Chatsworth. It runs with a simple lift of his brow in approval or disapproval. He is instructing the boy on the duties of an estate owner. Moreover, what Darcy cannot address, Mrs. Darcy will. My cousin’s wife has an eye for how a household runs efficiently, but she can be as ‘useful’ as a fishwife when one chooses not to follow her orders. Do not take my words as ill remarks. I adore Mrs. Darcy and so will you. However, I issue my warning not to be fooled by her petite figure.”
“I imagine I shall enjoy the lady’s presence in the household. She sounds as if she will restore this manor to its rightful glory.”
“Then I will permit you to be about your tasks,” he instructed.
“Gladly done, sir. I have been praying for this day for more than a year.”
Mr. Jessie returned with the treatment for Marksham’s wrists.
“Wait, ma’am,” Edward called. “Until I can speak to a proper authority, Mr. Jessie will be guarding Mr. Marksham in this room. If it is not too much trouble, I would prefer only you, or one person you designate to administer to them, deliver food to the pair. A chamber pot will also be required.”
“There is one behind the screen, sir.”
“Naturally, I should have considered such. Then that will be all, ma’am.”
To Mr. Jessie, he said, “You are not to open the door to anyone other than Mr. Darcy or Mrs. Murray or me. When Marksham eats or requires the necessity, you may release his hands, but never release his feet. Consider him of the nature of the stallion Miss Lambert and the boy assisted in tilting.”
“I understand, sir.”
“I must speak to Darcy before I go after Jennings. Lock the door behind me and keep the key on your person.” With that, he went in search of his cousin to apprise Darcy of what Marksham had confided and, hopefully, learn that Miss Lambert was not as near death as he feared.
Within a few seconds, he was standing in the open door of the lady’s room. Vincent scrambled up to race to his side. Edward instinctively knelt to wrap his arm about the boy.
“Her wound was . . . was deeper . . . than . . . Mr. Harwell thought,” the child said softly as he snuggled closer.
“Such does not mean Miss Lambert will not recover,” Edward stated in tones he hoped would convince them both. “It means it will take her longer, but she will recover.”
“Honestly, sir?”
“Keep repeating your prayers. God will hear you and recognize how much the lady means to all of us,” he instructed.
“You pray also, sir?” the child asked.
“Not as often as I should,” Edward admitted, “but I always pray for God’s assistance when I cannot do the deed without his hand on my shoulder. Men at war likely pray more often than do others.”
“I prayed my father would not die,” the child said innocently.
“I imagine such is true. I often pray my brother will live a long life, and, even so, I will likely feel ‘robbed’ when he passes. He was my dearest childhood companion. Yet, I must set my heart to believe God requires another good man at his side, and someday I will see Roland again. I often remind myself it would be selfish of me to wish Lindale to remain longer if he is in severe pain. I could not ask it of him. I understand your father was also suffering and God wished to end his misery by allowing him to pass in his sleep.”
“My father was an excellent man,” the boy declared. “If he was in deep pain, I am glad he rests with God, though I think of him every day.”
“I hear others speak of your father’s excellent good sense and his kindness, which is a true indication of how much respect many held for him. You must do him proud by being an equally kind and intelligent earl.” Darcy stepped away from Harwell’s side to join them, and Edward stood. “Let us three step into the hallway so I might share what I have learned from Marksham.”
Darcy nodded his agreement, but, first, he told Harwell, “We will be outside. Call out if you require my assistance with the lady.”
“Aye!” Harwell uttered, but he did not look up from his task.
Edward directed the boy to an upholstered bench along the wall and sat beside him. “I do not have the time to answer all your questions, for I must seek out Philip Jennings.” He noticed Darcy swallowed his question before he could ask it. “I am first calling on Jennings’s estate, but I do not expect to find him there, for Marksham claims, if they failed in killing our young Lord Babcock, they were all to travel to Hull to board a ship to take them to Italy.”
Darcy said, “Few ships which carry passengers, especially a party as large as the Jennings family, set in at Hull. Mostly trade ships. You may be required to chase them to London, though perhaps Norfolk would do.”
Edward had not considered the idea he might not discover Jennings in Hull. “Yet, to my advantage, such a large party will travel slower than a man on horseback.” With a heavy sigh, he resigned himself to be away from the estate longer than he wished. “Jennings promised to assist Marksham and the man’s mother. ‘Supposedly,’ Lord Marksham means to request a divorce before the Lords, claiming a question of paternity. Jennings told the man, that if he was the earl, he would help block Lord Marksham’s petition, leaving the young man’s mother a baroness and him still the heir to the barony.”
“I do not understand,” the boy stated.
“I will explain later,” Darcy assured. “We must permit the colonel to finish his story, for time is short.”
