Grenville 02 - Lord John's Dilemma Read Online Free Page A

Emma, you will have me fixed up in no time.”
    “Oh! Is that Emma’s blanket? I hope she did not disturb you.”
    “She was just what the doctor ordered.”
    Felicity smiled. “You are very patient with the children, John. They idolize you, I hope you realize.” She felt his forehead. “Your fever does seem to be a thing of the past. I will send up dinner then. And afterward, Alex’s valet will fix you up with a bath.”
    “Thank you, Felicity. You always treat me like a king. Alex married well.”
    She laughed. “He did not always think so!”
    Before he could question her, she walked out of the room.
    Alex had doubted his decision? How could he have? Felicity was everything he could imagine in a wife. Plus she had brought a fortune with her to restore the Manor and the estate. Maybe his brother was not the superior judge of character John had always taken him to be.
    The following two days found John much improved in body, if not in spirits. His nerves remained badly frayed, making him irritable and not inclined toward company. However, the third day was fine out, and he realized the worst of his mood was behind him. Perhaps this time, it had been brought on by his physical weakness. Now he just wanted to sit on the terrace, watching the twins play tag on the lawn. Soon, he was instructing Jack on the proper positions for his lead soldiers in the boy’s reenactment of Waterloo.
    Felicity emerged from the house, frowning.
    “John, the Lindsays have called again. I did not know whether you would wish to visit with them or not. They are in the sitting room, but if you like, I can bring them out here. Otherwise, I will tell them you are not quite up to visitors.”
    “Who exactly is calling?” he asked with some weariness.
    “Lord and Lady Lindsay and her two eldest daughters, Miss Lindsay and Miss Leticia.”
    He sighed. John had not spoken to Alex yet about his mental limitations, but he supposed it would not hurt to see Miss Lindsay again. He was miles away from making a declaration. Indeed, he did not even know if he wished to. He had not been around respectable women much in the past years.
    “You may bring them out here,” he said. “But not a long visit, please.”
    Soon, Felicity had returned with her guests.
    “Oh, Lord John!” Lady Lindsay said. “We were so sorry to hear you have been so ill. We brought a basket of peaches from the orchard. I hope you like peaches?”
    “English peaches are the very best,” he said. “It is pleasant to see you all again.”
    “Devil of a good show, Waterloo,” Lord Lindsay said. Long, lean, and ascetic looking, he had fought Napoleon in his younger days.
    “Yes. I think Boney is finally defeated for good,” John said.
    Miss Leticia wandered out onto the lawn to play with the twins. Lady Lindsay and Miss Lindsay seated themselves in the shade while Lord Lindsay surveyed Jack’s battlefield.
    “It is the battle of Waterloo,” Jack said proudly. “This is the farmhouse where Uncle John and his men were holding off the enemy.”
    “Jolly good,” remarked their neighbor. He listened as Jack elucidated the other details of his reenactment.
    Lady Lindsay said, “I understand you will not be going back to the army. We are so glad to have you as a neighbor once more.”
    He could not mistake the eager light in the eyes of this matchmaking mama. Looking at Miss Lindsay, he saw that her eyes were cast down and that she was weaving the ribbons on her gown. She was a beauty all right. High cheekbones, shiny, luxurious black hair, rosebud mouth. He could not remember the color of her eyes, but her figure appeared tempting enough.
    Did her retiring disposition signal shyness, disinterest, or a cold nature? Until this bout of matchmaking, he had always found her mother a cool, imperious woman with no patience for or interest in young boys, such as he had been. Did the daughter take after the mother?
    “I hope Miss Haverley made it to you safely?” he