Read Online Come Midnight by Veronica Sattler - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Veronica Sattler
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Lightfoot, I've presided over the healin' of a great many injuries in me time, young as I am, but..." She shook her head. "I've niver seen the like!"
Caitlin was at a loss to explain the marquis's bitter laugh as he abruptly told her to go to bed.
Chapter 5
"Jepson, his lordship wants you!" Sally Hodgkins paused to catch her breath as she reached the servants' hall. "And he's in a temper!"
Jepson set down his dish of tea and made at once for the stairs. In a temper? In a rage, more likely! Rage seemed the only way to describe his lordship's state of mind lately. The marquis had not been an easy man to work for since his return from the Peninsula. Since the events of two nights ago, he'd become downright difficult
They were all overset about the child's leg, of course. But his lordship was taking it especially hard. Yesterday he'd had no less than three additional doctors in to examine the lad. Not to mention the Prince Regent's personal physician. After each left, sadly shaking his head, Lord Lightfoot had become further enraged. If that were even possible.
Jepson didn't understand it The child was alive. Alive, when he'd been given up for dead! One would think a parent might be grateful for such a miracle. But Lord Andrew's miraculous reprieve had only served to drive his father into the worst sort of... melancholy.
Yes, melancholy, Jepson decided as he reached the top of the stairs. He'd served the man a long time. He recognized the sad, haunted look behind the anger. A look that had first appeared after his lordship's marriage. Deep melancholy, for a certainty, though the outward show was rage.
Jepson sighed as he approached the lord's chambers. He wondered what had set him off this time.
His employer was furiously pacing the length of the Aubusson carpet when he bade the butler enter. Jepson wisely remained just inside the door; he'd wait to be told what was amiss. Doing otherwise would only earn him a measure of that wrath heaped upon his own head.
The marquis reached the edge of the carpet, pivoted, and speared Jepson with his eyes. "Are you aware of the identity of a woman named Murch?" He ground this out between clenched teeth.
"Yes, your lordship. Miss Murch is the governess her ladyship recently engaged for—"
"And were you aware she brought the creature up with her from Kent?"
Jepson hesitated, then gave a nod. He'd totally forgotten Murch. The marchioness had given the woman leave to visit a sick relative in the city, just after they arrived; he'd barely taken notice of her. He explained this to his irate employer, wondering how the governess had had the misfortune to run afoul of his lordship's temper. Not that it was a difficult thing to do these days.
"I see," said the marquis in a voice that had grown dangerously soft. "And were you aware that Miss Murch had returned this morning?"
Jepson opened his mouth to answer, but the marquis leaned forward and cut him off. "Or that," he said tightly, "having read about my wife's demise in the Post, she took it upon herself to resume her duties, first thing—by telling my son he's motherless?"
"Good heavens!" Jepson was appalled. He hadn't known of her return, yet even if he had, he couldn't imagine needing to counsel the woman as to the delicacy of the situation. He hadn't hired her, but governesses were supposed to know what they were about. "The woman must be a heartless incompetent," he added without thinking, for it wasn't his place to comment.
Adam gave him a stiff nod, trying to control his anger. He hadn't liked the last woman Lucinda had engaged. He'd found her cold and rigid, and told his wife to sack her. That she'd replaced the creature with this equally worthless bitch made his blood boil.
He'd entered his son's chambers this morning to find the child sobbing. Murch was there, and the stupid twit blithely explained what she'd done. "Lady Lightfoot said I mustn't mollycoddle him," she'd informed him!
"I ...I humbly beg your lordship's
Caitlin was at a loss to explain the marquis's bitter laugh as he abruptly told her to go to bed.
Chapter 5
"Jepson, his lordship wants you!" Sally Hodgkins paused to catch her breath as she reached the servants' hall. "And he's in a temper!"
Jepson set down his dish of tea and made at once for the stairs. In a temper? In a rage, more likely! Rage seemed the only way to describe his lordship's state of mind lately. The marquis had not been an easy man to work for since his return from the Peninsula. Since the events of two nights ago, he'd become downright difficult
They were all overset about the child's leg, of course. But his lordship was taking it especially hard. Yesterday he'd had no less than three additional doctors in to examine the lad. Not to mention the Prince Regent's personal physician. After each left, sadly shaking his head, Lord Lightfoot had become further enraged. If that were even possible.
Jepson didn't understand it The child was alive. Alive, when he'd been given up for dead! One would think a parent might be grateful for such a miracle. But Lord Andrew's miraculous reprieve had only served to drive his father into the worst sort of... melancholy.
Yes, melancholy, Jepson decided as he reached the top of the stairs. He'd served the man a long time. He recognized the sad, haunted look behind the anger. A look that had first appeared after his lordship's marriage. Deep melancholy, for a certainty, though the outward show was rage.
Jepson sighed as he approached the lord's chambers. He wondered what had set him off this time.
His employer was furiously pacing the length of the Aubusson carpet when he bade the butler enter. Jepson wisely remained just inside the door; he'd wait to be told what was amiss. Doing otherwise would only earn him a measure of that wrath heaped upon his own head.
The marquis reached the edge of the carpet, pivoted, and speared Jepson with his eyes. "Are you aware of the identity of a woman named Murch?" He ground this out between clenched teeth.
"Yes, your lordship. Miss Murch is the governess her ladyship recently engaged for—"
"And were you aware she brought the creature up with her from Kent?"
Jepson hesitated, then gave a nod. He'd totally forgotten Murch. The marchioness had given the woman leave to visit a sick relative in the city, just after they arrived; he'd barely taken notice of her. He explained this to his irate employer, wondering how the governess had had the misfortune to run afoul of his lordship's temper. Not that it was a difficult thing to do these days.
"I see," said the marquis in a voice that had grown dangerously soft. "And were you aware that Miss Murch had returned this morning?"
Jepson opened his mouth to answer, but the marquis leaned forward and cut him off. "Or that," he said tightly, "having read about my wife's demise in the Post, she took it upon herself to resume her duties, first thing—by telling my son he's motherless?"
"Good heavens!" Jepson was appalled. He hadn't known of her return, yet even if he had, he couldn't imagine needing to counsel the woman as to the delicacy of the situation. He hadn't hired her, but governesses were supposed to know what they were about. "The woman must be a heartless incompetent," he added without thinking, for it wasn't his place to comment.
Adam gave him a stiff nod, trying to control his anger. He hadn't liked the last woman Lucinda had engaged. He'd found her cold and rigid, and told his wife to sack her. That she'd replaced the creature with this equally worthless bitch made his blood boil.
He'd entered his son's chambers this morning to find the child sobbing. Murch was there, and the stupid twit blithely explained what she'd done. "Lady Lightfoot said I mustn't mollycoddle him," she'd informed him!
"I ...I humbly beg your lordship's
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