14. Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

R uby sat at the kitchen table, staring into space, her cup of tea growing colder by the minute. She'd instinctively known Charles wouldn't appreciate Sidney writing to her, which was why she hadn't told him about the letter. His confession of jealousy made matters worse. If she mentioned Sidney's note now, Charles would want to know when she'd received it, and she'd either have to lie, which never sat well with her, or get into just the kind of argument she'd been hoping to avoid in the first place.

She looked up as the back door opened, and Bridget came in carrying Nora.

"Lady Caroline's outside in her carriage, ma'am. She wants to know if we'd like to go up to the hall with her and have tea."

"Yes." Eager to escape her own thoughts Ruby got up. "That would be lovely. I'll just put my bonnet on."

* * *

Once Nora and her nurse were settled in the nursery, Caroline took Ruby down to her private sitting room at the rear of the house.

"I'm glad you could come," Caroline said as they both sat down. "Francis says I'm worrying about nothing, but he doesn't know Ivy as well as we do."

"What's wrong?" Ruby was more than willing to discuss someone else's problems rather than dwelling on her own.

"It's that physician Ian has found for her. He's insisting Ivy should stay in bed, eat the blandest of diets, and be regularly bled. I don't think that any of that is good for her."

"I agree. It will give her far too much time to worry herself into a state over her condition." Ruby frowned. "I'm surprised at Ian encouraging it."

"He's terrified she's going to lose her mind," Caroline said bluntly. "I can't blame him for worrying, because she did act very strangely after the birth of her first child, but that's no reason to confine her to bed and insist on a regime fit for an invalid."

"Do you think she would allow Charles to visit her?" Ruby asked.

Caroline smiled. "I was hoping you'd suggest that. Will you ask him?"

"Yes, but I know he'll insist on having the consent of both Ivy and Ian before he interferes in any professional capacity."

"I'll speak to them both." Caroline looked slightly less worried. "I'm fairly sure Charles wouldn't suggest such measures. When I was pregnant, he told me to continue with my daily activities, to eat well, and to rest when my body required it."

"He is somewhat straightforward in his advice," Ruby agreed. "Some of his female patients don't appreciate him at all."

"I'm sure they don't." Caroline rang for tea and sat back down again. "Are you content in your marriage, sister? You appear to be thriving."

"I am surprisingly content," Ruby admitted. "From the most difficult of beginnings, we have begun to create a good life together."

Caroline's expression softened. "I am so pleased, and to think Charles is the heir of an earl! Francis will be most displeased if he has to give precedence to a mere doctor."

"Francis won't give a hoot," Ruby said. "He is the least peer-like peer I have ever met."

"I believe he secretly prefers being known as the terrifying Captain Grafton," Caroline agreed.

"Charles wants nothing to do with the estate or the title. The only person he cares for at Nash Hall is his mother. I have no idea what he will do when the current earl dies."

"Hopefully that won't happen for many years," Caroline said. "You said the earl was hale and hearty."

"Yes, and extremely displeased with me and his heir."

"He'll soon change his mind when he sees what a success the marriage will be."

"As to that…" Ruby took a quick breath. "Sidney wrote to me."

Caroline went still. "Dear Lord, what did he want?"

"To see me and his daughter at his convenience." Ruby paused. "The letter was addressed to me here at the hall. Did you not see it and send it on?"

"No." Caroline frowned. "Francis usually deals with the post and leaves mine on the breakfast table when he's finished sorting it." She rose to her feet. "Come on, let's ask him before he leaves for town."

"There's no need to—" Ruby realized she was speaking to herself as Caroline had already left. She followed her sister down the corridor, across the entrance hall, and into Francis's study where a lively conversation had already started.

Francis was staring down his nose at his wife, his expression calm as she questioned him about the letter.

"I did see something addressed to your sister. I merely wrote the new address on it and sent it on." He glanced over at Ruby as she came farther into the room. "I had no idea the letter was from Sidney. I would have opened it if I'd known."

"You can't open other people's letters!" Caroline said.

"I can if I believe they might cause harm to people I care about." Francis gestured at the chairs in front of his desk. "Will you please sit down, and I'll explain?"

Caroline scowled at him and sat with something of a flounce. Ruby sat too, her apprehensive gaze on Francis, who looked slightly irritated at being called out by his wife.

"As it was posted in Leeds, I assumed the letter was from an acquaintance of yours, Ruby, and simply decided to forward it on to you."

"Sidney said in the letter that when he visited Leeds, he was told I'd gone to live with my sister." Ruby paused. "I don't recall giving him your address, but it's possible he worked it out from what he did know of my family."

"I gave him my address," Francis said.

Ruby stared at him. "Why?"

"If you recall, when I came to Leeds to reclaim Ivy, I met Sidney."

"And?" Caroline prompted him. "What on earth did you two have to say to each other?"

"I wanted him to know that the Delisle family were under my protection." There was a hint of steel in Francis's voice. "I wished him to carefully consider how he dealt with you after I left, Ruby."

"You threatened him," Ruby said baldly.

Francis raised an eyebrow. "I merely put the suggestion in his head that he would answer to me if any harm befell you."

"It wasn't your place to do that."

He shrugged. "I offered to support his endeavors if he continued to support you."

"Financially?" Ruby shook her head. "Sidney would never agree to that."

Francis looked down at his joined hands, and a coldness settled in Ruby's stomach.

"He didn't… accept a bribe?"

"Let's just say that he didn't repudiate my offer immediately, shall we?" Francis met her gaze. "And, as you returned to us, the measures I set in place are no longer of any importance."

"Except that he wrote to me," Ruby said slowly. "And he wants to see his daughter."

"And what does Charles think of that?"

Ruby grimaced. "I haven't discussed it with him yet."

"I doubt he'll be surprised," Francis said. "I mentioned my interaction with Sidney to him on your wedding day. We even had a wager about it."

"Then I'll make sure to tell him what Sidney has done now," Ruby said.

The idea that Charles had been privy to Francis's schemes to "protect" her was somewhat infuriating, but she had no intention of sharing her annoyance with Francis, who was far too adept at using other people's misfortunes against them.

Despite her efforts, Francis smiled, which meant he'd already guessed there was some disharmony. "Why don't you stay for dinner, and I'll ask Charles to join us? Perhaps we can all put our heads together and find a solution to this problem."

* * *

Charles had barely alighted from his gig at the front door of Grafton Hall when Ruby appeared and took his hand.

"May I speak to you privately? Caroline and Francis have gone upstairs to the nursery to see their children before dinner."

"What's wrong?" he asked as she drew him around the side of the house and away from prying eyes. He'd had a difficult day, and he wasn't in the best of moods.

She let go of his hand, walked on a few paces, and then turned to face him. "Francis said you knew he had warned Sidney off."

Charles blinked at her. Of all the things he'd been expecting her to say, this wasn't one of them. "I vaguely remember him mentioning something on our wedding night when he caught me skulking in his study, but it didn't seem particularly important."

"You obviously thought it important enough to wager on it."

"Did I?" Charles raised his eyebrows. "In truth, you seem remarkably better informed about this matter than I am, and I'm still at a loss to discover why you're cross with me about it."

"You didn't think I deserved to know Francis had shared private information about Sidney with you?"

"Why in God's name would I think that? Sidney abandoned you. Neither Francis nor I wished him to encroach on your life again. Francis simply attempted to ensure that Sidney understood that." He paused. "And why has this come up now? Six months after our wedding?"

A flash of something that looked remarkably like guilt crossed her face before she replied. "That's hardly important. I just want to make sure that we are on the same side before we go into dinner with that shark, Francis Grafton!"

"He's your brother-in-law," Charles pointed out. "He's on our side."

"Francis only cares about protecting Caroline's reputation. The rest of us and our petty lives annoy him immensely."

"But Caroline would never forgive him if Sidney harmed you again, so in this instance, I believe you can trust him to do the right thing." Charles shivered as the wind caught the tails of his coat. "May we go in now? I've had a very long day."

"Yes, of course," Ruby said stiffly. "I apologize for bothering you with my petty concerns."

"Oh, for God's sake, don't be a martyr. I promise I'll do my best to support whatever it is you want."

Ruby set off for the house without him, and he followed, aware of a headache throbbing at his temple. For a moment, he wished the entire Delisle family in Hades, so he could go straight to bed.

Francis barely waited until the servants had withdrawn from the dining room before mentioning the dreaded Sidney's name. "I'm glad you could come to dinner, Charles. Caroline and I are wondering how we might assist you with the potential reappearance of Sidney."

Charles set down his soup spoon. "Reappearance? Don't tell me he's turned up here?" He looked over at Ruby to find her avoiding his gaze. "You didn't mention that, my dear."

"I doubt he has the time or the funds to be chasing across the country to find Ruby," Francis continued. "But his letter indicates?—"

"What letter?" Charles directed his question at his wife.

She sighed. "I was going to tell you, but Francis?—"

"Don't blame me, sister-in-law. I merely and unknowingly redirected the letter to you." Francis turned to Charles. "If I'd known who it was from, I would have burned it on the fire."

"I assume Sidney wishes to see you," Charles said to Ruby.

"He wishes to see Nora."

"The daughter he willingly abandoned."

"There's no need to snap at me." Ruby sat up straighter. "I have no intention of allowing him to do so, or of giving him our new address."

"I'm glad to hear it." He held her gaze, his voice pleasant. "Perhaps Francis might write to him on your behalf and decline."

"I'm happy to do that," Francis said. "And if he does turn up here, and he might, as I understand there are some strikes planned in the summer, I will ensure that no one in my family or my employ will assist him in finding you."

Charles had no doubt that, just like his father, Francis's word was law in his own kingdom, which extended well into the murkier side of Millcastle. No one would dare to offend Viscount Grafton-Wesley, alias, Captain Francis Grafton, because the consequences would be swift and brutal.

"Ruby and I will discuss this, Francis, and give you our answer tomorrow," Charles said. "If my wife agrees?"

"Yes, of course." Ruby fussed with her napkin.

"Perhaps you should stay the night?" Francis suggested. "Nora is well-settled in the nursery."

Caroline, who had remained quiet during the conversation set her hand on her husband's arm. "I assume Dr. Nash needs to be home in case he is called upon by a patient in need. Why don't we keep Nora and Bridget here for the night, and let Ruby and Charles leave so they can have the conversation in private?"

Ruby nodded. "Thank you, I believe that would be for the best."

His wife had probably realized she'd roused his temper. If their past disagreements were anything to go by, she was relishing the argument ahead as much as he was.

Caroline ensured that the rest of the meal passed without further controversy and made no complaint when Charles decided not to stay at the table to drink port, claiming he needed his wits about him if he was called out. Their gig was retrieved from the stables and they went home mainly in silence, which was unusual in itself.

When they arrived home, most of the house was in darkness, apart from a lantern in the horse's stable and a light in the hallway.

"Go on in while I deal with the horse," Charles said and handed Ruby the backdoor key. With a variety of potent medicines stored within the house, he was always careful to keep them locked away from those who would abuse them.

As he stabled the horse and turned back to the house, the kitchen window lit up showing Ruby's presence within. He realized he was more annoyed with Francis, and the way he'd handled this affair, than he was with his wife. With a last pat for the horse, he made sure to lock the stable door and went into the house.

Ruby had put the kettle on and was setting out cups for tea. Charles sat down at the table and waited for her to join him, which she did with some reluctance. She took her time fussing over the pouring of the tea.

Only when there was nothing left to do did she look at him, her brown gaze steady. "I'm sorry."

Having expected her wrath, Charles studied her, surprised by the frankness of her apology.

"I should have told you about the letter, but it caught me unawares. I was so angry I put the note on the fire and burned it." She paused. "Sidney made some derogatory comments about Caroline and Francis, so I'm glad Francis didn't read the letter."

"He wouldn't have taken that well," Charles agreed.

"I have no desire to see Sidney," Ruby continued. "But he is Nora's father."

"Surely he gave up his right to see her when he left you both to survive on your own?" Charles suggested.

"It's not that simple, is it?" Ruby sighed. "He could take her away from me, and no court in this land would stop him."

"Give me leave to doubt that," Charles objected. "You weren't married to him, and I believe the poor law states that you alone are responsible for your child's support until at least the age of seven." He drank some tea. "And how would Sidney find the funds to take you to court? He has no rights here, Ruby. I am convinced you have nothing to worry about."

"If that is true, why did he bother to write in the first place?"

"I assume that finding you gone on his return to Leeds might have stirred his conscience."

Ruby nodded. "That's possible. Sidney always likes to do the right thing."

Charles kept his thoughts about that to himself and finished his tea. "I wouldn't worry too much. If Sidney does turn up, Francis will deal with him."

"And who will win your wager?" Ruby asked.

"Ah, that." Charles made a face. "Francis believes Sidney will want money to stay away from you. I don't."

Ruby looked horrified. "Did Francis already give him money?"

"I think he intimated that it would be in Sidney's best interests to stay well away from the Delisle family and that if Sidney needed funds for his ‘cause', Francis might be willing to accommodate him." Charles framed his response with caution, unwilling to reveal anything he'd promised Francis to keep secret.

Ruby sat back. "As if Francis would support universal suffrage. It's simply a bribe."

"Yes," Charles agreed. Ruby deserved to hear the truth.

"I don't like any of it," Ruby said, his voice surprisingly unsteady. "I hate the thought that Sidney could simply turn up and ruin my life."

Charles reached across the table and took her shaking hand. "I won't let that happen. I promise you."

He was appalled to see the sheen of tears in her eyes and couldn't stand the sight of his brave and beautiful wife in distress. If Sidney was standing in front of them right now, Charles wouldn't be responsible for his actions…

"Don't look like that." Ruby squeezed his fingers.

"Like what?"

"Coldly furious. As if you are imagining disemboweling something."

"I can't help how I feel." He held her gaze. "Shall we forget about Sidney and go to bed? We have the house to ourselves."

"I am not running around this house naked with you in pursuit."

Admiring the tremendous effort of her teasing response, he stood up and took her into his arms. "I just want to hold you like this. Will that do?"

She looked up at him, her expression so vulnerable it made his heart hurt. "Yes, that would be absolutely delightful."

"Then let's go to bed."