Lady Elizabeth's Comet Read Online Free Page B

all. D'ye stick by
me or do I inflict you on Lord Bevis?' That was a joke we 'ad, like."
    "Bevis?" I echoed, feeling as if I'd been tossed in a blanket. My beau Bevis?
    "D'ye know 'is lordship? Dentical fine fellow. Any road, I told the major I was suited
with 'im, and we set up in a cottage near Rye."
    I made an encouraging noise, and he continued, huffing slightly from the brisk pace,
"When Lord Bevis come 'ome on leave, 'e asked the major to look after 'is place in Lancashire
for 'im, and the major agreed. 'E was that bored. 'Sims,' 'e says, 'I know damn-all'--begging your
pardon, me lady--'I don't know nothink about coal mines or timber or leases, but if I stay 'ere
another fortnight I'll be chewing the carpet.' Not but wot we 'ad a carpet, but I seen 'is point. So
off we go to Lancashire, and there we'd still be if the major 'adn't come into the title
sudden-like."
    "I see," I murmured. I was trying hard to recall what marvellous satires on Clanross's
manner and appearance I had written in my witty letter to Bevis. No wonder he hadn't replied.
My ears burned.
    We strode along some distance in silence. Jean had been listening, too. She piped, rather
shrill, "Will he die, Mr. Sims?"
    "I dunno, me lady. It's been a bad session, this time. No doubt of it."
    "Mr. Wharton will know what to do," I interposed soothingly.
    "Surgeon?" Sims made a noncommittal noise that indicated his opinion of surgeons.
    "Mr. Wharton studied at London and Edinburgh," I said firmly. "He is an excellent
man."
    "Good luck to 'im. Begging your pardon, me lady, but the major was cut about in France
and cut about at Chelsea 'ospital, see, and there ain't nothink more can be done. Oh, I dessay your
man'll nip out the bit of brass that caused the bleeding, but there's a whacking great chunk lodged
alongside 'is backbone and no surgeon'll touch that. It'll kill 'im or cripple 'im sooner nor later. A
matter of time, see."
    That silenced me. Jean began to cry. Sims cleared his throat. "Now, Lady Jean, don't
take on. 'E's 'ad a good run for 'is money. 'Ere! I dessay 'e'll pull through this time, too."
    That only made Jean cry harder and I wasn't feeling cheerful myself, what with guilt and
pity and chagrin and exasperation and various other less well-defined emotions. I pulled Jean to
me and walked along hugging her.
    When we reached Brecon at last, Sims once more displayed the sangfroid of long
experience and began directing Smollet to fetch linen, lint, and basins of hot water quite as if she
were an orderly.
    She obeyed, whitefaced. The two footmen were sent to rig a table and bring lamps for
the surgeon to the antechamber of the estate office, a small room well lit by tall windows.
Smollet summoned the butler, and between them they made a proper fire.
    Sims regarded their effort with benign approval. "That's the ticket. Now we're set for the
bloody sawbones right and proper. I'll go to 'is lordship." He vanished into the estate office.
    Mrs. Smollet and Jenkins looked at me apprehensively and Jean shrank closer. What did
they expect of me?
    I explained to the servants what was amiss as briefly as possible. They were suitably
shocked and Jean began crying again. It occurred to me--at last--that I ought to send her
away.
    "Will you go home, Jean? We've both missed our nuncheon and Alice will be wondering
what's happening."
    "No!"
    "You've been very useful, darling. In fact, you're quite the heroine, but there's nothing
you can do at the moment."
    "You're staying."
    "I intend to assist Mr. Wharton," I said, rather grim, for I did not look forward to the
task.
    That brought a shriek of horrified protest from Mrs. Smollet and admonitory squawks
from the butler. Jean stared at me wide-eyed.
    "I have done so before--when he set Jem's leg and when Harris was kicked by
Lightning." I returned Mrs. Smollet's stare, challenging her. "Do you care to do so, ma'am?"
    "Oh, no, my lady. All that blood! But it's men's work."
    "Indeed. Which great clumsy oaf do you suggest?