Chapter Three
Landry Hall
Kempston, near Bedford
Bedfordshire, England
When Laurence blinked open his eyes, he was grateful that he no longer felt as if he’d been plunged into the depths of hell. That meant his fever had broken, and he’d come out of the darkness he’d fallen into while in the stable.
A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth.
He was definitely no longer in the stable, though.
That’s when his situation began to sink into him.
The bed he was in felt soft and comfortable.
The window in the room was partially open.
Chilly, clean air filtered into the space, and faint birdsong met his ears from somewhere outside.
From the anemic sunlight, it seemed to be sometime in the mid-morning hours.
Where the hell am I?
For that matter, what happened to remove him from that stable?
When he stirred to prop himself against the pillows, a slight groan escaped him, for his head throbbed with a bit of an ache while his mouth was as dry as cotton.
Additionally, his muscles felt all too weak, as if he hadn’t used them in days.
I need answers.
Before he could struggle to throw off the bedclothes or counterpane, a faint knock sounded on the door.
Visitors? He turned his head that way. When he bid the person entry, his eyes widened with surprise at the woman who entered carrying a breakfast tray.
Those blue gray eyes were the same ones who’d haunted his dreams while he’d been ill.
A trace of disappointment went through him, for he’d thought she’d been a guardian angel sent to guide him back to this mortal coil.
“Hullo.” His voice came out much like a croak, but he kept his gaze on his visitor.
Damn, but she was very much an angel with blonde hair caught back in a loose chignon and clad in a long-sleeved dress in a marigold hue. A pretty shade of pink stained her pale cheeks as well as her lips, and when she gave him a slight welcoming smile, his world felt as if it upended itself.
Or he could just be suffering vertigo from the illness.
“I’m glad to see you are awake,” the vision said in dulcet tones. “I’d begun to wonder if you were strong enough to fight for your life.”
To see her at the end of that fight? Hell, yes! Laurence cleared his throat. “How long was I out? It feels like it’s been an eternity since the stable.”
“No doubt you’ve been through much.” She set the tray on the bed beside him.
The scent of tea and toast caused his stomach to rumble, and the fact she’d included a pot of marmalade and a chrysanthemum in a small crystal vase went straight through his chest. When was the last time he’d experienced such a nicety?
The cheerful orange bloom became a bright spot in his existence.
She slightly tilted her head as she regarded him. “All of that to say, you have been dead to the whole world for a few days.”
“Did you find me?”
“No. One of the stable hands did. He told a footman, who then told me. When I arrived, you were burning with a fever and couldn’t be roused.”
“I apologize for that.”
A snort escaped her. “You couldn’t help that.
” Then she shrugged. “Regardless, the men brought you into the house. Since then, I have been nursing you back to health. Along with my housekeeper and a couple of maids, that is. We let chicken broth trickle into your mouth by soaking the corner of a napkin in it and resting it on your lips. At least you received some sort of nourishment that way.”
It was much to take in. “I have disrupted your daily routine and have caused problems.”
“No.” Again, she shook her head. Seconds later, she sat in a hard back wooden chair near the bedside.
“Having something to concentrate on other than my thoughts has been a pleasant change, and it was no bother, though we wondered for that first day if you would make it.” Shadows reflected in those cool, clear, and bright eyes.
“Your fever was quite high, and you were caught in hallucinations.”
“God, I hope I didn’t make a cake of myself while locked in those nightmares.”
“You didn’t while I sat vigil.” When a soft chuckle left her throat, he vowed to do anything to hear that sound again. “Laudanum helped, and we put cool cloths on your head and chest both day and night.”
“Damn.”
“Indeed.” She shrugged. “At some point last night, your fever broke and you fell into a deep but peaceful sleep.”
“Ah.” Knowing he remembered none of it boggled his mind. “Thank you for the care. Many wouldn’t have bothered.”
“Well, I’ve never done what most people would.” Again, she bestowed a small smile on him. What would it take to see her give a genuine grin that lit her eyes? “Hopefully you are on the mend, though it will take a bit for you to regain strength, I’ll wager.”
“I do feel quite weak, which is unusual for me.” Slowly, Laurence became aware that he wasn’t in the clothes in which he’d arrived. In fact, he was in a long sleeping shirt… and nothing else. With a frown, he bounced his gaze from the tray to her. “Did you, ah, act as my valet?”
“No.” A blush went into her cheeks as her attention trailed over his chest. “My butler and a footman did that. We deemed it necessary to your healing, and your clothes were filthy besides. They put you into a cool bath to help with the fever then dressed you in some of my brother’s clothes that were more manageable for your condition. ”
So many questions bubbled through his mind, but he decided to only focus on one. “Uh, I don’t mean to be rude but where am I?”
There was another quick glimpse of a smile before it faded. “Landry Hall. It’s my father’s country manor. The stable stall you collapsed in was where one of the horses that pull the traveling coach is usually housed. The one across the way was empty as well. In fact, there were four empty stalls.”
That only created more questions. From the depths of his murky memory, he recalled the tavern gossip. “Is your family in residence?”
“No.” Her tone brooked no further inquiries regarding that topic. “I am here by myself and have been for some time.”
“I see.” Even though he didn’t. “By the by, who is your father?”
“The Viscount of Rolston.”
The title didn’t sound familiar, but then, he didn’t know that much regarding members of the beau monde. It hadn’t been of uppermost importance when he’d been away.
When she landed her gaze on his face, he wanted to dive into those blue gray pools. “Who are you?” As she spoke, she poured out a cup of tea.
His mouth watered at the thought of taking in liquid after all this time. “Captain Danbury. Or rather the new Baron Wendlesham. Laurence if you wish to eschew titles.”
Interest flickered in her eyes. “I think I once met your father at a society event. His manor is across the county from here, isn’t it?”
“Was.” Laurence accepted the cup from her and when their fingers brushed, electric tingles shot up to his elbow.
How odd. “He left behind massive debt after he died, leaving me no choice but to sell the manor and grounds just recently to square up everything.” With a shake of his head, he breathed in the almost floral scent of the tea.
“I’m not one to indulge in scandal. Being in the military meant properly following orders and being certain everything was tidy and in its place, but my father?
” He took a sip of tea, and it was the most refreshing drink of anything he’d had in his life.
“Quite frankly, he was a fool.” As much as he tried, he couldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice.
“I’m sorry. We aren’t allowed to choose who we’re related to, and at times, that means disappointment.” Shadows continued to fill her eyes, but he didn’t know why. “In society, I’m Miss Landry, but since I haven’t been among the beau monde for what feels like forever, you may refer to me as Rose.”
“A fitting name.” When she blushed, she truly did resemble the typical English rose, all pink and sweet and demure.
“Do hush, Captain. From what I understand, my grandmother had the honor of naming me, and since there were wild roses beneath the window in the room where I was born, Rose was what she chose. Unfortunately, I think, my grandmother wasn’t a woman of much imagination.”
The way she had of looking at things was amusing.
“Well, Rose, however you came by the name, it’s appropriate.
You bring a sweetness and complexity to life.
” He gave her what he hoped was a charming grin, but he feared he was too exhausted to make it convincing.
“Regardless, thank you for bringing me back to life. Such as it is.” Why he was spared, he didn’t know, but being able to spend time in this angel’s presence was more than worth the illness.
“I rather have nothing just now. It’s quite sobering to realize one is a failure. ”
“I know how that feels.” But she didn’t expand on that topic either.
In silence, she watched as he sipped his tea and nibbled at a triangle of dry toast. “Well, I should leave you to your privacy. No doubt you’ll need to stay in bed for a few days, and you are most welcome to remain for as long as you need.
Lord knows there has been no excitement here for months. ”
That only further intrigued him. What had she known in her life that put such sadness in her eyes and defeat in her voice?
But he said nothing. Now was not the time.
Perhaps once he wasn’t so damned exhausted and weak, they could strike up a friendship of sorts.
Instead, Laurence nodded. “Again, thank you for the kindness. Sometimes that isn’t found toward indigent former soldiers. ”
“Such gammon.” Passion filled her voice, for clearly it was a subject she was animated about.
“England has a debt of gratitude toward men like you, and I wish more people acted the part. There have been many times since I’ve been here that I’ve hired former soldiers to do repairs about the estate.
In fact, I’d be willing to hire you once you’ve fully recovered if you’re good with that sort of thing. ”