“Rinse out your mouth. That’s right. Better?”
She managed to nod, but the pain was stark and raw now, like a hammer bludgeoning at the base of her skull.
“Did I hurt that horrid baron?”
“You did indeed. He still hadn’t learned his lesson, so I had to tap his jaw. I laid him out flat on the beautiful Axminster carpet, this one a wedding gift from the Hawksburys. I hope Mrs. Catsdoor had Sigmund see them both off our property.”
“He’s a very unhappy man.”
“That may be the case. However, it gives him no right to try to murder you.”
“He was strangling me. I used a trick Oslow taught me years ago. I went limp, then slapped my palms really hard against his ears.”
“You hurt him. I thought he would weep. That was well done of you, Jessie. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.” He’d tell her later that the baron had called her vulgar because she’d managed to save herself.
“Does he have a wife?”
“Yes, he does, but she wasn’t very close to her daughter. I saw her last spring in Tutleigh, buying some ribbon at the milliner shop. She appeared glad to see me. I always thought she was a nice woman. I’m certain she knew nothing of this exploit of his.” He was chattering nonsense but he knew he had to keep her attention, keep her awake. “I think the ribbon she finally selected was green, nearly the color of my eyes, she said when she first saw it.”
“You do have beautiful eyes, James. The Duchess told me how all the important Wyndhams had blue eyes except for you. She did allow that your green eyes added diversion and interest.”
“I’ve always longed to be a diversion. If you’ll allow me, I’ll try to divert you for the rest of our lives.”
That sounded suspiciously permanent, and Jessie wouldn’t think about what he’d said just now since her brains were a bit scrambled. “When Mrs. Catsdoor showed them in, I knew I wasn’t in for a pleasant social call. I’m sorry, James.”
“What? Oh, come, Jessie, you didn’t do anything wrong. Now, do you think you can stay awake? Not quite sure yet. All right, I’ll tell you a story, one that Oslow told me.”
“I’ve probably already heard it.”
“Then you’ll hear it again. Keep your eyes fastened on my angel’s face. I’ll even try to twinkle my green eyes for you. Watch me hover. Now, it seems that the first thoroughbred to leave England for America was Bulle Rock. Did you know that?”
“Do you think I’m ignorant? Of course I know that.”
“Ah ha, but do you know who Bulle Rock’s sire was?”
“Oh dear, my head hurts awfully bad, James, so bad it’s blocked out all my learning.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “I know your head hurts, but you’re using that as an excuse. You can’t fool me. Bulle Rock’s sire was none other than the Darley Arabian, foaled in 1700, one of the three founders.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re making that up.”
“No. You see how quickly I fooled you? No, don’t shut your eyes, Jessie. Let me think. Ah, did you know that Charles the First—before he lost his head—gave Newmarket its first Gold Cup in 1634? Jessie, dammit, wake up.”
“Gold cups are nice. I have more than you do, James. At least, my papa does.”
“Not many more, and I don’t think they’re all gold. In fact, none of them are—at least none of mine are.”
“Mother made him melt the one gold one down a few years ago when our fortunes took a downswing.”
“Oh,” James said. “Who melted it down for him?”
Unfortunately her learning failed her again. She said instead, “Maybe that’s why Nelda married Bramen Carlysle. She was afraid of being poor again, and he’s very rich.”
When Dr. Raven arrived, Jessie was counting the fingers that James held up.
“She’s seeing clearly now,” James said. “She vomited, but her stomach’s better. Her brain still goes adrift a bit, but not badly now.”
“Excellent,” George Raven said, motioned for James to move, and took his place. “Hello, Jessie,” he said as he pushed up her eyelids. Then he gently probed around the back of her head. “Good-size bump. Harlow told me you struck your head against the mantelpiece?”