Page 42 of A Momentary Marriage

Laura finally wound down, the knot in her chest that had been her companion the past few hours loosening. Abby at first said nothing, still gazing at her in amazement.

“I know this must sound mad,” Laura told her. “But I promise I am perfectly sane. Someone deliberately set out to harm James.”

“No, I have no doubt about your sanity,” Abby assured her. “It’s just hard to take it all in.” She straightened. “The two of you should come here. No one could get to him here.”

“Thank you. You’re very kind. But I’m afraid to move him. He is . . .” Tears glistened in Laura’s eyes. “James is very ill. I put him in a different room, and Demosthenes guards the door.”

“That should discourage any attacker.” Abby smiled. “What can you do for him—will he recover?”

“I don’t know. Some of my father’s patients died, and others didn’t. My father used milk thistle, and he thought it helped speed recovery. That’s why I came to you. To ask you to purchase some for me. I have a little, but I need much more.”

“I will, of course, but I don’t understand. Why not send a servant to the village? Wouldn’t the apothecary have it?”

“That’s where his tonic came from.”

“Ohhh.” Abby’s brows rose in understanding. “You suspect the apothecary of adding the poison?”

“I suspect everyone in the house, but I cannot rule out the apothecary. I fear if I bought it or sent a servant or, well, anyone in the house, the man would reason that it was for James, and if he is the person who contaminated the medicine, he might taint it, as well. But you are far enough removed that I don’t think he would assume you were buying it for James. Also . . . I don’t want anyone at Grace Hill to know about it.”

Abby nodded. “I understand. I’ll go there this morning. As soon as I have it, I’ll come to call on you and Tessa. That would seem natural, don’t you think? I’ll bring Mirabelle with me.”

“But you won’t tell her, will you?”

“No. I won’t breathe a word of it. It would upset her greatly, and she would be bound to tell her sister. I must tell Graeme, though.”

“Yes, of course.”

“He will be back before long. I wired him about James’s condition, and he wired back immediately that he was returning. But Lady Eugenia insists on coming with him.”

“The dowager countess?” Laura stared. “Why?”

“I don’t know; I suppose she tyrannized James as well when he and Graeme were boys.”

Laura half smiled. “I suspect she had a bit less success with James.”

“No doubt. Anyway, she’s got it in her head to come, and so of course he had to wait another day for her. Doubtless when I tell him, Graeme will want to charge over there and have at someone.”

“I’d be happy for him to, if only we knew who. I’m hoping I’ll see something in their faces or catch them checking on the mercury. Something that will tell me who it is.”

“Just let me know if you need anything else from me. I’ll do whatever I can. You have my word.”

“Thank you.” Laura smiled, and both of them knew that something more than Abby’s help had been obtained.

chapter 18

Laura arrived home to discover that James’s fever had returned while she was gone. Owen let out a sigh of relief when she entered, and he jumped to his feet. “I wasn’t sure what to do. Sir James has been restless for a while. Well, ever since Mrs. Salstone and her ladyship were here to see him.”

“Did they talk to him? Do anything?” Laura asked as she stripped off her gloves and began to untie her bonnet.

“Um . . . well, Lady de Vere cried.” He looked puzzled. “Is that what you mean?”

“I thought perhaps they might have gotten him to eat or drink something.”

“Oh. No. Mrs. Salstone was upset because the dog growled. You know how Dem is.” Laura thought amusement lurked in his eyes. “Dem let them in, but then he came and stood next to Sir James and they couldn’t get close to the bed. Mrs. Salstone said as how a dog shouldn’t be allowed in a sickroom. But then Lady de Vere told her not to be silly, as Sir James would rather have Dem with him than anyone else.”

Laura could not hold back a little smile. “I suspect that’s true.” She poured water into the basin and added a few drops of lavender.

“But then Mrs. Salstone began to cry, and her ladyship did, too. And Sir James said, ‘Do stop sniveling.’ ” Clearly Owen had a good memory and a delight in storytelling, as well.