The Heart's Companion

In shocked silence the company watched Lady Elsbeth crumble to the floor. No one moved. Stunned, they looked from Lady Elsbeth to the recent arrival and back to Lady Elsbeth. No one moved until he moved. He ran to her side and carefully lifted her. She groaned softly, her eyelids fluttering.

Like hungry fish, the other guests clustered about him, the women offering advice or wringing hands, the men demanding he hand his precious burden to one of them. Scowling, he shouldered them aside and carried Lady Elsbeth to one of the now vacant settees. He laid her down, carefully smoothing the length of her gown, demurely covering her. He bent over her a moment longer, staring at her, his time-ravaged visage an immobile mask. He stood up and turned to glare at the Earl of Royce.

"Damn your eyes, Royce," he said softly, his pale blue eyes starkly shining in his tanned face.

Lady Elsbeth whimpered softly and stirred. The man she called Black Jack looked down at her, then abruptly stepped away, his place taken by other guests in a closed circle about her.

Jane grabbed Lord Royce’s arm. "What do you mean by bringing him here?" she demanded, her voice a strident whisper. "Look what you’ve done to Elsbeth! Even though you may lack sensibilities, other people have them. How could you bring a man with his reputation here?"

Royce looked at her coldly. "You are too much a creature of gossip."

A bright red swept up Jane’s neck. "I beg your pardon!" she gasped.

"Try being a woman of facts rather than fairy tales," he drawled, his lip curling derisively. He shook her hand from his arm and turned, walking away.

"John?" murmured Lady Elsbeth. She struggled to sit up, batting away the many helpful hands that demanded she lie still. She swung her feet to the floor. Jane, forgetting her argument with Lord Royce, rushed to her aunt’s side.

"Elsbeth, please, lie still. Let me ring for a sal volatile."

Lady Elsbeth frowned and shook her head. She tried to look about the room. "Where is he? Was I dreaming?"

"No dear, I’m sorry to say you weren’t. But I’ll ask him to please leave." Jane straightened, turning away from her aunt.

"No!" Lady Elsbeth grabbed Jane’s arm, pulling herself to her feet. "I must see him. I must apologize."

"Apologize?"

But Lady Elsbeth did not answer. Her eyes sought and found him standing apart in a shadowed corner of the room. "My Lord Conisbrough? John?" she said hesitantly, walking slowly toward him.

The man watched her approach with suspicion, like a wild animal watches the approach of another.

A tumultuous smile formed on her lips, then grew more confident as did her posture and demeanor. Behind her a murmur rose among the guests like the buzzing of bees on the blackberry hedges.

"My Lord Conisbrough," she repeated, this time more confidently. "I owe you an apology."

"You are wrong, Madame," his deep voice rasped. "You owe me nothing. I should never have allowed myself to be talked into coming here uninvited. Allow me the opportunity to make my apologies and remove my sorry person from your presence."

"I am not a Madame and have never been one. In my callow youth I foolishly allowed that opportunity to pass me by."

Lord Conisbrough raised one eyebrow and lifted his chin slightly, but did not respond.

"And I am not implying I wish to apologize for fainting in that deplorable manner. Though perhaps I should to the rest of our guests. Very bad ton, you know."

Lord Conisbrough’s lips twitched.

"No," she continued conversationally, "my apology is one that is fifteen years overdue."

A look of pain twisted his features. Like a striking snake, his hand clamped about her wrist. "No, not now, Lady Elsbeth. Not here," he whispered. He shook his head as if to clear it of unwanted memories. "Maybe never," he said, dropping her wrist. He turned his head away.

Unruffled, though a sad smile lurked in her eyes, Elsbeth nodded. "I understand," she said softly. Her voice became cheerier. "I am a complete featherbrain! Where are my manners this evening? There are many here you don’t know. Let me introduce you." She slid her arm under his and turned, leading him back to the astonished and wildly speculating company.

Lady Elsbeth introduced the Marquis of Conisbrough to everyone as if he was an old friend. More than one eyebrow rose at her manner, but the company was too well-bred to show curiosity. They accepted him in the manner Lady Elsbeth wished. For his part, the marquis lost that wary look, replacing it with one of sardonic amusement. Though it was noted that he often turned to stare at Lady Elsbeth with something akin to wonder and something else the company could not name. In all, however, Jane was the most astonished and put out by the unexpected turn of events. A frown hovered at the edge of her lips until dinner was announced.

The Earl of Royce adopted a smug attitude whenever Jane chanced to glance his way, which she did far too frequently for her own peace of mind. Millicent latched onto him, preening before everyone at what she saw as her personal coup. Miss Culpepper seemed petulant, and Sir Helmsdon laughed. No one harbored private fears that the house party would be a dull, insipid affair.