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“Mrs. Chester has seen to the lady, sir. His lordship asked Lady Donoghue to join him in breaking their fasts.”

“Extend my gratitude to those below stairs for responding so quickly last evening.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“How is your master this morning?” Richard asked in quiet tones.

“Lord Duncan is not accustomed to taking orders,” Mr. Fields said softly as the man glanced over his shoulder to know assurance that others were not near to overhear him. “Mrs. Braylon is equally as accustomed to having her own way as is his lordship.”

That information made Richard smile. “I should see if Lady Emma requires an arm on which to lean.” With a kind squeeze of Mr. Fields’s shoulder, Richard attacked the stairs.

In less than a minute, he was standing in the open doorway of Lady Emma’s room.

The woman was dressed and standing stiffly before a dressing table as Marjory braided Lady Emma’s long hair.

“You are up,” he said with a bit of surprise.

She did not turn towards him, but he could tell she smiled.

“I thought I might offer my arm to steady your step.”

“Shall Lady Theodora be breaking her fast also?” she asked.

“I would imagine so. Is there a problem?” He detected a bit of oddness in Lady Emma’s tone.

“I simply wished to extend my gratitude and assure your young lady I shall return the gowns once they are properly laundered,” she said as Marjory tied off the end of the braid.

“You sound as if you intend to leave Duncan Place,” he stated in tones sharper than he intended, but he did not like the idea of Lady Emma returning to her own home. “Have you recovered your memory?”

She thanked Marjory for her care before turning slowly to face him. “I cannot depend upon the kindness of strangers,” she argued.

He waited until Marjory bobbed her curtsey and disappeared through the servant door, though he suspected the girl had been instructed to wait nearby.

He was well aware of Duncan’s orders on such matters, especially when it came to Alexander and Theodora.

However, to the best of Richard’s knowledge none of his brothers had ever thought to bring a female to Duncan’s home.

“I would disagree, my lady. You have discovered strangers who have shown you great consideration. Do you mean to turn your back on their kindness?”

“I am not your responsibility, my lord,” she said, but her bottom lip trembled. “You have others requiring your care.”

“Who would that be?” he asked suspiciously, as the first bell rang somewhere in the house to indicate ten minutes’ warning.

“I understand you are obligated to a tea party with Lady Theodora, who I have yet to encounter, though she has freely shared a nightgown, a robe, and this day dress with me.” She caught the skirt of the dress as if she wished it were gone.

Despite her complaints, Richard smiled. “First, Lady Theodora does not see me as anything but a brother figure, and I hold her in affection, but I do not love her, not in a romantic sense. Lord Duncan lost his wife early on in their marriage, and Theodora is his only child. Over the years, he took in a number of boys, like me, who have lost their parents and required guidance and, I suppose, protection, in order to secure each of the peerages we all were to inherit. When we were young, none of us realized there were others who wished us dead.”

“How awful,” she said in sympathy.

“Lord Duncan will tell you I was customarily one of the more stubborn of his boys. Now, I am content to know his lordship executed what was necessary to save me and my earldom,” he admitted.

“And Lady Theodora is simply a sister?” she asked.

He smiled, for her question meant whatever it was that was happening between them was not simply on his part. “Theodora holds Lord Marksman in tenderness. Yet, Marksman has his own devils to fight before he is willing to settle for a bride.”

“Something terrible?” she asked. “More terrible than I have experienced?”

“It is a very complicated story, which I will gladly share as we become more familiar with each other. For now,” he offered her his arm, “Lord Duncan does not approve of anyone in the household being late for a planned meal.”

“One of the rules you despised?” she asked as she wrapped her hand about the crook of his arm. It amazed Richard how natural the gesture felt.

“Absolutely,” he remarked as they set their steps in motion.

“I much preferred to continue my study of the skies or find another who wished to play shuttlecocks and battledores or go riding or fishing. Food is necessary,” he said as led her down a hallway where the temporary morning room had been set up since Lord Duncan was recovering from being shot, “but meals always being at a set time is problematic for a young boy too curious for his own good.”

“Do you possess a telescope?” she asked. “That would be something to see.”

“I suppose my comment said I indulge my curiosity. Unfortunately, my telescope is at my estate in Lincolnshire, or else I would be delighted to share it with you.”

There was no time for more conversation, for they stepped through the doorframe to wait for the room’s notice.

“Just remember,” he said from the corner of his mouth, “all you see before you were once badly bruised and cut young boys.”

“And the lady?” she asked with a half-smile.

“Equally as well.”

“Then, though I may not make a grand first impression, they may know a bit of sympathy for my condition.”

Sympathy, he supposed, was what was expected, though he did not think Lady Emma would customarily accept sympathy so easily.

It was not in her nature to look for excuses.

From what he knew of her, she was a leader, not a follower, though he supposed each person experiences those feelings of inadequacy.

Three of the four men at the table scrambled to their feet. They each presented Lady Emma a quizzical look, but not an obvious one, though both Beaufort’s and Thompson’s gaze returned often to the large bruise on the side of Lady Emma’s cheek.

“I assume it should be me to make the proper introductions,” Richard said.

“My lady, beginning on your left, you will find Lord Marksman. The lady seated beside Marksman is Lady Theodora Duncan, followed by Lord Thompson, our host, Lord Duncan, and his nurse, Mrs. Braylon, on the right, and closest to where we will sit is Lord Beaufort.”

Richard found Mrs. Braylon seated at Duncan’s right hand very telling.

For as long as he could recall, no one was seated in that particular place at any of Duncan’s homes.

Yet, there was no time to consider the situation.

Instead, he said in a conspiratorial manner, “Warning, my lady, Beaufort is Irish. Though he also has an English barony and represents Ireland in the Lords, you may note his sentiments within our conversation.”

“The worst kind or the best kind?” she asked with a grin.

“I fear a bit of both, my lady, depending on the circumstance,” he responded, glad to hear some of her sassiness remained.

“Ah, a mixture customarily means the best kind,” she remarked.

Richard stood before his friends with pride. Though beaten badly, Lady Emma’s instincts remained strong. “All, this is Lady Emma Donoghue.”

Before anyone could ask a question or comment on why Lady Donoghue was to join them in breaking their fast, Duncan said, “You may serve, Mr. Fields.”

Richard seated her between him and Beaufort, once they were at the table, what passed for normal conversation at Duncan’s table resumed.

Emma spoke across the space to Lady Theodora. “I am blessed by your generous gestures, Lady Theodora.”

“I am pleased the gowns fit you somewhat,” the girl said awkwardly. “I was not aware Lord Orson held your acquaintance, my lady.”

Thompson said around a mouthful of eggs and a grin, “Orson once bet those at White’s his hands would fit about Lady Emma’s waist, Dora.”

“You did what?” Lady Emma demanded.

“I was angry that you blocked the White’s entrance for three days in a row,” he admitted in embarrassment, along with a silent promise to know revenge on Thompson. “Someone said I should have lifted you from my way.”

“And you thought it would take little to nothing to move me?” she asked, but the lady was smiling. Richard had never thought Lady Emma would be so easygoing.

“No, my lady,” he said obediently. “I anticipated a black eye or two.”

“So, you are a bit afeared of me?” she asked.

Before he could respond, Lord Duncan cleared his throat, and they all sobered quickly.

That is, all except Lady Emma, who looked Duncan in the eye to say, “I was not insulted, my lord. It was... was... joyful to hear the sound of family. Mine has been gone so long, I fear I will not recognize my own mother and father if I pass them on the street, and they shall most assuredly not recognize me. If what Lord Orson says is true, we have been separated for some ten years. I cannot recall the last time I sat down to a meal with those comfortable enough to tease with a give and an acceptance. Likely never, though I cannot know such with confidence.”

Richard had never viewed Duncan so dumbfounded. It was absolutely wonderful.

Lady Emma continued as if she did not comprehend the order in Lord Duncan’s household. “Pardon when I say,” she waited for Mr. Fields to fill her cup with steaming tea before continuing, “I am truly humbled that each of you dropped everything to assist Lord Orson in discovering who attacked me.”

“We did not...” Marksman began, but Beaufort said, “Yes, we did. Now might we enjoy our meal while we learn what Orson meant when he asked for our assistance?” Emma reached for Richard’s hand under the table, and he gladly accepted her fingers laced with his.

“As I cannot recall whether I had supper last evening or not,” Lady Emma continued, “I would prefer we simply enjoyed this first encounter and the fabulous efforts set before us by Lord Duncan’s staff.

Afterwards, Lord Orson may explain why he sought your assistance, while I speak with Lord Duncan and his lovely daughter.

I imagine his lordship wishes to know all the things I cannot recall, but we shall work through it together.

Most assuredly, we understand each other, as his lordship and I have both known trauma, of late. Am I correct, my lord?”

Richard watched as the frown disappeared from Duncan’s forehead. “Your suggestions hold great merit, my lady.”