Free Edith Layton by The Conquest

then leave as soon as reinforcements got here to make that easier. He closed his eyes, content.
    He was lying absolutely still when Alexandria, bearing another laden tea tray, returned. His head was back, his elegant nose pointed at the ceiling. She couldn’t see him breathing. She was so startled her hands shook. She put the tray down carefully, signaled to a startled Mrs. Tooke, and then the pair of them crept closer to his bed, not knowing they were holding their ownbreaths. They bent and stared. He was breathing, lightly, slowly, and evenly, sleeping soundly. Alexandria shared a relieved look with Mrs. Tooke.
    “Gads,” he drawled, his eyes still closed, “a fellow can’t shut an eye around here without worrying about getting a lily planted on his chest. And here I was hoping for a tea tray instead.”
    “My lord,” Mrs. Tooke said, ducking a quick curtsey, “we were just concerned.”
    “Well, so am I,” he said with a smile, opening his eyes. “Are those wonderful scones for me?”
    Alexandria was annoyed that he’d made a May game of her terror. “Mrs. Tooke, this is Lord Drummond,” she said stonily. “My lord, this is Mrs. Tooke. She’s the good neighbor who has come to stay with us so that you can stay on here without worrying that I’m going to have to bring a vicar, not just tea, when I enter your— my bedchamber.”
    “Alexandria!” Mrs. Tooke gasped.
    Drum laughed. “Don’t worry, my dear lady. I richly deserved that. But the more important question is if I deserve some cakes too? I’ve been very good, you know. Haven’t stirred from this place since they laid me here. I did try, but my hostess had three strong men hold me down, she was that anxious to keep me in her bed.”
    Alexandria held her tongue as Mrs. Tooke handed him a napkin, poured tea for him, filled a plate with cakes and cream and placed it at his elbow. He sighed.
    “A lady who knows how to treat a man,” he said with pleasure. “I thank you.”
    Mrs. Tooke nodded. “Handsome manners,” she said with approval, “just like your father. You have the look of him too.”
    Drum had a cake halfway to his lips. He paused and looked up at her. “You know him?”
    “I knew him,” she said, “once upon a time, when we were all young.” She saw his surprise and added, “I grew up not far from his estate. Our fathers were friends. Mine was Lord Usborne.”
    Alexandria turned and stared. There was a second of silence even her glib guest couldn’t fill. She’d thought Mrs. Tooke was going to say she’d been a nearby squire’s daughter. She was that well born? Even Alexandria had heard of Lord Usborne, a political-minded fellow and a viscount! Mrs. Tooke was a local woman who, just like them, baked, mended, and tended house. She’d told Alexandria that she gardened and kept chickens too. She had fine manners, but no airs. Of course, Alexandria remembered, wasn’t that supposed to be the very hallmark of a lady? But still, it was a shocking surprise.
    “I knew your father too,” Drum said smoothly. “And know your brother. He’s made some improvements at the hall.”
    “Indeed?” Mrs. Tooke said, her face showing nothing but polite inquiry. “I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been back. The family was unhappy with my marriage, and so we haven’t seen each other since. That was many years ago.”
    “Surely not that many?” Drum said with a show of great surprise. “Unless you married from the cradle?”
    “ Very like your father,” she said, and they both laughed.
    Alexandria listened as her guests chatted easily, talking about this name and that person. Mrs. Tooke had obviously made a misalliance, and her familyscorned her because of it. The Earl of Drummond did not. Or, if he did, no one would ever know it. What a lady Mrs. Tooke was, Alexandria thought with growing respect. What a gentleman the earl was. It was all amusing, jolly, cordial. Alexandria was impressed.
    So. He isn’t such a bad fellow, after all,