Wizard's Daughter (Sherbrooke Brides 10)

Nicholas didn't look back at her. He directed Dr. Knotts to the drawing room. He heard grumbling behind him but didn't turn.

As he stood by the door watching Dr. Knotts gently shove Rosalind out of his way, he called out, "Come with me, Rosalind. You and I must dress now. We have unexpected guests."

Not twelve minutes later the two of them returned to the drawing room to see Dr. Knotts standing beside Peter, the doctor's arms folded over his chest.

He turned at Nicholas's entrance. "My lord, there is noth­ing to warrant leeches." He sounded disappointed.

"Do you know what caused Mr. Pritchard to collapse?"

"He carries the curse of youth, which is idiocy, but he as­sures me he was not drunk. I have no idea what made him faint, for that is what he did, pure and simple. He had no seizure, no sudden pain in his head or limbs. So I must con­clude that he collapsed for the simple fact that he is young and untried and—"

Nicholas said, "He is older than I am, Dr. Knotts."

"Then it must be a stricture in his bowels. This is not un­common, particularly in young men with excesses of male vigor."

Peter sat up suddenly, thoroughly alarmed now. "A stric­ture in my bowels?"

"Aye, lad, but it will work itself out. Now, I must be off." And Dr. Knotts, after bowing to both Nicholas and Rosalind, was gone within the next second, Block at his side.

Nicholas said, "Don't worry, Peter. I fancy the good doc­tor has no idea why you passed out. Odd things sometimes happen when you least expect them, but then they pass. How do you feel?"

"I am fine now, my lord. I honestly don't know what hap­pened. I was feeling quite fine, and suddenly, I saw this bright flash of white and then you were leaning over me, speaking to me."

It was the light that had laid him flat, Nicholas thought. But why? He said to Peter, "I wish you to confine yourself to very light duty today, Peter. Let's not take any chances. Now, my stepmother and my three half brothers just ar­rived. Her ladyship and I must attend them. Rosalind , come with me."

She asked him again as they walked to the library, "Richard wanted all of them to come here to warn you? That is non­sense, Nicholas, and you know it. I do not trust any of them, except perhaps for Aubrey. He seems harmless enough."

"Richard looks scared. No, he is scared. He's not a good enough actor to fool me and that alone gives me great pause."

In the library, they found the three brothers seated, drink­ing tea and eating Cook's gooseberry muffins. The Dowager

Lady Mountjoy stood next to the fireplace, a teacup in her gloved hand.

"I never liked this room," Miranda said when they walked into the library. "It's dark and cold, and so I told that mad old man."

"I agree," Nicholas said. "Now, Richard, you will tell me exactly why you have descended on Wyverly Chase." But Richard was staring at Rosalind. "You're here," he said. "Well, yes, I live here."

Miranda said, "Richard has had a dream, Nicholas, a dream that—"

"Why don't you let Richard tell us about the dream, ma'am," Nicholas said pleasantly, his eyes never leaving his half brother's face.

"Terrified about a silly dream, just like a girl," Lancelot said, and gave his brother a fat sneer.

"If you don't have anything useful to say, then shut up, Lancelot," Nicholas said. "Now, Richard, what is this all about?"

Richard rose. He looked straight at Rosalind and pointed his finger at her. "She killed you, Nicholas. I watched her kill you."

Rosalind didn't protest. She smiled at him and marveled aloud, "What a lovely thought that is—killing my husband and here we are newly wedded. Hmmm. Have you looked at your brother, Richard?"

"Of course I have! What of it? I'm very nearly as big as he is and probably more dangerous!"

That earned him an ironic look from Nicholas and an­other big smile from Rosalind . "Please, do tell me exactly how I managed to kill my husband."

"You think this is amusing, do you? You stabbed him, damn you. I watched you stab him."

Nicholas said slowly, "Did you happen to see the knife, Richard?"

"Why do you care what the bloody knife looks like? That