Page 53 of Mending the Baron's Sins
“Orla,” He stepped toward her with the same enthusiasm. His hand clasped over hers, the warmth startling. Her fingers entwined with his. “I know she can be…”
“Horace? Horace? Where are you?” Lady Marbourne’s voice called from her chamber and the door was flung open.
Orla retracted her hand fast. She smiled at the baron, then left hurriedly down the nearest staircase. Halfway down the steps, she glanced back up at him. He had hovered there, and still not responded to his sister’s call.
Is that longing?
His expression made her breath hitch in her throat. How she wished they could be alone again in his chamber, to forget thewider world, all the rules, or the proprieties they had to abide to when his sister was here.
“Horace!” Lady Marbourne shouted impatiently.
Horace smiled one last time at Orla and walked off to answer his sister.
***
“How long did you say you had been here?” Lady Marbourne asked as Orla helped her to step into the excessive gown for the evening’s dinner. Orla caught sight of Esther’s smile of amusement a short distance away, though it went unseen by Lady Marbourne who was much more preoccupied with looking at herself in the mirror.
“A few months, my lady,” Orla answered softly, tying the laces of the gown around Lady Marbourne’s back.
“And your attentions to my brother…” Lady Marbourne bit her lip as she spoke, as if uncertain how to finish the question.
Out of the corner of her eye, Orla saw through the candlelight that Esther nearly dropped the jewelry she had been preparing. She stuffed it back into the box quickly and looked up at Orla with a panicked glance.
Neither of them had talked about that kiss from the moment Esther had urged her to forget it.
“I am helping him, my lady,” Orla tried to keep her tone neutral. “Is there anything you’d like to know about my healing?”
“From what my brother says, you are very attentive indeed. In fact, he talks of you. Often.” Lady Marbourne’s eyes met hers in the reflection. “It’s almost a surprise you’re merely his healer when he talks of you so much.”
Orla’s fingers stilled on the laces. She forced a smile.
“Your brother is kind, my lady. I think it’s his gratefulness for my help.”
“And you? What are your… thoughts?” Lady Marbourne was most particular on this, her eyes penetrating into Orla in the reflection.
“I think if I can help him to regain his full strength, it will be a wonderful thing indeed.” Orla smiled. “I feel it’s quite the purpose of my life, my lady, to help others if I can.”
At once, Lady Marbourne’s expression softened.
“How noble,” she whispered. Her eyes flitted to her own face in the mirror once again, and then she admired the gown as Orla finished with the laces. “I used to be here all the time. We were the diamonds of the season, much talked of, with balls and parties every night.” She giggled. “It’s high time my brother gained back some of his youth.
He talks of himself like he’s an old man, but he’s far from it.” She turned abruptly on the spot, sweeping the vast gown so suddenly that Orla was forced to jump back to avoid being knocked over by the sheer extent of petticoats.
“If you do care dearly for my brother’s health and wellbeing, I hope you will assist me in persuading him that a move to Bath is ideal.”
“A move?” Orla repeated. She hadn’t heard this mentioned again since that first day when she had overheard their discussion. Now fearing that had perhaps been in much conversation between them, she panicked, her mouth dry.
Would he really move away?
“The healing powers of the waters in Bath are much lauded and spoken of. It would do him a wondrous good.” Lady Marbourne placed a hand on Orla’s shoulder. There was something both comforting, but also a little patronizing in the touch. “Your uncle thinks he knows best for my brother.
Mr. Byrne has been insisted on him remaining here, but I know things about Bath that your uncle does not. Trust me, Miss Byrne. We must persuade Horace of this move for his own good.” She patted Orla’s shoulder, then turned away again.
Orla looked toward Esther across the room, who was in a fresh knot with a new necklace. Esther merely shrugged, as lost as Orla was as to why the water in one part of the country could have such a miraculous difference on one’s health.
He cannot move. No, he cannot go.
Orla’s eyes suddenly stun with tears, and she moved away, hiding her face from view.
