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She , having no doubt been informed by the butler of her brother’s return—and condition ‘I’ quite ill You’d better bring up some hot water and strip him down’

Feeling a pang of sy servant, A, pressing her fingers against the teun to throb

Between her irresponsible brother and her sullen cousin and having to watch Papa drift around the halls and fields, a wraith-like imitation of his fored to leave Ashton and throw herself into the frivolity of London? There the own to wear, herinto her social schedule all the events to which she’d be invited Her day would be so full, she’d tumble into bed and i and alone, yearning for the love and security so abruptly ripped from her

Oh, that she ht swiftly make a brilliant début, acquire a husband to pamper and adore her and settle into the busy life of a London political wife, seldoain

She only hoped, as she went to search out Cook and rearrange dinner, that their unwanted guest would not make the last feeeks before she could set her plans in motion even more difficult

Chapter Two

With a bestial roar, the crew nets over the side of the pirate vessel Fear, acrid in his throat, along with a wave of excitement, carried Greville over the side and on to its prow, into thepikes Blood already coated the decks, thick and slippery, when he saw the pirate charging at the captain, curved sword raised and teeth bared…

Abruptly, Greville ca as the shriek of wind, boo men slowly faded to the quiet tick of a clock in a rooht pooled on the floor beneath the s

Morning sun, judging by the hue, he thought, trying to get his bearings Brighter than light through a porthole

About the moment Greville realised he was in a proper bedcha’s holand, he heard a discreet cough Turning towards the sound, he spied a younga laden tray

‘Morning, sir,’ the lad said, bowing ‘Sands sentyou’d likely be right sharp-set after so many hours’

‘Have I been asleep long?’ Greville asked, still trying to recapture a sense of place and time

‘Aye,’ the young ht, the next day and now ’tis almost noon of the next Some of the staff orried you was about to stick your spoon in the wall But Mrs Pepys—that’s the housekeeper, sir—she’s done so deep and regular, there weren’t no danger of you dying and that you’d feel much the better for the rest’

He did feel ht Moreover, he realised suddenly, for the first tio, he hadn’t awakened to the slow, strength-sapping burn of fever

He was also, he discovered, truly starving Conteht lie beneath the plate cover on the tray, his an to water

‘You are right, I ary,’ he told the footman

‘Shall I put the tray on the bed here for you, sir?’

‘Yes, that would be fine Thank you…’ He hesitated

‘Luke, sir,’ the foot and such, if’n you need any help’

‘I’d like a bath after I’ve eaten, if you would arrange that I’ll be better able to ascertain how much assistance I’ll require then Oh—and if you please, ask that housekeeper for soes I’ve a wound I’ll have to rebind’