Page 91 of Again, Scoundrel

Violet could hardly stand by the time they walked the horses up to Rosehips. They’d been riding for over eight hours, including the stop they’d made at the inn. Still, she took a moment to look around her.

Rosehips was vast, two thousand acres or more if she had to guess, and quite beautiful. The rosy glow of dawn illuminated the elegant manor house, and the air was scented with the delicate perfume of wildflowers. The sea sparkled in the distance and the briny, tangy smell of it intermingled with the florals. The whole of the place created a heady assault on Violet’s senses she wished she had the time or energy to appreciate.

She dismounted with the help of the stableboy, her legs shaking beneath her like aspic. She could hardly stand, much less walk. When she tried to take a step and nearly toppled over, she realized her muscles were as useless to her now as a wooden frying pan.

Alistair was by her side in a moment, reaching to hold her upright.

“Lean into me,” he whispered as she swayed on her feet. He held his arm to her, and she took it, gratefully. Together, they slowly made their way to the stately Rosehips entrance.

They’d only just ascended the steps and entered the gracious foyer when a middle-aged and strikingly beautiful woman rushed to greet them.

“Alistair!” she exclaimed and then looked at Violet and dipped her head. “Miss Goodwin. How nice to see you again.”

“Mother,” he said, leaving Violet leaning against the solid door to press a kiss to the Marchioness’s cheek as they embraced.

Violet noticed her clothes were exquisite and thoroughly rumpled. She looked as if she had slept in them, but the dark purple shadows underneath her eyes said she likely hadn’t slept at all. She’d probably paced and worried. Or sat by Darius’s bedside and clutched his hand, feeling utterly helpless.

“And what brings Miss Goodwin here?” Alistair’s mother asked, pulling away from her son to look at Violet.

They’d met only once before at the Crystal Palace, and yet her greeting was warm and welcoming.

“Miss Goodwin is a nurse. She’s here for Darius.”

“Pleased to see you again,” Violet said and dropped into a curtsey.

She’d thought her curtsey had improved in her time in England until her legs gave way from exhaustion and she tumbled backward.

Alistair moved to catch her again, lifting her upright and leaning her against himself this time, just as he’d done before with the door. She preferred him as her bulwark.

The Marchioness smiled at her graciously, despite the absurdity of her curtsey. And the impropriety of Alistair’s touch.

“Welcome to Rosehips, Miss Goodwin,” she said. “We’re glad to have you here, despite the circumstances.”

Violet noticed that Alistair had his mother’s eyes. They held the same inky depths as his. And they clouded now with the same worry.

“Thank you,” Violet replied. “May I see the patient? We shouldn’t waste time.”

“Jacks?” The Marchioness turned to the silent butler who had shown them into the house.

“See a room is prepared for Miss Goodwin and ask Jenkins to attend to her as soon as it is ready. In the meantime, they can breakfast in the yellow morning room.”

To Violet, she said, “Jenkins is my best lady’s maid. She’ll have you turned out in no time at all. I do apologize for the wait.”

Here, she gave her son a look that could still the hearts of even the most valiant of men. “I was not informed you’d be with us, or we would have been better prepared for you.”

“I apologize, Mother,” Alistair said with a sheepishness that made Violet think he’d said it just like that a thousand times over during his childhood for any number of boyish offenses.

“You’re forgiven. Now go, before your father comes down. You know how he is.”

Alistair cast his eyes briefly up the stairs and nodded briskly while the butler herded them out of the grand foyer and away to the morning room.

Violet sat at the table, bleary eyed and exhausted while coffee was poured, and toast and kippers were placed in front of her.

“I’d like to see your brother,” she said to Alistair. “As soon as possible.”

“This is as soon as possible. Although, you ought to rest. You can barely keep your eyes open.”

“It’s important that I start treatment, which I can’t do until I examine him. So, if we could dispense with the pleasantries and the breakfast, I’d like to begin.”