Free Bridal Favors - Engaged in Wickedness by Jade Lee Page A

in the country?"
    "We thought so for a time. But she has the fits there too, just as often and just as bad as when we are here. And since I am of age, almost on the shelf, really, for the daughter of an Earl, we have to come for the Season. It would look very strange if we did not."
    "You are not that old!"
    She smiled at him, but the expression did not reach her eyes. "I am. And besides, I like it better here in London. If it makes no difference in her madness, then why not be here where we are expected to be?"
    He nodded, understanding her logic. But what of her mother's illness? "Is there no medicine for her?"
    Gwen released a snort of disgust which carried into her body. She pushed him away and stomped across the room. "There is always medicine for the wife of an Earl. Laudanum is the least of it. Possets, teas, bitter roots, and sweet cookies. We have tried them all. Robert has made a study of it, but none of it makes a difference. Neither does begging, tears, screaming, or even quiet silence." She dropped onto her bed in disgust. "Believe me, we have tried everything."
    He shuddered at the bleak note in her voice. Now that the light fell fully on her face, he could see the despair written so clearly in the slump of her shoulders and the shadows beneath her eyes. "Gwen, this must be so hard for you." No wonder she wanted to escape.
    Gwen said nothing, and after a moment he realized she was listening. The house was quiet, the sounds of weeping gone. Gwen pushed wearily to her feet.
    "She has fallen asleep. Come. You can help me with the bindings."
    She made for the door, but he touched her arm. "I cannot wander about your house, Gwen. Not in the middle of the night."
    "Of course you can. The servants have all gone home. We don't keep any in the house anymore, not for years because of both my parents. Father was always accosting the maids, and for a while, the footmen upset mama. So we send them all away at night. Only Graves our butler stays, and he will remain in his room unless I call for him. He doesn't think it seemly for him to see the lady of the house like this."
    "So you manage all by yourself?"
    "It is the best way. Robert takes his turn, but he had the early shift while I pretended to feel ill at the Stoutham Ball. That will give us the excuse to deny callers for a few days. By that time, Mama will no longer be mad, only bedridden. Then it is only a week or so more before the Season is done."
    "You have it all worked out." If he were not here right now, he might never have known the extent of the problem.
    She pulled open the door. "We have had years to establish a system."
    He could see it was true, but he also saw the weariness in her eyes and the desperation. It was terrible to have to live like this, constantly covering for her mother's madness. Then before he could think of anything to say, she grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him toward the door.
    "Come and help me with her restraints."
    "But she will see me!"
    "She is asleep. The laudanum has seen to that. And even if she does wake, she won't care. She doesn't care what I do on her best days. You will mean nothing to her now."
    Edward had no answer to that except to reach out and wrap her in his arms. He meant the embrace for comfort and she took it in kind. Her arms went around him, and she clung there, her body slowly losing its stiffness as they just stood there holding tight.
    This time she was the one to pull away. He let her go, and a moment later they walked down the hallway and into her mother's room.
    There was a lamp burning on the table nearest the door, well away from the bed. And a low fire going in the grate. More than enough light to see the frail woman with her wrists bound to an iron railing on the bed. Her ankles were tied as well, each tethered to the baseboard.
    Lady Willington herself was hard to see. Her graying hair was matted against her dirty face and what there was of her night rail was twisted about her. She wore loose men's