Devoted to You

Aidan threw him a dark look. “Don’t I know it,” he sighed. “I am just glad that I have left London. Believe me, when I tell you that I shall never miss the cloying confines of life among the ton, I mean it most fervently.”

“I know what you mean,” Jerry agreed. “I didn’t like it much either.” He studied his brother, who already began to look considerably more relaxed. “I take it that you intend to remain here for the foreseeable future then?”

Aidan didn’t even need to think about how to answer that. He nodded instinctively.

“This is my home now, and I intended to live in it full-time.”

“You do need to rest first, though,” Jerry said. “The surgeon said so.”

“Phah!” Aidan spat contemptuously. “That butcher–“

“That butcher saved your life, brother mine,” Jeremiah interrupted. “He knows what he is doing. He said that your journey would be arduous, and you would need several days to recuperate from it, and he was right. Given what he told us, I have secured a verbal promise from the dowager that she will remain at Abbeygate for at least another week. I have ordered Rollo to remove the knocker, and inform anyone who does have the temerity to knock on the door that you are not receiving visitors for the foreseeable future. So, for now, all you need to do is concentrate on getting better. You just need to make sure that Edwards knows her place. Although, after what happened in the hallway, I am certain she knows that already,” he added ruefully.

Aidan nodded, although how he was to go about that when Edwards usually ignored everything he told her and refused to leave was anyone’s guess. He doubted what he had done in the hallway had had any impact on the woman whatsoever. She would just be downstairs plotting another not-so-subtle way of manoeuvring herself into a position of authority within the household.

“Talking about mother,” Jerry began hesitantly. He paused, a little unsure how to proceed.

Aidan sighed deeply at the reluctance on his brother’s face and knew he wasn’t going to like what Jerry had to say.

“She is still put out that you decided to come here for your convalescence. She wanted you to move to Abbeygate, you know,” Jerry confided.

“I shudder at the very thought,” Aidan grunted. “You are the elder brother. You live there and run the place.”

This time, Jerry looked horrified. “I shudder at the thought.”

They shared a grin. “I have my home already established elsewhere. Castlecrede is fine for me. I am just grateful that father was around when I married poor Alice. Now that I have Castlecrede to take my time, I have a perfect excuse to leave Abbeygate to her, or you.”

“Ha! Not likely,” Aidan huffed. “I have here to run. She can cope with Abbeygate by herself. It has been her home for long enough now. She doesn’t need my input, even if I was able to be of any use, which I am not.”

He waved a vague hand in the direction of his battered legs.

“Excuses, excuses,” Jerry teased, horribly aware of the damage Aidan sustained to his limbs.

Aidan snorted.

“You know that she will try to use your determination to live here to push you into choosing a wife. After all, this is a house that is perfect to raise a family in.”

“I am not marrying,” Aidan said swiftly.

“I know,” Jerry replied dryly. “You have said so several times.”

“Why, I would rather marry -” He frowned and glanced around the room, looking for something. When nothing was immediately evident, he turned to look at Jerry. “Why, I would rather marry one of the ma

ids just to spite her.”

Jerry bit back a grin and leaned back in his seat. He knew his younger brother well, and knew that Aidan could, and would, just to get into his mother’s bad books. When Mama, the Dowager, was in an ill-temper with anyone, she refused to speak to them or acknowledge them in any way. In Aidan’s case, raising her ire could buy him the time he needed to get back on his feet. He suspected he knew which maid Aidan would choose if he ever did decide to get married.

“This is your house, Aidan. It is for you to establish the rules and not allow anyone to usurp you. As you are the master, it would be a foolish person indeed who would go against your wishes. Remember that. I strongly advise you to use the time you are regaining your health to make a few decisions on what to do about Edwards, and that servant of yours.”

“I know what to do with that servant of mine,” Aidan replied, mentally blocking out all the rather risqué thoughts that sprang to mind regarding the maid. “And Edwards.”

“Do you?” Jerry remarked dryly. “I am not sure that you do.”

“I am going to get rid of that damned nurse. I am not convinced she isn’t still giving me Laudanum. I have told her not to, but my thoughts are too foggy sometimes. I swear she is drugging me,” he grumbled.

Jerry’s brows lifted. “If that is the case then I think you need to gather the evidence and fire her. Throw her out of the house and lock the door, or get Rollo and the footmen to do it for you. These servants are yours, Aidan. They are here to make sure you have what you want – if that is Edwards out of this house, then she leaves. It is as simple as that.”

“I have tried before, but Edwards refuses to go. I know what will happen if I throw her out,” Aidan murmured.