“Lord Pilkington,” she said, having never once been introduced to the gentleman but looking down at him with sympathy blossoming in her heart. “He has not awoken as yet?”
“No,” Lord Windsor replied, heavily. “Not as yet.”
Bridgette let out a small sigh, put one hand on Lord Pilkington and silently prayed that he would recover. She did not like having one person in her house without any particular signs of life, and certainly did not want to add other to it.
“Who was it that came into this house?” Lord Windsor asked, sounding quite frustrated. “What is his name?”
Bridgette shrugged heavily. “I do not know,” she said, quietly. “I could not say. Lord Millerton might know him.”
Lord Windsor let out a long breath, shaking his head and looking back at Lord Pilkington. “Things are becoming a good deal more confusing,” he said, softly. “Are they not, Lady Callander?”
There was nothing for her to do other than agree. Lord Windsor was quite correct to state that there a good deal more confusing than before. With someone attempting to come to remove Miss Sarah’s life from her, Bridgette knew she would have to speak to Lady Madeline at her earliest convenience. Bridgette silently determined that she would write to her friend the very first moment she had, and if she received no reply, then she would go to Lady Madeline’s father’s house, so that she might be able to discover just whom she had spoken to.
“I am sure we will see a little more clearly in the light of day,” she said, feeling a little helpless. “And Lord Pilkington will recover?”
As though he had somehow heard her speak his name, a groan came from the lips of Lord Pilkington. Bridgette was beside him in a moment, with Lord Windsor at the other side.
“Can you sit up, sir?” she asked, as Lord Windsor wrapped one arm around the gentleman’s shoulders. “You have been injured, sir.”
Lord Pilkington’s eyes were fluttering, the candle now placed just a short distance from his head. As she held it to his face, she saw the red blood trickling down into his ears. A compress was needed, she determined, remembering what had worked for Miss Sarah’s wound. Leaving the candle where it was, she went in search of a cold cloth, finding one and rinsing it in a bowl of water.
“Nothing is to be spared,” she said quietly, as the cloth was pressed against Lord Pilkington’s head. “We must try to help him awaken.”
Lord Windsor let out a long breath and nodded, his hand over hers so that she might pull her hand away and step back, allowing him to do what was required.
“How is he?”
She jerked back , hearing Lord Millerton’s voice but having not heard anyone approaching.
“I apologize, Lady Callander.” His hand was on the small of her back, his presence beside her now entirely reassuring.
“He will regain consciousness soon, I am sure,” Lord Windsor replied grimacing. “It appears that he was struck hard from behind.”
Lord Millerton nodded. “Then he was waiting near the back of the house and you the front?”
“indeed,” Lord Windsor confirmed, “and we would meet to ensure that the other was quite well every hour or so. “When I could not find him, I feared the worse.”
Lord Millerton let out a long breath and Bridgette felt herself leaning back into him, drawing from his strength. When his lips brushed her forehead, she did not jerk back in embarrassment but rather allowed herself to close her eyes and simply rest in the warmth that rushed through her. It was just what she required at this moment.
“You should rest, Lady Callander,” Lord Millerton said, softly. “The perpetrator will not be able to escape and Lord Windsor will assist me with conversing with the gentleman we have just captured.” When she pushed away from him just a little, his smile was gentle. “I will speak to you the moment you awaken in the morning.”
“I thank you,” she answered, already missing his nearness. “I should be glad to sleep for a short time.”
“Then do so,” Lord Millerton smiled, clearly relieved that she and Miss Sarah were quite safe. “Thank you, Lady Callander, for all you have done.”
She wanted to protest, to state that she had done nothing particularly noteworthy, only for Lord Millerton to reach out for her hand and bend over it. Heat swirled in her stomach as he kissed her hand, making her blush furiously. When he looked up at her, there was such a tenderness in his eyes that she could not find the words to speak. Instead, she simply smiled at him, turned on her heel and hurried from the room, finding herself wrapped in a fresh warmth that chased all the lingering fears and doubts far away from her heart, and it was all thanks to Lord Millerton’s gentle touch, his sweet kiss and the warm affection in his eyes.
Chapter Ten
Sebastian cleared his throat as he waited for Lady Callander to attend the drawing room. He had asked a maid to awaken her an hour ago and, in that time, had been writing various notes to different gentlemen of the League, begging them to come to Lady Callander’s home at once.
So far, none had arrived but he expected them to attend him very soon. He wanted to speak to Lady Callander before such an event, however, to prepare her for what was t
o come.
The door opened and he turned at once, seeing the gentle smile on Lady Callander’s face as she walked into the room.
“Lord Millerton,” she said, softly, holding out both hands to him, which he took at once. “How are you this morning? How is Lord Pilkington?”