11. Chapter 11
A n hour later, all the Welby brothers were sitting in the dining room as Dr. Aiken, a local physician, tended to their wounds. I assisted where I could, though the good doctor had the help of his son, a young physician in training, to put Collins’s dislocated shoulder back into place.
“I think that will about do it,” Dr. Aiken said as he finished stitching the cut on Davis’s cheek while his son put away his instruments.
“I’ll return tomorrow to check on Lord Collins’s shoulder and ensure that Lord Davis’s cut does not get infected.
” He glanced at Brant and Everett, whose injuries were minor in comparison.
“The lot of you will probably have a headache and some aches and pains, but you’ll survive to fight another day. ”
I gave each of my brothers-in-law a pointed look, making sure they knew exactly what I thought about that idea.
Each of them avoided making eye contact with me.
The doctor’s smile was kind. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Your Grace.”
“I wish we’d met under better circumstances.”
He chuckled. “A doctor rarely meets people without a crisis at hand.”
I tried to see the humor in his comment, and then asked, “We have house guests coming in a week—will Collins be up to the task of entertaining?”
“He will need to wear the sling I’ve fashioned for two or three weeks and make sure he does not move his shoulder unnecessarily.
He must be very careful not to reinjure the arm for a few months after that.
” The doctor glanced at Collins, who looked to be in considerable pain.
“It will take some time to build your strength back in that arm, but full recovery is what we expect.”
“Two or three weeks?” I stared at him and then looked at the stitches on Davis’s cheek, which would take some time to heal, and the swollen, bruised eye that Everett boasted, as well as the swollen, slightly crooked nose that Brant had received, and I wanted to weep.
What kind of impression would we make on our house guests?
Surely they’d know the boys had been in a fight.
They would take one look at them and turn around in their carriages and leave.
I was already surprised they were willing to come to a seemingly haunted castle.
Dr. Aiken lightly touched my arm. “Don’t worry, Your Grace. Young men heal quickly. You’ll see.”
Ames appeared at the dining room door. He’d changed out of his evening clothes and was wearing his casual attire, his hair mussed as if he’d run his hand through it several times. There was a dark look on his face as he surveyed his brothers.
“Your Grace,” Dr. Aiken said, bowing his head slightly. “It’s good to see you again.”
The muscles in Ames’s face tightened, causing his scar to stand out even more. Had Dr. Aiken attended to Ames the night he’d received the wound?
“Thank you for your help, Doctor.” Ames’s voice was just as dark as his mood. “If you’d like some refreshment before you return home, please avail yourself of our kitchen.”
Dr. Aiken accepted his medical bag from his son and shook his head. “Thank you for the offer, but I believe Mrs. Aiken has a late supper waiting for us at home.”
The new butler, Stephens, was waiting just outside the door to escort the doctor and his son from the dining room.
Stephens was in his mid-forties and had come highly recommended.
He had served in a large house in London and was eager to return to the countryside.
So far, he’d been a wonderful addition to the household staff.
As the doctor’s footsteps faded down the hall, the Welby brothers became still and didn’t make a sound.
“What were you thinking?” Ames asked his brothers.
“You not only embarrassed our family, but our aunt’s as well.
Perhaps I have not been a good example, but the Welby name comes with responsibility and pride.
Of all the people in the ballroom tonight, our name is held to the highest standard.
Lily understands that—dressing you all up like gentlemen, trying to teach you manners.
But there are some things you should know without being told.
” His voice was filled with disgust and disappointment.
“All of you should go to bed. I hope your injuries will remind you that you acted foolishly tonight.”
Each of them stood from their chairs. Everett helped Collins, who winced at the movement.
“I want you to stay, Brant,” Ames said.
Brant stiffened as he faced his older brother.
I left the room with the others, knowing what Ames planned to tell Brant, but not feeling comfortable witnessing the conversation. No doubt he would reprimand Brant for dallying with Molly and demand that he not speak to her again.
Collins moved slowly down the corridor, wincing with each step. As his brothers passed him, I approached and gently laid my hand on his uninjured arm.
“Did you take the laudanum Dr. Aiken left for you? It will help with the pain and allow you to get some rest.”
Collins stopped and blew at the curl that seemed to always fall across his forehead. “I forgot it in the dining room.” He glanced back the way we’d come, as if the distance was too great to bear.
“I will return and get it for you and bring it to your room.”
He let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Lily.” He paused and then said, “I’m sorry about what happened. I know you’re disappointed about the dance and that we might have ruined your house party.”
I tried to smile as I accepted his apology. “You didn’t do it on purpose. I know you went to Brant’s defense.”
Collins dropped his chin. “I’m sorry all the same.”
“Go on. I’ll bring your medicine in a minute.”
He continued down the corridor as I turned back to the dining room.
“You are a grown man.” Ames’s voice carried to the hallway outside the dining room. “But I am the head of this family and until you inherit Uncle Felix’s title, you are under my authority.”
I didn’t want to enter the dining room and interrupt them—so I didn’t know what to do. I stepped to the other side of the hallway, wanting to give them privacy, though I could still hear Ames’s voice.
“You know as well as I do that you have a responsibility to this family,” Ames continued. “None of us are free to marry who we want. You must put the Welby name above your own desires and marry a woman who will represent the family well, which is what I was required to do.”
His words stung. Much deeper than they should, even after our embrace on the terrace—possibly because of it.
I clasped my hands, trying not to let his words hurt so much.
I hadn’t been Ames’s first choice, nor had he married me for love.
I knew this. But he had still chosen me from the debutantes that were left.
I wanted to believe that something had changed, that he’d grown to care for me—that I was no longer what he needed, but what he wanted.
Had there been someone before Clara Hill? Perhaps a maiden from Ravenscar? I had never stopped to consider that he might have been in love with someone he couldn’t have.
“O’Neal is out of the question,” Ames said, his voice rising with his command.
“Must I remind you that she is a maid, Brant? An Irish maid, at that. It’s reckless and foolish to entertain such a relationship, in private and especially in public.
I insist that you stay as far away from her as possible.
If you happen to pass each other, you need to remember that she is a servant and you are her employer.
I do not want you to interact for any reason.
If you continue to pursue this dalliance, I will be forced to ask Lily to let her go. Do I make myself clear?”
There was a slight pause and then Brant’s voice was tight as he said, “Crystal.”
“Good.”
A moment later, Brant appeared at the dining room door. He paused for a second as he saw me, then continued down the hall with purposeful, angry steps.
My heart pounded at being caught eavesdropping.
I expected Ames to exit next, and waited, but he remained in the dining room.
With tentative steps, I walked across the hall and entered the room.
Ames stood at the window, looking out on the dark moors behind the castle.
A floorboard creaked under my foot, causing him to turn.
Our gazes met and a dozen emotions passed over his face before he shuttered them again.
He tried so hard to pretend he was unaffected and unemotional, but the more time I spent with him, the more I realized it was all part of his facade.
An act to try to protect his heart. I suspected he felt deeply, perhaps more than anyone else.
“I— Collins forgot his laudanum.” I walked to the table and grabbed the small, clear bottle with the reddish-brown liquid within.
“I told Brant that he must stay away from Molly.”
“I heard.” I tried not to let his other comment affect me, but it was there, at the forefront of my thoughts. I didn’t want to show him I was hurt or upset, but I had never been good at hiding my emotions.
Ames frowned. “What’s wrong?”
I swallowed my unhappiness and tried to smile.
He walked toward me, his eyebrows still knit together. “What?”
“I—I overheard more than I should have.”
He stared at me, confused. “I said nothing you shouldn’t have heard.”
Did he not remember, or had he simply not cared that his words were heartless? “The part about not being free to marry the woman you want. Is that the truth? Do you love someone else? Someone you had wanted to marry, but couldn’t?”
His confusion cleared, but he still looked concerned as he stepped closer to me. “No. I am not, nor never have been, in love with anyone else.”
I let out the breath I was holding as we stood facing each other. We had been through so many emotional hills and valleys tonight I was exhausted in body and soul. “I believe I will go to bed.”
He studied me. “And what of our conversation on the terrace?”