Brotherhood 02 - Broken Promise (11 page)

“Captain! Hurry!”

Austin heard a dull thump from inside her room and knew Lady Fledgemont had fallen even before Maude called for help.

Austin shifted Jonathan in his arms and raced into the room. Without lifting his gaze from her prone figure on the floor, he handed Jonathan to Mrs. Pollock and dropped down beside Lady Fledgemont.

“I’m fine,” she said in a voice that belied her words. “I simply lost my footing.”

He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, then gently pressed his hand against her when she tried to rise. “Don’t move. I want to look at your shoulder.”

“I’m fine. I just—” A sharp gasp cut off her words.

He ignored her protests and pulled back the neckline of her fresh gown. Thankfully, there was no sign of blood.

“Put your arm around my neck. I’m going to carry you back to bed.”

She wrapped her uninjured arm around his neck and he lifted her into his arms. Their gazes locked and held. He wanted to soak in the emotions pelting him, wanted to get them back under control.

A heavy weight settled inside his chest. His heart swelled with a response so profound he could hardly breathe. Every time he was near her he wanted to protect her so nothing bad ever happened to her again. Except, once he handed Jonathan over to the Earl of Penderly, she’d hate him.

He shoved that thought to the back of his mind and concentrated on making sure she was all right.

“Take deep breaths,” he ordered. He shifted his gaze to her eyes. The ebony centers darkened and his heart pounded like the steady beating of battle drums. He couldn’t believe she didn’t hear it. Or perhaps she did.

Her gaze concentrated on the thin scar that ran down his cheek. It wasn’t overly noticeable, but had it repulsed her? He didn’t think it had, for she didn’t look away. She studied it a moment before her focus moved to his mouth.

The desire he’d felt for her from the beginning surged with new-found urgency. Need and want wrapped around him like wool on a tightly-wound ball of yarn.

He tried to pull his gaze from her face, but he couldn’t. His eyes took in the two growing circles on her cheeks and he knew he was responsible for their redness. He memorized her every feature—her gently curved eyebrows that seemed a shade lighter than her mahogany-hued hair, the slight tilt to her pert little nose, and her lush, kissable lips.

As if holding her in his arms wasn’t torture enough, she chose that moment to run her tongue from one side of her mouth to the other and dampen her lips. His body reacted with a force that startled him.

“I need to get you back to bed,” he said, his voice lower than usual. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t breathe. And even though he knew he should move, he couldn’t. He didn’t want to put her down.

There were voices in the hall. Mrs. Pollock moved to answer a knock at the door, and when he turned, he came face to face with his sister and brother-in-law.

His breath caught along with the frantic beating of his heart. Gabe and Liddy stood in the open doorway with expressions of shock and confusion on their faces.

“You’ve arrived. Come in.”

Austin straightened his back, attempting a dignity he did not feel. He lowered Lady Fledgemont to the bed, then pulled the covers over her trembling body. Her eyes were wide with fear…and anger.

“Everything will be fine,” he said to reassure her. But the look on her face said she didn’t believe him.

She clenched her fist around the covers on her bed and glared at him. “What have you done?” she demanded, with more anger than he’d ever heard her use.

…

A jolt of alarm cast out the tender emotion of a moment earlier. She would have grabbed Jonathan from Mrs. Pollock’s arms and run from the room if she had the strength. But she wasn’t even able to stand on her feet without crumbling to the floor.

Instead, she leveled Austin with the most hostile glare she could and prepared for the battle of her life. “Mrs. Pollock.” She motioned to the side of the room where the innkeeper’s wife stood with Jonathan. “Please bring Jonathan to me.”

Mrs. Pollock rushed over and placed the babe in her arm. Sarah nestled Jonathan close, the sweet infant remaining content with his rag toy and oblivious to the tension that filled the room.

“Thank you, Mrs. Pollock,” Captain Landwell said. There was a polite tone to his voice, a pleasant expression on his face, but behind it lurked the torrid shadow of emotion. “Would you please send up some tea for the ladies and a bottle of your finest whiskey for my friend?”

“Right away, sir.” Mrs. Pollock rushed to the door, but stopped before she passed Captain Landwell’s relatives. “I’m so glad you’ve come to help,” she said. “The poor man’s run himself ragged caring for both the lady and the babe.”

Sarah felt the first pang of remorse. How could she have forgotten how much work it was to care for someone ailing? She’d spent her whole life caring for others. She, more than anyone, knew the toll it took on the mind and body.

A twinge of guilt stabbed at her, but it wasn’t a feeling she wanted to acknowledge. She didn’t want to recognize how much she owed him, but she couldn’t help herself. She’d more than likely be dead if he hadn’t been here to help her.

She forced her gaze to move from Jonathan who cooed contentedly, to Austin Landwell who stood beside her bed. He still looked down on her as if to assure her she’d be safe. Her heart shifted inside her chest and she knew she was losing her battle to distance herself from him.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked.

She nodded.

He acknowledged her answer with a single nod. “Then I’d like to introduce you to my family.”

The man and lady who’d entered the room stood close enough to the bed that she only had to turn her head to see them.

“Gabe. Liddy. I’d like you to meet Lady Fledgemont, widow of the late Viscount Fledgemont. Lady Fledgemont, this is my sister, Lady Lydia, and her husband, Major Gabriel Talbot.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Fledgemont,” the major said.

Sarah greeted the tall man with a nod, then looked at Austin Landwell’s sister. Lady Lydia didn’t move, but studied Sarah with an unreadable expression on her face. There was no hostility in her gaze, neither was there mistrust, but perhaps…concern. Perhaps…sympathy.

Sarah didn’t want to appear rude, yet she couldn’t help but stare at Austin’s sister. The color of her eyes and hair were similar to her brother’s. The same vibrant blue eyes stared back at her, and wisps of honey-blonde hair framed her face. The woman was as beautiful as her brother was handsome. Sarah felt plain lying on the bed.

“Lady Fledgemont,” Lady Lydia said, moving closer to the bed. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled.

A dozen emotions tumbled within Sarah, each one struggling for control. Alarm, fear, and strangely, gratitude.

Before she could answer, Lady Lydia’s husband placed a chair close to the bed so his wife could sit. The open look of adoration that passed between them spoke volumes.

“Your father-in-law would be the Earl of Penderly then, wouldn’t he?” Lady Lydia said.

Sarah opened her mouth to tell another lie. “Yes.”

“Is this your son?”

“This is, Jonathan.”

Another lie.

Her head ached from the hammer pounding in it.

“He’s adorable.” Lady Lydia lifted Jonathan’s hand. Her touch drew the baby’s attention and Jonathan kicked his feet excitedly. “He looks like he’s five or six months.”

“Five.”

“Yes, he’s about the same age as our daughter, Rachel. She’s nearing five months, too.”

Sarah didn’t want to like Captain Landwell’s sister, but she did. She didn’t want to feel comfortable around her, but she did. She didn’t want to feel a connection to her, because there was a reason she and the major were here and Sarah knew she wouldn’t like whatever that reason was.

“Allow me to offer my condolences on the death of your husband,” Lady Lydia said. “I can’t imagine your loss.”

“Thank you,” Sarah whispered.

She felt like a hypocrite. Landwell’s sister truly sympathized over the death of a man she thought had been Sarah’s husband. From the pain-filled look in her eyes, she couldn’t imagine what it must be like to lose someone you loved as deeply as Collette Flemming was rumored to have loved Viscount Fledgemont.

“I know your marriage was truly a love match. It’s rare to be so fortunate.”

“Yes,” Sarah stumbled. She tried but couldn’t find the right words to sound sincere.

“Have you been ill?” Lady Lydia asked after a short silence.

“Not…exactly.”

Captain Landwell’s sister focused on her brother. “Perhaps you’d care to explain what’s going on, Austin. The note you sent sounded desperate. And when we arrived, the innkeeper informed us that Lady Fledgemont had been in an accident. In what have you involved the lady?”

The major sat in a chair next to his wife and placed his hand over hers. “Now, Liddy. Let’s let Austin explain before we cast blame.”

Landwell shook his head. “She’s right, Gabe. Lady Fledgemont was shot. And the shooting was my fault.”

Lady Lydia’s eyes opened wide. “I might have known,” she said. “How could it be any different when you associate with the people you do?”

“Liddy, I—”

“No, Austin. Just last week I received a letter from Harrison informing me that he hadn’t seen you in weeks. Then, I read an article in
The London Times
, describing the most gruesome details of a group of disreputable lowlifes who ran a smuggling ring. Several were killed in a knife fight and your name was mentioned as the investigator who apprehended them. The article said you narrowly escaped with your life.”

“Pure exaggeration, Liddy. It was a minor skirmish. That’s all.”

“I swear, you have no concern for your welfare. Or for your family’s feelings. If you did—”

Sarah was sure Austin’s sister was about to say more, but Mrs. Pollock arrived with a tray.

“Ah,” the major said, rising. “The tea has arrived.”

The major made room for the tray on a small table, then lifted the whiskey bottle from the tray and poured a small amount into two glasses. “Please, pour the tea, Liddy,” the major said with a smile on his face. “Austin and I will have a glass of the inn’s fine whiskey. After your dressing down he more than likely needs one.”

Lady Lydia shot her husband a serious look. “That wasn’t a dressing down. That was concern, I worry about him and so do you. You said as much on the way here.”

“Nothing is going to happen to me, Liddy. I’m not the one who’s in danger.”

The minute the words left his mouth, everyone’s focus turned to her.

“Is that why you asked us to come?” the major asked.

Austin nodded once. “Did you bring everything?”

“Yes. Mrs. Pollock showed Rachel’s nurse to a room close by. She’s unpacking right now.”

“Nurse?” Sarah’s gaze shot to where Austin sat next to her. “Jonathan doesn’t need a nurse. I’ll be fine in a few days. I’ll take care of him myself.”

The look Landwell and his sister exchanged sent a wave of terror racing through her. “Jonathan doesn’t need anyone to take care of him,” she repeated. “He has me.”

“Lady Fledgemont—”

Sarah held Jonathan closer. “I want to sit up.” Sarah struggled to rise. One sharp pain and then another stabbed her shoulder and she sagged back against the mattress.

The pain was excruciating, but she was desperate to sit. She was unable to fight him lying on her back. And she had to fight him. Or she’d lose Jonathan.

Before she could make another attempt to rise, he was at her side. “Shh,” he whispered, brushing the back of his fingers down her cheek. “No one is going to hurt your son. And we’re not going to take him from you. He’s fine. We’ll keep him safe. Now, put your arm around my neck and I’ll help you sit.”

Sarah shifted Jonathan to her lap, then wrapped her free arm around Austin’s neck. When she was upright he propped several pillows behind her back, then sat beside her on the bed.

He placed his hand over hers and held it. “I sent Gabe a note after you were shot. We need his help.”

With his hand still resting on hers, he turned to face his sister and brother-in-law. “Lady Fledgemont was shot when she threw herself in front of her son to protect him.”

The major’s reaction was visible. He stiffened in his chair and clenched his hands.

Lady Lydia clasped her hands over her mouth.

“Are you saying someone tried to kill the babe?” the major asked.

Landwell nodded. “This wasn’t the first attempt. Lady Fledgemont fought off the first attacker while she was still at Wakemoor, then fled with her son and maid. The maid was ill and did not survive the trip, and Lady Fledgemont has been on her own since.”

Austin’s sister reached for her husband’s hand and he took it.

“Do you know who might want the boy dead?” the major asked.

Austin didn’t speak at first, but Sarah couldn’t remain silent. Even if he refused to admit who the murderer was, she knew.

“I’m convinced it’s the Earl of Penderly,” she said. She made sure her voice contained every bit of the certainty she felt.

A long stretch of silence filled the room. Major Talbot was the first to speak. “Penderly? But the boy would be his grandson. The heir to an English peerage.”

“And the son of an actress.”

Major Talbot rose. “I’ve met Penderly,” he said, looking down on her from the foot of the bed. “In fact, he was monumental in helping get several military reform bills passed in the House.” His gaze shifted to Captain Landwell. “Wasn’t his youngest son with you in France?”

Austin’s hand still rested on hers, but at the mention of Penderly’s son, his grip tightened.

“He was one of the soldiers who didn’t survive, wasn’t he?” the major asked.

Austin’s head jerked a sharp nod and his fingers tightened even more.

Sarah took note of his drawn features, of the lack of color to his face. The major must have noticed it, too. A frown deepened on his forehead as he studied his friend.