Skylark by Jo Beverley Read Free Book Online Page B

the change of subject, but he relaxed. “I’ve been in Oxford—a neighboring county at least—and I’m on my way home.”
    That route would bring him close. Relief unsteadied her almost as much as fear had, but she still had to deal with him.
    Even in normal circumstances, Stephen’s arrival would be a strain. Today it was close to intolerable. How quickly could she speed him on his way? Not until he’d spoken with Lord Caldfort. She would arrange that now. . . .
    But then the clock chimed five.
    “So late?” The words unfortunately escaped her.
    He put down his cup and rose. “I’ve kept you with this idle chatter when you have a sick child. Forgive me. I’ll put up at the local inn and return tomorrow to talk to Caldfort.”
    She rose, too, and acted as she must. “Of course, you will stay the night here, and I’m sure Lord Caldfort will be happy to speak to you now if he is able. He misses involvement in the world’s affairs. I’ll go and see.”
    This time he made no attempt to stop her, and Laura could escape.
    She paused halfway across the hall, struck by a sickening new realization. Stephen did nothing without thought. He’d arrived here late in the day and then, yes, he had kept her talking when she had a sick child in the nursery. He’d made an invitation to stay impossible to avoid.
    He and she had avoided each other for six years. He would never come to her home for a trivial purpose. Whatever the purpose was, however, she could see no way to prevent it.
    She carried on to Lord Caldfort’s study and watched his reaction to news of the guest. Pure delight. She took Stephen to him and would have loved to linger and find out more, but Lord Caldfort would never stand for that.
    In the hall again, she shrugged. If a sword was to fall on the Gardeyne family, it would fall. She summoned Mrs. Moorside and gave instructions for the preparation of a room.
    “And tell Cook there’ll be one extra for dinner. A gentleman likely to eat more than the rest of us together.”
    Despite Stephen’s slim build, he’d always had a healthy appetite, especially after riding. She remembered—
    She blocked that. “Oh, and as there’s no sign of a valet, tell King to be ready to assist Sir Stephen if needed.”
    King was Lord Caldfort’s man and might enjoy attending to a man of fashion.
    Laura wanted to check on Harry, but she took a moment to be sure that she’d done all that was necessary. There was one more task. She went to Lady Caldfort’s room to inform her that they had a guest. Laura had taken over the running of the house, but she tried not to ignore the older woman.
    “A young man?” Lady Caldfort asked, turning to face Laura, brandishing a beetle on a pin.
    “Yes, I suppose so.”
    “Good. You should marry again. Get away from here.”
    Lady Caldfort turned back to her work and Laura left, wondering if that was a warning, but no one was less likely than her mother-in-law to know of secret plans. After all, she was clearly blind to the fact that Laura was pinned here like a beetle in a box.
    Now, thank heavens, she could go up to the nursery. When she saw how much Harry was recovered, most of the knot of tension in her unraveled. He was awake from his nap and demanding his supper. Laura checked again for fever or pain, but no one would guess he’d been so unwell.
    “Very well, but just soup with bread in it. And then some stewed apples and cream if you feel like them.”
    His bright eyes said he did. She played with him a while, but couldn’t stay with him all evening when they had a guest and Harry was clearly recovered. She kissed his brow and went downstairs, but her mind wouldn’t stop circling the events of the day.
    Had she imagined Lord Caldfort’s distress?
    Had that bun really been poisoned, or had that been her own unbalanced interpretation?
    Was Stephen’s arrival an innocent coincidence?
    One shock after another after another had caused a turmoil inside her that was almost as