Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay (26 page)

A suspicion began to grow in his mind, or rather, it was one which had been brewing for some days and now it took root and blossomed, but he was still reluctant to put his suspicions into words. Time enough for that later. There was no doubt that someone had tampered with the wine, however, but who? And why?

It was Torrington who had brought the wine to their table, but that didn’t make it certain he was the villain since Hawthorne had asked for it. And someone else could have slipped something into the bottle while it stood airing somewhere. They
had
both protested when Lexie took the glass instead of Synley, but again, this proved nothing, unless they were in cahoots? They could merely have been concerned about the fact that this left the most important guest of the evening without a drink.

Damn it, man, think,
he admonished himself, while patting Lexie’s back in a soothing manner. She was still heaving from time to time, despite the fact that there could be nothing left inside her. He saw Margaret hovering by the French doors and called out to her. ‘Lady Hawthorne, I believe your sister needs a physician. This is more serious than merely imbibing too much.’

‘Do you think so? Very well, I’ll have one sent for immediately.’

Lexie was taking deep gulps of air, shivering like mad. ‘I ... need to ... lie down,’ she muttered.

‘I can carry you to your room, if you’re sure you can make it that far?’

‘Y-yes ... think so.’

He picked her up again and headed indoors, although taking a different route so as to avoid the other guests. In the main hall he encountered the butler and asked the way to Lexie’s room.

‘I’ll show you, my lord.’ The man led them up the stairs and soon Lexie was lying on her bed with a basin next to her just in case.

She clutched her stomach and moaned. ‘Aaargh, such cramps ... unbearable.’

‘The doctor will be here soon, he’ll help you.’ Synley stroked her brow and murmured soothing words, but it seemed an age before the doctor finally arrived.

Synley rushed to intercept him by the door and whispered, ‘Hurry man, I believe someone may have slipped something into her wine, although I’ve no idea what. Is there anything you can do?’

The doctor looked startled, but nodded. ‘Indeed, I’ll do my best. How long ago?’

‘About an hour, perhaps a little more.’

‘And do you know roughly how much she may have swallowed?’

‘No, it was disguised in wine, but she only had two mouthfuls out of a whole glass, so probably didn’t get the full measure.’

‘Very well, that’s good. You’d better leave me to it then, this is no place for you now.’

‘I’ll wait outside. Come and find me when you’ve done what you can, please.’

In the corridor outside Lexie’s room he hesitated. He wasn’t leaving until he knew she’d be all right, but first, he was going in search of that wine bottle to make sure no one else was harmed.

CHAPTER SEVEN

For Lexie, the night passed in a blur of pain and discomfort. Her stomach rebelled in several different ways, both against whatever had triggered her illness in the first place and to the remedies the doctor tried on her. He forced her to swallow large quantities of salt water, which made her vomit again, then he tried various other things, until she refused to open her mouth any longer. Finally, when her stomach seemed to have calmed down a little, he gave her laudanum and she slipped into blessed oblivion.

When she woke, it was to find Margaret dozing in a chair next to her bed. She sat up when Lexie croaked out a request for water.

‘Lexie, you’re awake! Thank the Lord, we’ve been so worried. I’ve no idea what you ate, but I’ve told cook that she’d better not serve any seafood again unless she’s absolutely certain it’s fresh.’

Lexie sipped at the glass of water her sister held for her and frowned. She hadn’t eaten any seafood, of that she was sure, but since she didn’t know what else could have caused such a violent stomach upset, she didn’t say anything.

‘The doctor will be back later to check on you, but in the meantime you’re not to leave this bed.’

Lexie attempted a smile. ‘Don’t think I can.’

‘Yes, well, I suppose you’re weak as a kitten. Would you mind if I just allow Rupert to come in for one moment? He’s been pestering me all morning, wanting to see that you’re all right.’

‘Of course.’

Rupert came charging in soon after, but stopped at the sight of his aunt’s no doubt ashen features. ‘Do I really look that bad?’ Lexie joked and he grinned at her.

‘Yes, but the doctor says you’ll be better soon.’

‘So glad to hear that.’

‘Did you really cast up all night? Mama says that ...’

‘Rupert, really,’ Margaret protested, ushering him back towards the door. ‘I’m sure your poor aunt doesn’t wish to discuss such things with you. Now run along and play or something. You may see Lexie again later.’

Lexie closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

A commotion near the door woke her for the second time that morning.

‘Really, my lord, this is most unseemly. I cannot allow you to ―’

Lexie opened her eyes and blinked at the sight of Synley standing by her bedside, with Margaret looking daggers at him from the doorway.

‘There is no impropriety if you stay where you are, Lady Hawthorne,’ he said. ‘I merely wish to see with my own eyes that Miss Holloway is on the mend.’ He looked down at Lexie, his eyebrows raised. ‘Are you?’

‘To tell you the truth, I’m not sure, but at least my body is calm now and there is no pain, so yes, I suppose I am.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. You had us worried there for a while.’

‘Yes. I’m sorry.’

‘Not your fault,’ he said, his mouth tightening. He threw a glance at Margaret, who was now arguing with Rupert just outside the open door. While she was thus occupied, he bent down and whispered, ‘I believe you may have been poisoned by mistake, so please, I beg of you, be on your guard for the next few days. I’m going to London to find something out, but I’ll be back as quickly as possible. Then I hope to clear up this mystery once and for all.’

‘Must you go now?’ Lexie knew she had no right to ask this, but couldn’t stop herself. She felt so much safer with him around, even though she knew that was probably irrational of her.

‘Yes, I’m afraid so. It’s very important and I have to get to the bottom of all these strange happenings. Will you promise to take good care of yourself until I come back?’

‘Yes, if you will do likewise.’

He smiled. ‘You may be sure of that.’ In a louder voice, he added, ‘Good day to you, Miss Holloway. I wish you a speedy recovery.’

I believe you may have been poisoned by mistake
, Synley had said, and Lexie had plenty of time to think about his words during the next few days. She was certain she hadn’t eaten anything bad, because she’d consumed very little, being engrossed in her conversation with Synley at the dinner table. No seafood, nothing that tasted suspicious and nothing that she was alone in sampling.

She came to the conclusion that it had to have been the wine, and if that was so, then the intended victim had been Synley.

This thought made her go cold all over. But who might want to harm Synley? Jasper, who had brought him the wine, or George who’d called for it? Or someone else entirely? She couldn’t think of a reason for George wanting to poison Synley and the only connection with Jasper was the fact that he’d said he was related to Lady Catherine Downes. Did he bear a grudge on her behalf somehow? But if that was so, what purpose would it serve to kill Synley now Lady Catherine was gone and the Brooke family already had possession of the Downes lands?

Lexie wondered who would inherit the estate in the event of Synley’s death, but concluded that it had to be whoever was heir to his other properties. It didn’t make sense, and no matter how much she mulled it over, she couldn’t reach a satisfactory conclusion. The only thing she knew for sure was that she needed to be vigilant and perhaps watch both Jasper and George, just in case.

She was extremely weak for a few days and was happy to follow the doctor’s orders to rest as much as possible. Gradually, her body grew stronger and she began to tolerate food once more.

‘Are you ever coming riding with me again, Aunt Lexie?’ Rupert complained.

She smiled at him. ‘Yes, when the doctor says I’m fit enough. I’m sorry, but us old folk recover more slowly than someone young like you. How about you read to me, then perhaps I’ll grow stronger more quickly?’

‘You think so?’

‘Absolutely. While you read I can rest my eyes, you see.’

Rupert crawled onto the bed and leaned against the cushions next to her, then proceeded to read her all his favourite stories. Lexie didn’t mind, she enjoyed his company and he cheered her up no end, preventing her from endlessly rehashing her theories about the poisoning. It also served to keep him out of Margaret’s way and thus all was peaceful.

When Lexie emerged from her sickroom at last, she found the entrance hall had been turned into a temporary battleground. She paused at the top of the last flight of stairs and smiled at the scene below her.

‘Take that, you scoundrel, and never darken these doors again!’

‘Hah! We’ll just see about that, sir. I’ll show you, you dirty, rotten ...’

There was a sword fight of epic proportions going on, but since the weapons in question were made of wood, as were the shields being used, Lexie didn’t fear that any blood would be spilled. She and Rupert had played this game only the week before, but she could see that he now had a much worthier opponent, although she had no idea who he was.

The young man, a skinny youth no more than twenty years of age at the most with a pock-marked complexion, caught sight of Lexie and stopped fighting. ‘Halt!’ he shouted and held up a hand to Rupert, who obeyed, albeit somewhat reluctantly. ‘Behold the damsel in distress that I have come to save,’ he said with a smile that Lexie couldn’t help but reciprocate. His eyes were dancing with merriment and she warmed to him immediately, but she remained on her guard nonetheless. Who was he? And what was he doing here? He seemed to be very much at home.

‘What? No, that’s just Aunt Lexie,’ Rupert protested.

The young man threw him a look of pity that was so theatrical Lexie almost burst out laughing. ‘Are you blind?’ he enquired. ‘’Tis the Lady of the Tower, the one who’s been so cruelly imprisoned by you and whom I have pledged to save or die trying.’

‘Oh, right.’ Rupert caught on and grinned. ‘Well, I shall do all in my power to stop you, sir. She is mine and I’m going to feed her to the dragon tonight.’

Lexie shook her head at the pair of them. ‘Honestly, I should never have read you those stories of the knights of old, should I?’ She curtseyed to the young man. ‘I’m Alexandra Holloway, Rupert’s aunt, as you may have gathered.’

He bowed back. ‘Nicholas Torrington, at your service, Miss Holloway.’ He was serious at last, although his eyes were still twinkling, making it difficult to resist his charm.

‘You are a relation of Mr Jasper Torrington?’ Lexie couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice. This young man didn’t look anything like Jasper and he seemed open and friendly, the complete opposite of the man Lexie had come to mistrust. Although perhaps it was all an act? Jasper could be extremely charming too, when he put his mind to it.

‘His younger brother,’ he said and added with a grin, ‘For my sins.’

‘I see.’ Lexie didn’t quite know how to reply to that and thought it best not to comment.

‘I hear you have been ill, but trust you are now fully recovered?’

‘Indeed I am, thank you. I was just on my way to have breakfast. I take it you have both already eaten?’

‘Yes, but that was hours ago,’ Rupert said. ‘I’m famished. Do let’s join her for some more, Nick?’

Nick smiled at the boy. ‘By all means. I need all the sustenance I can get if I’m to keep up with you. I’m not used to so much exercise you know.’ For Lexie’s benefit he added, ‘I’ve just finished my studies at Oxford. Not much call for sword-fighting there.’

‘No, I imagine not. Are you on your way home then or have you come to stay here for a while with your uncle?’

‘Just passing through, but Uncle George did say I was welcome to remain for a week or two.’

‘Well, I’m sure your brother will be pleased to have your company,’ Lexie said politely, although she wasn’t sure Jasper was ever pleased about anything. If he was up to no good, however, he might appreciate his brother’s help? She shook her head at herself. She was becoming morbidly suspicious. ‘Come along then, Rupert. I’m actually hungry for the first time this week.’

Margaret looked up from the breakfast table and frowned at Lexie when the trio entered the dining room. ‘Good morning. Are you sure you should be up and about?’ she said.

‘Yes, I feel much better today and my appetite has returned, thank goodness. I thought I might go for a short ride too, it’s such a lovely day.’

‘Well, don’t overdo it. You needn’t listen to Rupert, if he’s been pestering you. He thinks only of himself.’

Lexie bit back the retort that Rupert was the least selfish member of the family. She didn’t think such a remark would be helpful, so she contented herself with saying, ‘I’m fine, Margaret, don’t fret.’

‘Can Nick come with us?’ Rupert asked through a mouth full of scrambled eggs. ‘Then we can be knights escorting you to your doom. Or maybe we should be saving you instead, fighting the foul dragon.’

‘That sounds delightful.’ Lexie tried to keep a straight face. ‘But perhaps Mr Torrington has better things to do with his time? It would seem he’s already spent the better part of the morning entertaining you.’

‘It was a pleasure, Miss Holloway. I would enjoy a ride, if you don’t mind me coming along, that is?’

‘No, of course not.’ What else could she say, after all, without being impolite? Although she would have felt safer going riding with just Rupert for company at the moment.

The three of them set off and although Lexie still felt a little weak, she was fine as long as they took it slowly. ‘I refuse to ride quickly to my doom,’ she told Rupert with a smile. ‘No one would want to hurry up on their way to being eaten by a dragon. And you must keep a look out for my loyal retainers. They might be coming to rescue me at any time.’

Rupert played along with this game and didn’t protest at the slow pace.

‘That was masterly, Miss Holloway,’ Nick whispered. ‘I can see that you are well used to handling small boys.’

‘Actually, I’m not. Rupert is the only one I know, but I used to have a lot of imagination myself as a child, so I can readily enter into his games. You appear to have a knack for that yourself.’

‘Yes, well, I’ve had a lot of practice. My sister has a whole brood of them, all boys. You should try sword-fighting with four at once. Quite an experience, I can tell you.’

Lexie had to laugh at that. ‘I can imagine. It’s good of you to bother with Rupert, though, when you don’t have to.’

‘Not at all. I enjoy it too and I can’t afford to spend all my time gaming, like my brother. I have to make my way in the world.’

Lexie glanced at him, wondering if this was just an act, but she could see no guile in his features. She had to conclude that he was serious, which would mean he was vastly different in character from Jasper. Could this be true?  If so, she marvelled that two brothers could be so unlike each other. Only time would tell though, and Lexie vowed to keep an eye on young Nick as well as his brother. Either way, she was very glad he had come. It would certainly make mealtimes a lot easier to bear as Jasper would have someone else to converse with from now on.

Synley was ushered into the office of Mr Willis, senior partner of Messrs Willis, Booth & Snetterton, solicitors, by an obsequious young man who said ‘my lord’ after every second word. It was becoming very tiresome and Synley was glad when the door closed and he was alone with Mr Willis.

‘Do sit down, please.’ Mr Willis indicated the comfortable armchair on the opposite side of the desk to his own. ‘This is an unexpected pleasure, to be sure. I trust all is well and the estate prospering?’