The Book Of Scandal by London Julia

Author:London, Julia [London, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Adult
ISBN: 9781416547112
Publisher: Pocket
Published: 2008-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

W ilkes met them at the door in a cloak, on his way out. “What has happened?” he asked anxiously.

“The orangery is burning,” Nathan said.

“Dear God. No one was hurt?” Wilkes asked, casting a worried gaze at Evelyn.

“By the grace of God,” Nathan said gruffly, and pushed past Wilkes, who shouted after him that he’d go lend a hand.

In spite of Evelyn’s hoarse protests, Nathan carried her up the winding staircase to her rooms. He kicked open the door to her dressing room and marched through, stepping over and around her things where he could, but earning a cry of alarm from her when he managed to walk across the silk train of a gown that was draped over a chair.

He walked through the adjoining door into her bedroom and deposited her on the bed. “Don’t move,” he ordered her. “Not as much as an inch.”

She groaned and rolled onto her side, overcome again with a painful cough.

Nathan found a linen handkerchief and soaked it in the basin, then returned to the bed to clean the ash from her face. He’d scarcely touched her when the door from the corridor swung open with a bang, startling Nathan.

“My lady!” Kathleen shrieked. “Lord help us!”

“For heaven’s sake, woman, she is not dead,” Nathan said sternly, and wiped Evelyn’s face.

“Oh my lord, I shall do it, shan’t I?” Kathleen asked anxiously, reaching for the handkerchief. “You’re apt to scrub her skin right off the bone.”

The thought horrified him—and in the moment of his hesitation, Kathleen took the handkerchief from his hand. It was just as well—he was needed outside. He backed away from the bed. “You’re not to leave her. Mind you keep her here until a doctor comes,” he said, and hurried out.

The orangery was completely engulfed in flames. The staff—joined by some of the tenants now—were all working to keep the fire from spreading by digging ditches and beating back the flames with whatever they had available. Nathan shrugged out of his coat and took a shovel from one of the groundsmen and began to work.

They worked for hours. A wind picked up late in the day, and they didn’t dare slow their efforts, lest the embers spread. It was late into the evening before Nathan felt the fire was suitably contained; the groundsmen would keep vigil through the night with the help of some tenants.

The weary residents of Eastchurch Abbey began to fade into the night. Nathan was still stomping out small embers that scattered with the wind when Benton appeared at his side. In all the many years Benton had served at Eastchurch Abbey, Nathan had never seen as much as a single hair on Benton’s head out of place, but tonight, ashes blackened his face and his suit was in complete disarray. “The doctor has come,” he said. “He awaits you in the salon. Mr. Gibbs has been put in a guest room and is resting comfortably, as is Lady Lindsey.”

Nathan nodded, relieved. “See to it everyone is fed.

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