“I see.” The man’s brow furrowed a bit. “She didn’t mention her mother planned to attend her.”
“Spur of the moment decision.” Ginny, of course, hadn’t known that Oliver, Mother or Veronica would be attending her, so she certainly couldn’t have shared that information with anyone else. The way Waring spoke, however, made the hair on the back of Oliver’s neck stand on end and he would have bet every last farthing of Lady Eloise’s dowry that Benjy and Swale had the right of it when they’d sent for Oliver. “Hardly a time for her to be alone, especially considering Grasmere’s untimely death.”
“I had not realized news of my brother’s passing had traveled south so quickly.”
“Certainly, it’s not a secret.”
Lord Douglas shook his head “Of course not. Just surprised is all.”
From the family wing, Mother’s scream could have woken the dead, Grasmere included. “Oliver!”
Oh dear God.WasGinny hurt after all? He started quickly for the steps that led to the family wing and called over his shoulder. “If any harm has befallen her, Waring, there won’t be a safe place for you to hide in all of England.”
Waring was quick on Oliver’s heels. “She’s distraught is all.”
Oliver hurried down the corridor toward his sister’s set of rooms, and didn’t slow his pace until he was right beside Ginny’s bed. And then he did stop where he stood, his mouth gaping open in shock. God in heaven! His fears had not been unwarranted. How could a woman seven months into her confinement look so gaunt? Ginny’s hair was matted together, her skin was nearly grey, and her silvery eyes were so sunken she almost looked dead.
“She hasn’t eaten in days!” Mother wailed.
“She’s been distraught,” Waring echoed his earlier words. “Helen has been sitting with her, but…”
Oliver turned on his heel, rage coursing through his veins. He wasn’t certain what had happened to Ginny, and the last thing he wanted to hear was Waring’s excuses. “Gather your wife and leave the Hall immediately.”
Waring puffed out his chest. “Now see here, Prestwood, Helen and I have every right to be here. If that child—” he pointed at Ginny “—is a girl, then the marquessate is mine to manage. And—”
“You will be managing it from Newgate if I have anything to say about it,” he growled. “Gather your things and leave before I send you to the hereafter where you can discuss the situation with Grasmere face to face.”
“This ismyhome and—“
“I will kill you where you stand.” Oliver started toward Douglas Waring, who backed up slightly, apparently judging the threats to not be mere words.
“She has been distraught, Prestwood! We’ve been doing all we can for her,” he insisted, though he couldn’t quite meet Oliver’s eyes as he said that.
“Well, I’m here now, and I’ll see that my sister gets everything she needs. You will leave and you willnotreturn.”
“If that child is a girl—”
“Boyorgirl, you will never touch one hair on that child’s head.”
“I think you have the wrong of this, Prestwood. We’ve beenhelpingGenevieve, not—”
“If you do not leave now, there will not be enough pieces of you for Helen to put you back together.”
Waring looked far from pleased, but he wordlessly turned on his heel and started back into the corridor.
“Mama?” Ginny’s voice was so weak, he barely heard her.
Their mother let out a pitiful wail as she dropped into a chair beside Ginny’s bed and grasped her hand. “Oh, my poor darling, I’m here now.”
“Freddie’s gone,” Ginny whispered and then tears pooled in her eyes.
“I know, sweetheart,” Mother said, her voice almost cracking. “I’m so sorry. But we’re here now. Oliver will make certain you’re safe, and I’ll make certain you’re healthy.”
“Freddie fell off his horse,” she continued as though their mother hadn’t spoken at all.
Across the room, Veronica caught Oliver’s eye and gestured toward the corridor.
“I’ll be back in a moment, Mother.” Oliver left the room and Veronica followed him a second later.