Chapter 8

Eight

O nly when the footman held out his hand for Phil's wrap did she realize she'd left hers at the ball along with Alex's. Would Aunt know to retrieve their things or to find the two of them at Lord Endelton's? She would have asked, but the man in question was busy giving directions to the butler and a maid.

"—the green bedroom, she will need towels and hot water. Inform my mother, if you will."

Phil hurried to catch up with Lord Endelton, worried he might drop Alex, yet the man didn't even seem winded as he ascended the stairs. He paused on the landing. "Miss Philippa, if you would open the door to the second room on your right?"

The dim light from the corridor kept Phil from stumbling into a chair too close to the door of the darkened bedroom. Lord Endelton seemed to know it was there and maneuvered around the obstruction and Phil on his way to deposit Alex onto the bed.

A maid with a lamp hurried into the room after them. "The housekeeper will be here directly."

"I'll leave you two. If you need anything, ask. Would you like me to fetch a physician?" He addressed the question to Phil.

"May I have a few minutes in private to make a determination?" Phil wouldn't call a physician unless Alex's life hung in the balance. A cut was not life threatening.

Lord Endelton nodded and shut the door behind him. The maid remained near the door, holding the lantern. "Will you set the lamp here on the table?" asked Phil,

unsure whether to dismiss the girl.

Alex moaned.

"Are you of a robust constitution?" Phil continued.

"Yes, miss." The maid's head bobbed.

"Then if you would, please help me move my sister into a better position."

Phil kept the blanket the coachman provided over Alex's lap and leg as they rearranged the pillows. Someone tapped on the door and the maid went to open it. A woman, presumably the housekeeper, entered carrying a stack of towels. A footman followed her with a steaming bowl of water. The housekeeper sent the maid and the footman from the room. "I'm Mrs. Ivy. Lord Endelton asked me to assist you with whatever you need."

"I'm Philippa, and this is my sister Alexandra. May I have a towel? I don't want to soil the lovely counterpane."

"Heavens, where did this old thing come from?" Mrs. Ivy removed the coachman's blanket.

Phil positioned the towel under Alex before lifting her soiled skirts and petticoats. Phil's stockings held the handkerchief Lord Endelton loaned them in place above the spot where Alex's knee should have been. To her credit, Mrs. Ivy didn't flinch or gasp at the sight.

"It looks like the bleeding has stopped. Mrs. Ivy, is there someone who has experience stitching a wound?" asked Phil.

"I have sewed a cut many a time for the staff. Wouldn't you rather a physician do the job?"

Alex shook her head. "In my experience, a housekeeper's sewing is usually better."

"Let us look. A stitch may not be needed." Mrs. Ivy dampened a cloth before untying Phil's stockings from her sister's limb. She cleaned away the blood, murmuring comforting words as she worked.

To Phil's relief, the cut didn't start bleeding again.

Alex touched the skin above the cut. "Do you think it will hold?"

"With proper bandages and a few days of rest, I don't believe you'll need a stitch at all."

Alex sighed with relief. "Can you bandage it? Then we can be on our way."

Mrs. Ivy shook her head and tsked. "I can bandage it right away, but I advise against leaving this bed for at least two days, or you'll surely start bleeding again."

"But—" Phil objected at the same time as her sister. She allowed Alex to continue.

"We couldn't possibly impose."

"The Lady of the house will see it my way." Mrs. Ivy finished wrapping Alex's stump and gathered the bloodied clothes in a towel. "I'll inform Lord Endelton you have no need of a physician and see if I can borrow one of Miss Moriah's nightgowns. I'll send up some of my willow bark tea."

Phil waited to speak until the door closed behind the housekeeper. "Father will be furious if he hears. We aren't far from Aunt's home."

Alex closed her eyes for a long moment. When she opened them, two tears had escaped. "I am not up to another journey tonight, no matter how well sprung the carriage is. Perhaps, we can leave in the morning."

"I didn't realize how much pain the cut caused you."

"It isn't my stump. It is my hip."

Phil spied the still-warm water. "I can make you a warm compress."

"Please."

The water wasn't as warm as Phil hoped. She dampened one of the clean towels and wrung it out. It was still warmer than her hand, though. She helped Alex set it in place as a tap sounded on the door. Phil opened the door to find Lord Endelton and a woman who must be his mother.

"Lord Endelton. Lady Endelton." Phil bobbed a quick curtsy. "Do you mind if I come in and meet your sister?" asked Lady Endelton.

There was only one way to answer the Lady's request, so Phil opened the door wider. She was about to close it when Lord Endelton beckoned her out. "A word?"

Torn between leaving Alex alone with Lady Endelton and snubbing the Lord, Phil stepped into the corridor.

"Mrs. Ivy says Miss Lightwood is to stay here for the time being. I've dispatched a message to your aunt, both at her residence and at the ball, in case she didn't learn of our departure. Are you sure you don't require a physician?"

"No. Your housekeeper bandaged the wound well. I fear your handkerchief is ruined." Lord Endelton glanced at her feet. Fortunately, only the toe of her slipper peeked out from under the hem of her gown.

Remembering her lack of stockings. Phil winced. This interview needed to end.

"Would you like a tray sent up? We left before dinner."

Phil covered her mouth to hide her reaction with her hand, only to realize it was ungloved. Her blood-stained gloves remained in her reticule. Mortified, she hid her hands behind her back. "My apologies. I didn't think. Whomever you promised the dinner dance to—I ruined her evening as well as yours."

"I hadn't committed myself to a dinner dance."

At least some other woman wasn't cursing out her lack of escort on their account. "Mrs. Ivy has ordered tea for my sister. A tray won't be necessary."

"What if I told you I'd already ordered one for myself from the leftover cold chicken from my mother and sister's meal, and I had it on good authority there was more than enough to share?"

Had he heard her stomach rumble? "Then we would be thankful. We will strive to make our stay as brief as possible to not continue to impose upon you and your household."

She turned back to the door, hoping to intercept the conversation between Lady Endelton and Alex before it went too far. A touch on her arm sent a shock through her, but not the kind that occurred when Rose scooted around on the parlor carpet in her stockings. It was something else, more of being very aware that her arm existed and that he was there.

"Do not hasten your departure on our account."

A glance over her shoulder revealed his sincerity.

"Thank you, my Lord." Something other than concern for Alex propelled Phil's retreat into the bedroom, although she couldn't name exactly what.

Breakfast had yet to be laid out. Michael went to his study and waited for news of his guests. Although they had remained quietly in their room, he'd been unable to sleep as the younger Miss Lightwood kept invading his mind. A phenomenon he couldn't reconcile himself to. She had flaunted propriety several times last evening for her sister, giving little care to herself. He doubted she'd even realized how much of her hair had fallen from its confines by the time of their last conversation. His own sisters would have refused to be seen in such a state. As much as he loved his married sisters, admittedly Deborah and Julia had spent most of their time competing during their shared Season. There had been little peace in the house for anyone, least of all mother, who constantly had to settle fights over ribbons and other trivial bobbles.

He admired Miss Philippa's loyalty, even if he thought society dictated he was supposed to find it quite the opposite.

A footman tapped on the door. "M'lord, this parcel has arrived for the Misses Lightwood, along with a note for you."

Michael took the note. The size of the bundle suggested it might contain clothing to replace the gowns they'd worn to the ball. "Have a maid deliver the package to our guests."

Lord Endelton?—

Thank you for your care of my nieces last evening and your note letting me know of their destination. Unless otherwise advised, I will send a coach at noon to retrieve them.

Please give my regards to your mother.

Gratefully,

Lady Healand

Noon, a well thought-out time. Late enough to allow the women to awake naturally, yet before the time when callers would be out, thus avoiding potential gossip.

The footman knocked on the door again. "His Grace, Richard Thomas Kenworth, the Duke of Aylton, is here."

There was no need to announce his cousin's full title, Richard visited often enough. "At this hour? Show him in."

Michael barely had time to stand before his cousin strode through the door.

"Yes, at this hour. I assumed you would be awake after being so thoroughly duped last night. Mother has not stopped with her fits of vapors since learning you left unchaperoned with two young ladies and was seen carrying one of them. Of all the boneheaded messes to step into, I thought you had more sense than to have some young miss snag them at my wife's ball." The famous Aylton temper surfaced in rare form this morning.

"I've never known your mother to suffer from vapors."

Richard crossed his arms. "She should have been. The point is, they duped you."

"I wasn't duped into anything. Miss Lightwood is injured. My housekeeper tended to her and assured me my actions fit the situation."

"Your housekeeper? Miss Lightwood is here? Please tell me not Mr. Felton Lightwood's daughter. I shall lose all respect for the intelligence you have shown, especially in debates in parliament."

Michael gestured for his cousin to have the more comfortable of the seats in the room. "Would you like me to ring for some food? Breakfast is likely to be ready."

"I don't want food. I need an explanation and proof there was no scandal at our ball last evening."

"I left the ball with two women, sisters, and so therefore not unchaperoned. Miss Lightwood and her sister Miss Philippa did not attempt any of the tricks and beguiling those of their set want to try to secure a husband of title. While I danced with Miss Philippa, a man stepped on Miss Lightwood's foot in the crush."

"Being trod upon is not uncommon. In fact, it is quite expected from time to time."

"True. However unintentional, the injury to Miss Lightwood was severe enough to warrant an immediate departure, as she bled profusely."

"Why not simply send her to the retiring room? My staff could have seen to the girl."

"Miss Lightwood stood next to the garden door. It was much easier to escape outside than to carry her across the ballroom. She was far from well, and her sister and I deemed immediate removal the best course of action."

Richard's shoulders dropped. "Who suggested your carriage?"

"I did. We came across it looking for Lady Healand's. Knowing it could take some time to locate the lady and her coachman, I decided to take my own. It was my idea to bring them here, as my residence is closer to yours."

"Of all the stupid, irresponsible blunders… I will not see you forced into an imprudent marriage." Rumors abounded about the duke's own hasty and unhappy marriage that had yet to mark its first anniversary. Michael knew some of them to be true. The purpose of last night's first-of-the-Season ball was no doubt to discourage gossip by showing the duke and duchess in their best light.

"No one has mentioned marriage."

"Mark my words, they will. It is only a matter of—" Richard cut his sentence short at the appearance of Michael's mother in the doorway.

Both men stood.

"Your Grace." Lady Endelton inclined her head. "I wondered whose voice I heard. I shall leave you two to your argument."

"Beg your pardon, Aunt Endelton. I didn't mean to disturb your peace." Richard's contrite bow was almost believable.

"What did you need, Mother?"

"I only wanted your opinion on a matter of my guests." Mother raised her eyebrows to convey extra meaning.

"Richard is aware of our guests. If it is not something too private, you may ask in front of him."

"The Misses Lightwood are adamant they leave immediately and asked for a note to be delivered to Lady Healand as soon as possible. Mrs. Ivy is concerned because she believes Miss Alexandra is feverish and should not be moved. Can you convince Miss Philippa staying is no imposition?"

"What is your opinion of Miss Lightwood's condition?"

Mother twisted her handkerchief. "Mrs. Ivy is correct, a day or two of rest is required. If she were my daughter, I wouldn't want to take any unnecessary risk."

Michael caught Richard's eye before asking the next question. "What are the risks to their reputation and ours?"

"Reputation? How could there be any slight on either under the circumstance?" Mother looked from one man to the other, with one of those motherly glares meant to put sons in their place.

Richard tugged on his cravat.

"Send Miss Philippa down, and I'll talk with her, but mother, the final decision will be theirs. Lady Healand has sent word that she will send a carriage at noon unless she receives word otherwise."

"Very well. Breakfast is ready. Your Grace, you are welcome to eat with my son if he has forgotten to invite you." Mother closed the study door behind her.

"Do you still believe I am being duped?" asked Michael.

"Although I find it hard to believe someone could be injured so grievously at a ball, your mother's concern is genuine."

"Come eat with me. Our cook's buns are among the best in town. If you don't stay, they shall force me to dine alone, as Mother usually eats in her room and my sister comes down when she pleases."

"I can hardly refuse such an offer."

A warning note in his cousin's voice caused Michael to turn his head. He wasn't sure if Richard meant the food or something else.