With His Ring (Brides of Bath Book 2) (30 page)

Soon George joined them.

"How's Lady Sedgewick?" Gregory asked.

"I'm persuaded she's better. I got her to
drink some water."

"Why don't you try to grab some sleep?"
Thomas asked, concern in his voice. "She'll be in good hands with
Glee."

George shook his head. "I can't. I know I
should, but I'm still too upset. The poor lamb is never sick. I'm
wretchedly worried."

Thomas clapped a hand on his back. "She'll
be back to normal tomorrow. Mark my words. 'Tis just a passing
fever."

"I hope you're right."

Gregory felt utterly helpless to offer
succor to his lifelong friend who was dangerously close to weeping.
"Then how about a game of billiards before you return to your
vigil?"

"I suppose I could," George said wanly.

Gregory insisted that George and Thomas play
the first game, and he would play the winner. He took a seat on a
high stool and watched. It was obvious George's heart was
elsewhere. He could hardly make a shot, and normally George was
uncommonly good at billiards. He was likely trying to get the game
over with without delay so he could return to his beloved's
bedside. Poor fellow.

Thomas won handily, and George was all too
happy to return to Diana.

Getting to his feet, Gregory said, "Perhaps
I won't play the winner, after all. I'm determined to get that wife
of mine out of the sick room. She's vexatious enough when she's
well."

Truth be told, Gregory's fear for Glee—even
now that he had rescued her—was acute. He did not at all like not
having her near. As long as he was with her, he knew she was all
right. Good Lord, he
was
turning into George!

He watched as George went up stairs. A
moment later, Glee came down, a smile on her face. "Diana awakened
and spoke to me. She's ever so much better now. And she's not
nearly as hot as she was yesterday. I believe the fever has
broken."

"Thank God," Felicity said. "Maybe now that
brother of ours won't behave as if we're hosting a wake."

Glee turned to Gregory and rolled her eyes.
"If Diana hadn't been so dreadfully ill, I believe I'd laugh myself
sick over George's ridiculous behavior."

His arm around Felicity, Thomas said, "I see
nothing ridiculous in George's behavior. I daresay I'd be just as
bad if Felicity were that sick."

Gregory copied. After all, he had fine
examples. He placed his arm gently around Glee. "Me too. If it were
Glee, that is."

Glee looked adoringly into Gregory's face.
"Now that's twice today you've said the sweetest thing to me. I
declare, I don't deserve you, love."

"It's I who don't deserve you," Gregory
insisted.

The ride back to the town house was not
nearly as comforting as the ride there for Glee sat up straight in
the seat beside him. He thought he liked it better when she
snuggled against him.

* * *

At the townhouse Hampton greeted him at the
door. "Your brother has arrived in Bath to stay with you, Mr.
Blankenship. I took the liberty of having his things placed in the
gold room."

Gregory came to a dead stop, briefly
shifting his puzzled gaze to Glee. "My brother?"

"Yes, sir. He gave me his card.
Jonathan Blankenship
it said."

Gregory gathered his composure. "What a
pleasant surprise."

His words were uttered in the nick of time,
for Jonathan, on hearing his brother's voice, came from the
library. "Hope you don't mind me not letting you know of my
arrival," Jonathan began.

"Since when is my brother not welcomed
happily into my home?"

"We're so very glad you've come," Glee said,
dipping a courtsey. "Why just this morning Blanks was telling me
how much he would enjoy a visit from you." She tucked her arm into
Jonathan's. "How long will you be staying in Bath?"

His eyes shifted from Glee to Gregory. "My
plans are rather indefinite."

Chapter 26

This was Glee's chance to make amends for
all the grief she had caused Blanks. For however long Jonathan was
to stay here with them, she would see to it he was completely
convinced of his brother's devotion to her—and of her devotion to
his brother. Her glance flitted to Blanks's bleeding knuckles. Oh
dear. How would they explain them to Jonathan? Could he have
received them at the cock fight? Or perhaps he assisted the
coachman in dislodging the carriage wheel from a muddy mire at
Winston Hall. She bit at her lip. Neither scenario seemed probable.
Then an idea struck her.

"Jonathan, you will hardly recognize your
brother for he has changed so drastically." She strolled alongside
of her brother-in-law as they made their way to the library. "This
morning Blanks risked his life to protect me from the most wretched
cut-throat who tried to steal my earrings. Show him your knuckles,
darling," she said to Blanks.

He frowned. "Jonathan does not wish to look
at my bleeding knuckles."

Jonathan's furtive gaze slid to Blanks's
mangled hand as they came into the library and dropped onto silken
sofas. Glee and Blanks sat together on one; Jonathan faced them on
another.

"A cut-throat in Bath in broad daylight?"
Jonathan asked incredulously. "I've never heard of such. And I
thought Bath the safest city in all of England."

"'Tis entirely my own fault," Glee
explained. "I should never have worn the earrings in daytime. It's
just that they were so very special, being the only gift Blanks has
ever purchased for me." She glanced up at her husband and smiled.
Blanks slid her an insincere grin.

"Did you actually fight the man?" Jonathan
asked his brother.

Glee detected a wisp of pride in the
smaller, fairer brother's voice.

"I daresay it was an unconscious reaction to
him threatening my wife," Blanks said.

Jonathan glanced from his brother to Glee,
who gloried in her husband's unexpected admission.

"But he bested the beast," Glee said with
pride. "The man raced off on foot, and I daresay we won't be
threatened by him ever again."

"That'll teach him not to toy with my
brother. No one who knows of Gregory's prowess with his fists would
dare challenge him."

"I thank you for your confidence in me, but
I cannot admit to being as skilled as I once was. Out of practice,
you know."

"I hope you are, dearest," Glee said,
stroking the sleeve of Blank's brown jacket. "I shouldn't like it
at all if you went about jeopardizing your life. Now that you're a
family man, you'll simply have to change your ways."

Jonathan's mouth dropped open. "A family
man? Surely . . ."

Smiling mischievously, Glee shook her head.
"I have no reason to believe I'm increasing—yet," Glee said.

Relief washed over Jonathan's
countenance.

"Have you come from Sutton Hall?" she asked
her brother-in-law.

"Yes." He directed his gaze at Blanks.
"Mother sends her best."

Blanks failed to acknowledge Jonathan's
comment.

I'll bet she does
, Glee thought. "I
should love to see Sutton Hall," Glee said wistfully in an effort
to smooth over the awkward silence.

"I daresay it's yours for the taking,
Gregory," Jonathan said.

Blanks nodded. "In good time. My poor wife
was so tired of being buried in the country when we wed that I
promised her a Season in Bath."

"He's so very good to me," Glee added.

"Yes, I've heard," Jonathan answered grimly.
"A new phaeton, a sizeable wardrobe—not to mention the house and
carriage. It's a wonder there's any money left."

"Be assured our father's estate can easily
afford such insignificant purchases," Blanks said.

"I don't think the finest town house in Bath
an insignificant purchase."

Blanks looked somberly at his brother. "No,
but it's a fine investment, you must admit."

"And, delightfully, large enough to afford
you your own suite, dear brother," Glee reminded. "We're so very
happy you've come. Though many lively events are planned tonight,
if it is agreeable to you, I'd just as lief stay here with you
tonight and enjoy a cozy evening at home. Besides, my brother and
his wife will not be out tonight, owing to her sudden illness,
which I pray is nearing its conclusion."

"I pray that it is," Jonathan said without
conviction.

Glee smiled at him. "You must be tired after
your journey. Why don't you go up to your chambers and rest? Dinner
will be served at five."

* * *

After Jonathan left the library, Gregory got
up to close the door, then came back to sit beside Glee. "You
realize the gold room is next to mine?"

"Yes?"

"That will make Jonathan acutely aware of
our . . .marital arrangements."

He watched Glee's face until the impact of
his statement dawned on her. "Oh, I see." Then her face brightened.
"I'll just have to sleep with you while he's here."

God, but she was such an innocent! Did she
think a man and woman could innocently sleep together? He, for one,
would have a devilishly difficult time lying beside Glee and not
want to gather her in his arms. And once she was against him, he
would be powerless to stop at a chaste kiss.

The events of the night he was foxed
intruded on his thoughts. An innocent she might be, but Glee was
also a woman of extraordinary passion. He had already awakened it
once. The next time he feared he would indulge her passion to its
natural fulfillment. Sweet heavens, he must force himself to think
of something else.

"Enlighten me, please, on why you told my
brother the outrageous story of the cut-throat robber?"

"I knew he'd inquire on the nature of your
wounded hands, and I thought the cut-throat tale would emphasize
your gallantry toward me. You must admit, my story wasn't really
far from the truth. If the vile Mr. Jefferson is not akin to a
cut-throat robbing my diamonds, I don't know who is. And you did
fight with him to protect me. So there you have it."

Gregory burst out laughing. "I suppose
you're right, my dear. How resourceful of you."

* * *

That night at dinner Gregory sat back and
watched his little wife making it her mission to show Jonathan how
remarkably Gregory had changed since his marriage.

"You know, Jonathan," she began, "I think
your father must have been an extremely wise man."

Jonathan set his fork on his gilded plate.
"He was, but how did you know?"

"As you must know, I'm aware of the. .
.unusual terms of your father's will."

"About Gregory's marriage?"

"Just so. It's my belief your father knew
what solidness lay beneath Blanks's devil-may-care exterior. That,
of course, is what motivated him to draw up the peculiar will. And
by doing so, he forced Blanks to mature at a far greater rate than
he would have, given his own natural inclinations. You must ask
Blanks's friends, Mr. Appleton and the twins. They'll confirm that
Blanks no longer pursues his former interests. You know, the gaming
and drinking and. . .womanizing. He's settled down into marriage
every bit as admirably as my brother has."

A curious sense of pride washed over Gregory
as he listened to his wife and watched the intent expression on her
youthful face. She had even refrained from calling Appleton
Timothy! If he had to have a wife, he could not have found one
better than Glee. Even if she had vexed him half to death.

"I find your brother's transformation most
admirable, however, a similar metamorphosis in my brother remains
to be seen, Miss, er, Mrs. Blankenship."

She tossed him an impatient glance. "You're
to call me Glee. After all, you're now my brother."

"Forgive me," Jonathan said. "'Twill take
time."

A room-brightening smile flashed across her
face as she replied. "We have forever." Then she sent Gregory a
warm glance.

Oddly, a feeling of utter contentment
swamped Gregory as he peered into her smiling eyes.

"It's my belief," Jonathan said, "that our
father desired Gregory to take an active role in managing the
estates, and I've yet to see evidence of that."

"Oh, but he has! He spends long hours every
day at Mr. Willowby's office learning all about your father's
various holdings."

"Gregory?"

"Yes. I told you he's vastly changed. It
wouldn't surprise me one bit if he were to take possession of
Sutton Hall and focus all his efforts on not only continuing its
success but also in improving that which your father left."

Good Lord, what was the chit getting him
into? Where did she come up with such outrageous ideas?

Jonathan's brows lowered. "I daresay that's
what our father had in mind."

"I hope your mother won't feel she's being
usurped," Glee said.

Jonathan was silent for a moment. "I daresay
she'll have time to prepare for it."

"It may come sooner than you think," Glee
confided. "Once we have children, I shall want to retire to the
country with them."

Gregory nearly choked on his wine. How did
Glee manage to come up with such fiction without a moment's
hesitation? He settled back in his chair and watched her, an amused
grin on his face. He should have charged admission!

"I cannot picture Gregory being content in
the country," Jonathan said, shooting a glance at his brother.

"You must admit," Glee responded, "he has
never been made to feel completely at home at Sutton Hall."

Stunned that his mere slip of a wife had the
courage to bring up a subject never before openly broached and had
the perception to understand feelings Gregory himself had never
before voiced, Gregory watched her with glowing pride.

Jonathan shrugged, then sheepishly looked at
Glee. "You refer, of course, to the estrangement between my brother
and my mother."

"I do because Blanks won't."

Sweet heavens, but she had guts! Gregory was
only beginning to discover the depth of Glee's character. She was
neither the frivolous noblewoman nor the practiced flirt he had
been prepared to accept as his wife. Though they had been married
less than three weeks, he was gripped by the profound conviction
that he and Glee were united by something far stronger than a
vicar's words or his mother's emeralds. It was as if they were
bound to each other by some unseverable lifeline which was as vital
to them as drawing breath.