Page 94 of A Momentary Marriage

“I’m fine. It didn’t hit me. Let me up.”

Instead he swept her up in his arms and stood. She had a glimpse of the stone balustrade, a large crack running across it, and pieces of stone, dirt, and plant scattered all over the rail and floor, before James turned and carried her inside.

“James, I’m all right. Really,” Laura protested, but she was secretly glad he ignored her words. She felt both numb and shaky, and it was comforting to be held in his arms.

James set her down on one of the chairs and knelt beside her, holding her hands in his, his face pale. Mirabelle and Abby came to her other side, and everyone crowded around, all talking at once.

“What happened?” Tessa cried. “Laura, dearest, are you all right? You should lie down. James, take her upstairs.”

“No, really, it’s not necessary.” Laura put her hand on James’s arm to forestall him. “It just startled me.” The fall had jarred her and the spot high on her back was beginning to throb, but she wasn’t about to be tucked away into bed yet.

“You were hit.” James’s hands were gentle on her shoulders as he turned her. He brushed a hand lightly over her back. “Your dress is marked here. Are you sure you’re all right? Where’s the doctor anyway?” He glanced around.

“He and his wife left some time ago, dear,” Aunt Mirabelle answered. “Should we send someone after him?”

“No, please, really, I’m sure nothing is broken,” Laura assured them. “I’ll fix a poultice to take away the ache.”

“You’ll do nothing,” James said flatly. “Someone else will make a poultice.” The color was rushing back into his face now. His eyes glittered. “What I’d like to know is how the hell a great urn like that could fall from the balcony.”

No one had an answer to that. Graeme, who had wedged his way through the others, said, “Laura! Good Lord. Are you all right?” Without waiting for a reply, he went on, “This puts an entirely different light on your other accident.”

James’s head snapped toward him. “Accident? What other accident?”

“You never told him?” Graeme asked Laura, ignoring the elbow Abigail dug into his side.

“No. She never told me.” James shot a short, sharp glance at Laura, then fixed his gaze on Graeme. “I repeat, what other accident?”

“It was while you were ill. It was nothing, just an accident,” Laura said soothingly.

“The horses bolted, and the victoria’s brake slipper failed on the hill down to the castle,” Graeme explained.

“You were in the carriage when Littletree crashed it?” James surged to his feet. He stared down at Laura.

“Yes, but I wasn’t hurt.” Laura rose to her feet to face him. Something more was roiling beneath James’s surface than mere surprise, and she sought for words to reassure him, but could only repeat lamely, “It was only an accident.” She looked toward Graeme for help.

But Graeme, his face furrowed and arms crossed over his chest, provided none. Instead he said, “Two separate accidents seems unusual, especially given . . . the rest of it.” He glanced significantly at James.

Laura stared at Graeme. “But why would anyone—” She swung toward James. “You don’t really think—”

“I think that I have been a fool.” James’s face blazed with fury. “Why didn’t I realize?” He swung around, searching the room. He focused on Adelaide, standing a few feet away, and growled, “Where is he?”

Adelaide stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless. Laura, guessing his intent, jumped up and reached out to grab his arm, but James was already gone. Shoving past the knot of people around them, he charged out of the room.

“Graeme! Why did you tell him that now?” Laura threw an angry glance at Graeme and ran after her husband. James was already heading up the stairs, shouting, “Claude!”

There was no answer, but James did not pause. Laura lifted her skirts and ran after him. Graeme passed her, taking the steps two at a time, and Walter pelted after him, but James had too great a lead on all of them. As Laura reached the top of the stairs, she saw the door to Claude’s bedroom open, and he stepped out, scowling.

“What the—”

James barreled into his brother, knocking him down, and began to pummel him. Graeme and Walter reached the struggling pair and grabbed James’s arms, hauling him up. Claude lashed out, hitting James, and Walter threw himself between them. Walter warded off Claude as Graeme wrapped his arms around James, struggling to hold him back. Mr. Netherly and two other men helped pull the two men several feet apart.

“Let go.” James shook off Graeme’s hold. “I’m not going to kill him. Not yet.”

“What the hell is the matter with you?” Claude glared at his brother.

“What do you think is the matter?” James returned hotly. “You tried to murder her. It’s one thing to go after me, but when you try to hurt Laura—”

Claude stared. “What are you talking about?”