Chapter Seventeen
They arrived to find the house in an uproar.
Mrs. Menzies approached Diantha, wringing her hands.
“Is it true about Lord Rossburn and Mr. Upton, my lady?” She jerked her chin to the ceiling.
“Lady William disappeared into her room as soon as Billy Green brought the news, but I followed the doctor’s directives to the best of my ability. ” She sniffled. “My poor Lady William.”
Archie and Billy entered just then with two more ghillies, using the blanket as a litter to carry Kieran. Seeing the large bloodstain soaking through the thick material, the housekeeper shrieked in horror.
“For God’s sake, ye miserable woman, stop your caterwauling and get out o’ the way!” Archie shouted as they hurried up the stairs with their burden. Doctor Andrews, following closely, paused to speak to Diantha.
“I’ll need you to sit with the elder Lady Rossburn. She is doubtless frantic with worry.”
Diantha shook her head. “My place is with my husband!”
He waved her protests aside. “You have done more than your share to keep him alive, Lady Rossburn.” He snapped the words out. “Unless you’ve dealt with violent injuries, which Archie Green has, you’ll only be a hindrance in the sickroom now.”
His brisk manner vanished. “I swear that if it should be necessary to summon you, I shall do so without delay.”
She understood that he referred to Kieran’s death. Her face stiffened as she fought back tears.
“Now do as you’re told and let me try to save his lordship’s life.”
Lady Rossburn’s maid opened the door to Diantha’s soft knock. In her seat by the fire, Kieran’s mother gripped the arms of her chair until the inflamed knuckles threatened to burst through her skin. Still, her voice remained steady. “Is there news?”
She carefully gathered the older woman into her arms as she briefly described the doctor’s actions so far.
Lady Rossburn nodded. “I have every confidence in Doctor Andrews and in my son’s constitution.
” Nevertheless, the gnarled hands gripped Diantha’s tightly until word came that her son would survive the night.
“Please, look in on my sister-in-law on your way to Kieran’s room.” Tears of relief, the first she had shed, glistened in her eyes. “She is suffering more than we are now.”
Resisting the temptation to leave Iona to her fate, Diantha nodded and kissed the soft cheek before hastening out of the room.
No reply answered her soft knock on Iona’s door.
After several moments, she quietly twisted the handle.
The door swung silently open under her touch.
“Ma’am?” Dim light came from a pair of candles on a table by the bed.
No sound came from the huddled figure partially hidden by the gauzy bed curtains.
“I am so terribly sorry to disturb you—is there anything we can do for you?”
In spite of herself, pity for the woman’s plight welled up in her heart.
She approached her. “I cannot tell you how horrified I am at your son’s death.
I swear to you that I regret it more bitterly than you can imagine.
” She could not blame Iona for not wanting to speak to her, but could not keep herself from asking for absolution.
“May I at least send for your maid, or write to a friend to come and stay with you during this time?” She took hold of a cold hand and felt wetness on her fingers. Jerking it back, she nearly fainted. The dim candlelight revealed that for the second time that night, her hands were covered in blood.
“I can’t faint here.” Automatically, she staggered to the doorway. Keeping her hands hidden, she gained the attention of a footman.
“Please inform Doctor Andrews or Archie Green that they are needed in Lady William’s room.” Her mother would be proud of her calm manner, she reflected grimly. By the time the doctor rushed in, she had lit enough candles to reveal the body on the blood-soaked bedding.
He shook his head and lifted a lifeless hand with its slit wrist. “Bad business all the way around.” Iona’s slim fingers wrapped around a sterling silver razor. Drying blood picked out Barclay’s monogram.
* * *
After quietly ordering a few trusted servants to clean up Iona’s room, the doctor escorted her to Kieran’s chamber. “Do not disturb him with more bad news, my lady. I was able to stop the bleeding, but he’s not out of the woods yet.”
Her heart contracted at the sight of Kieran lying motionless in the four-poster bed. His dark hair formed a stark contrast to his waxy skin. As she approached, she wondered if he had died as well. A dry sob escaped her. At the sound, he opened his eyes.
“Diantha.” The thread of speech betrayed his weakness, but a smile flickered across his beautiful mouth at the sight of her. He extended a hand, barely able to lift it off the coverlet. “Come to me.”
“Are you in much pain?” She moved to the bed and clasped it. Unable to resist the lure of the dark waves, she gently brushed a strand off his forehead.
“Andrews gave me a little morphine, but I wanted to see you before I nodded off.” He awkwardly raised her fingers to his bloodless lips. “I can never thank you enough for saving my life tonight.”
Gratitude, not love. To her horror, tears sprang to her eyes at the realization that despite his tenderness, he could not fully return her feelings. Diantha tried to blink them away, but not quickly enough.
“Crying?” His fingers tightened on hers but he could not maintain his grip. “My poor girl, you must have been terrified.”
“I shall feel better once you’re fully recovered.” She forced her voice to remain tranquil. “But in order to do that, you must rest.” He made an impatient noise.
“None of that, sir. You are going to rest until the doctor tells you otherwise.”
“Termagant.” The thick lashes fluttered closed as the morphine started to take effect.
“So it would appear. And on that note, I must leave.” Needing to feel his skin, she bent to press her lips against his forehead.
Eyes still shut, Kieran smiled. “Don’t go yet.”
She could not keep her heart from turning over at the request, even as she recognized that it stemmed from residual shock at the evening’s horrific events.
“I think I must, before Doctor Andrews orders me out.” She hid a yawn behind her hand.
“Besides, the shocks of the day are catching up with me as well. I suddenly find that I can barely keep my own eyes open.”
He turned to stare at her intently. “Stay here tonight.”
She froze. “Here? With you?”
“Only if you want to.” His gaze never left her face. “Please?”
Torn between her rapidly beating heart and her common sense, she sought the first refuge for her stormy emotions she could think of. “I’ll speak with the doctor.”
To her surprise, the medical man made no objection. “Best thing for both of you right now, and if you’re with his lordship we won’t need to find a nurse tonight.”
And so, after changing into her nightgown, she found herself nervously tapping at his door. When he did not answer, she quietly turned the handle and peeked inside.
“Kier?” Her soft inquiry met with no answer. The light from a single candelabrum showed him fast asleep. She chewed her bottom lip. If he did not remember issuing the invitation tomorrow morning, he would be vastly put out.
He stirred in his sleep, giving a grunt of pain. As he tried to adjust himself into a more comfortable position, she threw caution to the winds. Arranging the pillows to provide the most comfortable resting place for him, she slid between the sheets on his uninjured side.
Almost at once, his fingers entwined with hers.
“Dina,” he sighed. Moments later, she felt his warm body relax completely as he slipped deeper into sleep.
The next few days passed in a blur for Diantha.
The need for secrecy complicated the funeral arrangements; fortunately she and Doctor Andrews came up with a satisfactory story to tell Kieran’s extended family.
Barclay, it seemed, had been dazzled by the sunset and lost his footing at the cliff’s edge, then his mother’s heart had given way at the news of his death.
“Which is the truth in a way, your ladyship.” The doctor relaxed in her sitting room, sipping a glass of sherry, while Diantha arranged a fragrant bouquet from the gardens. New lines creased the doctor’s face as he changed the subject. “I understand Lord Rossburn has asked to attend the services?”
“He is concerned that everything should appear as normal as possible. I fear he will collapse before their conclusion.” In a low voice, she stated the fear growing in her heart. “Are you convinced he will make a full recovery? He is still so weak.”
“Your ladyship has nothing to fear.” He crossed the room to clasp her hand in both of his. “He lost a staggering amount of blood. If he’d been left much longer, his wounds would have been fatal.” She shuddered, feeling the prick of tears in her eyes.
“There, now, don’t cry. While he’ll be weak as a kitten for some time, proper food and plenty of rest will restore him. You just take the same good care of him that you have been.” He patted her hand.
“The worst thing is he doesn’t even argue about being confined to bed.” A wry smile twisted her mouth. “It’s not like him.”
“That depends on what I’m doing there.” Kieran stood in the doorway, braced up by his valet. Still far too pale, a lively twinkle nevertheless animated his aqua eyes.
“Kieran Moray St. Colm!” Face burning, Diantha glared at him as Davison helped him to the divan. “You are disgraceful!”
“Well I know it.” The doctor’s chuckle relieved her slightly. “I’ve had that lad as a patient a good deal longer than you have, you know.”
He picked up his medical bag and took his leave a few minutes later, after assuring himself that Davison had not disturbed any bandages.
She approached her husband uncertainly. He had appeared comfortable enough in his room.