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the physician said without preamble.
"What is it?"
"Mushrooms. A particular type which if ingested causes severe
illness.
It is fortunate Lady Rotham only ate a few bites. "
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"Mushrooms? We had no mushrooms tonight."
"The cook prepared a special dish for Lady Rotham. She claims she was
instructed to do so."
"By whom?"
"Lady Dunford, I assume."
Jane? Jack frowned at him.
"That makes no sense."
"Nonetheless, that is the source. The dish was sent back up with very
little eaten and the footman, who apparently has a fondness for
mushrooms, decided to partake of a few bites himself."
Jack had nearly forgotten about the ill man.
"How is he?"
"He will live, although he is quite miserable at the moment." The
physician's face was serious.
"It is possible, of course, that this was merely an accident despite my
earlier words, which I fear were rather rash.
Unfortunately, it is not entirely uncommon to gather dangerous
mushrooms. " He frowned.
"I will check on Lady Rotham and then take my leave."
Jack followed him to Claire's room. His stepmother stood outside the
door, apparently in argument with the brawny servant standing near the
doorway. She turned when she saw Jack, exasperation written on her
face.
"Rotham! Would you believe this man refuses to let me see her? My own
daughter-in-law!"
"I have orders to let no one in except Lord Dunford, Lady Dunford, or
the Duchess of Arundel the man said.
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"Not even Lord Rotham?" Celeste's voice rose in disbelief.
"He is her husband!"
Jack watched Dr. Burke enter Claire's room, then took his stepmother's
arm. She looked on the verge of hysterics.
"Celeste, we cannot discuss this here."
"Does Dunford really think I would poison her?"
He pulled Celeste away.
"Come with me."
He took her down the hall to her room. With relief, he saw his
grandmother behind them. The Duchess took one look at Celeste and
took
her arm, then led her into her room.
"You'd best rest yourself," the Duchess told Jack over her shoulder.
Even if he'd wanted to, rest was impossible. He went to his own
bedchamber and flung himself down in the wing chair near the window.
As soon as the doctor left and he was certain Dunford was out of the
way, he planned to force his way into Claire's room, servant or no
servant. He had no intention of leaving Claire's protection to
Dunford's devices, although" amazingly enough, he felt Dunford would
do, anything to protect Claire. He stared down at the empty grate in
the fireplace, lost in thought.
When the hands of the clock reached midnight, he rose and left his
room. The dimly lit hall was quiet--too quiet. For a moment he
couldn't determine what was wrong and then he realised there was no
servant in sight. He dashed down the corridor to Claire's room. He
shoved open the door. The room was dark, the only illumination
provided by slivers of moonlight. It took him only a few seconds to
see a white-clad figure on the other side of the bed. He started
towards the bed, almost at the same time as he saw the ghostly raised
hand, the glint of silver flashing in the air.
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"No!" His cry was hoarse as he tackled the figure. They fell to the
floor together, a small table crashing to the ground. Stunned, he
found himself crushing soft feminine curves, and then was looking into
Alicia's lovely, cold face. He stared at her, uncomprehending for a
moment, and then her features distorted into a mask of hatred. He
sensed more than saw her hand descend. He rolled out of the way. A
stab of pain shot through him as the blade slashed through his thin
linen shirt and caught his upper arm.
She seemed to collapse into a heap. He lay stunned for a moment, then
heard voices. Harry bent over him.
"My God!" Harry said.
Jack sat up, clutching his arm.
"Never mind! Attend to Alicia! She has a knife!"
Edward had pulled Alicia to her feet. Her face was dazed. The knife
slowly slipped from her hand. Celeste shoved past Edward and caught
Alicia in her arms.
"My child! What has happened?" Harry helped Jack to stand. He shook
off Harry's arm and stumbled to the bed. Claire lay so still, his
heart nearly stopped. He dropped to his knees and touched her pale
cheek.
"Claire! Claire!" Then he saw the gentle rise of her chest.
"Thank God!" His voice came out barely above a whisper.
"Jack!" He felt Harry's hand on his shoulder.
"I doubt Claire would appreciate your bleeding all over her bed
covers."
Jack started. Blood was indeed seeping on the quilt covering her. He
rose to his feet, his legs unexpectedly shaky. He looked at Edward who
stood behind Harry.
"I found Alicia standing over Claire with a knife.
Your damned servant was nowhere in sight," Jack said.
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"He was called away. Miss Snowden claimed Lady Rotham--that is,
Celeste--was ill."
Edward stared at Jack, his face shocked.
"My God! If you hadn't arrived..." He swung around to face Celeste
who sat on the chaise longue, her arms still around Alicia, who was
sobbing silently on her chest. He marched over to them.
"Why?"
"Can't you see she is upset?
Leave her for now! " Celeste gathered Alicia closer.
"I want to know why she tried to kill my sister!"
"How dare you?" Celeste looked as if she wanted to attack Edward
herself.
Alicia lifted her head and stared at Edward. She sniffed.
"She... she ruined everything! I... I was to marry Lord Rotham, and
then I would have had Grenville Hall and... and Biydon Castle! Mama
said they were to be mine someday!
They. they were my. my birthright! "
"Alicia, no!" Celeste looked horrified. Then her face seemed to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]