Sinjun slept deeply now, a healing sleep, and when she awoke late the following morning, she sat up in bed and stretched. She felt wonderful.
CHAPTER
15
PHILPOT OPENED THE doors and gaped. Two stylish ladies stood on the front steps, a traveling carriage with a high-nob crest on the side on the graveled drive behind them. The two magnificent bays in harness were blowing and stamping.
There were two outriders, who had pulled their horses to stand protectively on either side of each lady. The man driving the carriage was whistling, his whip upright on his leg, looking at Philpot with ill-concealed suspicion. Damned Sassenachs, Philpot thought, insular buggers, all of them.
The ladies themselves were in traveling gowns of the highest quality—Philpot might be the son of a Dundee baker but he knew excellence when he saw it. They were also dusty, a bit on the wrinkled side, and one lady, in a gray gown with military gold braiding on the shoulders, had red hair, not really absolutely red hair but dark red hair that wasn’t all that dark . . . . He shook his head. She also had a spot of dirt on her nose. The other one was just as pretty and just as travel-worn. She was gowned in a deep forest-green traveling gown and her chestnut hair was thick and braided atop her head with a nonsensical little bonnet perched on top. Part of the thick braid had come loose and was hanging over her shoulder. They had traveled quickly. Philpot wondered how far they’d come in how short a time.
The lady with the red hair that wasn’t really all that red, just sort of red, stepped up, a wide smile on her face. ‘This is Vere Castle, home of the earl of Ashburnham?”
“Aye, my lady. Might I inquire as to who you—”
There was a shriek from behind him and Philpot paled hearing the countess. Oh Gawd, had she fainted? He whirled about as quickly as his age and dignity permitted. She was leaning against a decorative suit of Elizabethan armor just behind him, pale as could be, staring at the two ladies.
“Alex? Sophie? Is that really you?”
The lady in green rushed forward. “Are you all right, Sinjun? Oh, please, my dear, tell me you’re all right? We were so dreadfully worried about you.”
“I think I am now, Sophie. But why are you here? Are Douglas and Ryder outside? Why—”
“You have been ill! I knew it. No matter now, Sinjun, Sophie and I are here to see that everything will be all right. You’re not to worry about anything anymore.”
The two ladies had swept past Philpot as they spoke, and quickly converged on the sickly countess and took turns hugging her and patting her pale cheeks and telling her how much they’d missed her.
Finally, after all the affections had been duly dispensed, Sinjun introduced them to Philpot, then said, “Do you know where the laird is?”
“Ye shouldn’t be out of yer bed, m’lady,” he said, sounding as disapproving as a bishop.
“Don’t scold me, Philpot. I was sinking like a dead stone into the feather tick. Had I remained abed any longer I would have smothered myself. But you’re right, I’m feeling a bit shaky. I’ll sit down in just a moment. Please send for the laird. Tell him we have guests, my sisters-in-law, to be exact. We’ll all be in the drawing room. Alex, Sophie, come with me.”
Her ladyship tried to lead the way, but she faltered. Philpot jumped forward, but the two ladies were quicker. They all but carried her into the drawing room.
Sinjun was settled on the sofa, her feet put up, a cushion beneath them, another pillow behind her head.
“Are you warm enough, love?”
“Oh yes, Alex, I’m just fine, though I am much enjoying seeing the both of you hovering. Ah, you’re really here, it’s wonderful. I can’t believe it. How?”
Alex looked at Sophie, then said simply, “The Virgin
Bride sent us. She said you were ill.”
“Douglas and Ryder?”
Sophie gave an elaborate shrug and didn’t look one whit guilty. “Douglas was easy. He’s in London, so Alex just left Northcliffe Hall to come visit me, bringing the twins with her. Ryder, however, presented more of a strategic difficulty. We had to wait until he went to the Ascot races with Tony, a three-day outing, thank heaven. I pleaded an indisposition, as did Alex. Then we left, simple as that.” She paused a moment, then said, “I believe Ryder thinks I’m pregnant. He was giving me all these male possessive looks and tender pats on my stomach. It was difficult not to laugh. I wanted to ask him if he thought being with child was catching—since Alex is pregnant, you see.”
Sinjun groaned. ‘They’ll come,” she said. “They’ll come and try to kill Colin again.”
“Again?” This from both Alex and Sophie together.
Sinjun groaned again, leaned her head back against the cushion, and said, “Yes, again. Alex knows about the first time. She herself coshed Douglas with a walking stick to help me break up their scuffle. There were two other times as well, both here in Scotland. Did you bring the boys?”
“No,” Alex said. “Directress Jane of Brandon House is free to enjoy all three of them whilst we’re gone. That is the title she selected, you know. She insists upon it whenever I introduce her to someone. The twins feel like they’ve arrived in heaven when they get there, what with Grayson and all the Beloved Ones. That’s a total of fourteen children right now. But who knows—Ryder just might bring home another child from Ascot.”
“Lucky Jane!”