Cast in Shadows

by Laura Landon

  The second time his father came, it was to bring a folder filled with estate work. Gideon was glad for the work. It gave him something to occupy his time. Left him with less time to wonder when the next seizure would strike. The longer he went without an attack, the more hopeful he was that one day they would stop.

  But he knew that was unlikely.

  Gideon pulled a weed he’d missed from the front of the flowerbed, then stood and rolled his shoulders.

  “You’re turning into quite the farmer, my lord,” a familiar voice said from behind him.

  Gideon turned to see the smiling face of his younger brother, Ben, Lord Benjamin.

  “What a surprise,” Gideon said, placing the hoe he’d been using against the side of the cottage. When he’d removed his gloves, he stepped close to his brother and pulled him into a tight hug. “When did you get home?”

  “Just yesterday.”

  “I didn’t expect you to leave London this soon. The Season should just be getting into full swing.”

  “Oh, it is, but Mother decided that the girls needed an escort back to Townsend Estate. I tried to get out of it, but you know how Mother is,” Ben said, clasping Gideon on the shoulder.

  “Oh, yes. I know how she is,” he answered with a laugh. “Did Her Grace return, too?”

  “Heavens, no,” Benjamin said on a hearty laugh. “Her Grace wouldn’t consider leaving London at the height of the Season. She loves being the Duchess of Townsend. Her title guarantees her admittance into every social event in London. She lives for the social season far too much to consider missing even one moment of it.”

  Ernesta wasn’t Gideon’s mother by birth, but she’d been the only mother he’d ever known. Even though he wasn’t her son, she’d never treated him any differently than she treated Ben. “Did Anne and Winnie enjoy London?”

  “You know they did. They took to city life like fish to water. Neither wanted to leave, but Mother insisted. She told them that they’d spend the entire Season in London next year when they had their coming-out.”

  Gideon clapped his brother on the back. “You’ll have your work cut out for you then, Ben. I know Her Grace will expect you to escort both of them to every noteworthy ball.”

  “Don’t remind me,” Benjamin said on a groan. “I won’t have a free moment next year.”

  Gideon laughed because he knew Ben was right.

  “Here,” Benjamin said, holding out a tin wrapped in a cloth. “Cook sent this for you. They’re gingerbread cookies. She said they were for you and made me promise that I wouldn’t eat any on the way over. Then she sealed them in a tin and wrapped it in a cloth and knotted the cloth. Lastly, she sent at least a half dozen cookies with me to eat on the way over. I think it was to make sure I got my fill before I got here so I didn’t eat any of yours.”

  Gideon took the cookies. “I won’t offer you any, then.”

  “No. They were always your favorite. Not mine.”

  “I remember.” Gideon entered the cottage and Ben followed.

  “How have you been?” Ben asked when they reached the study.

  “Are you asking if I still have my seizures? If so, the answer is yes. But thankfully, I haven’t suffered one for several weeks now.” Gideon filled two glasses with brandy and handed one to Benjamin.

  Ben took a sip of his brandy, then looked at Gideon. “I’m glad you haven’t had a seizure for several weeks, but there’s something you’re leaving out. And it’s not good.”

  Gideon rested his glass on his knee, then smiled at his brother. “You could always read me better than anyone else.”

  “That’s because we share the same father.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  Ben smiled. “When do you remember we could get away with anything that Father didn’t know about? Mother didn’t have an idea of what either of us was up to, but Father? He knew we were trying to hide something the minute he looked at us.”

  “You’re right,” Gideon chuckled.

  “So, what is it, Gideon?”

  Gideon took a sip of his brandy, then released a deep sigh. “They’re getting worse,” he said. “The attacks are more severe and they last longer. It won’t be long and I won’t be able to survive them.”

  “No!” Ben pushed himself from the chair and glared down at Gideon. “Don’t say that. You’re young. You’re strong. You can survive them. You have to.”

  Ben slapped his fist against his thigh and walked to the other side of the room. When he reached the window, he braced one hand against the frame and lowered his head. “I won’t let you talk like this, Gid. I can’t lose you.”

  Gideon rose from his chair and stepped up behind his brother. When he reached him, he placed a hand on his brother’s broad shoulder and gave the hard muscles a gentle squeeze. “We all have to die sometime. Some of us sooner than others.”

  Ben shook his head and a lock of his light hair fell over his forehead. He brushed it back with a harsh swipe, then turned to face Gideon. “What can we do? There has to be something. I don’t want to be the bloody duke. I don’t want to have to live up to your perfection. I want to go on as I have been, living the life of a wastrel as all second sons are supposed to.”

  Gideon forced a laugh he far from felt. “Then let’s hope I don’t force you to live the dreaded life of Father’s heir too soon. I wouldn’t want to think that I’ve deprived you of your life of debauchery.”

  Ben faced him squarely. The look in his eyes was as serious as he’d ever seen his younger brother look. “I was serious, Gideon. And it’s not just that. You know it isn’t. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “I know, Ben,” Gideon answered.

  “Is there nothing anyone can do?” Ben asked.

  There was a desperation in his voice Gideon couldn’t ignore. “There is hope,” Gideon answered. “Dr. Cornwell’s daughter has stumbled onto an idea that has a bit of potential.”

  “What idea? And who is this daughter? You’ve never mentioned Dr. Cornwell’s daughter before.”

  “That’s because I didn’t want to have to face the questions I know you’re dying to ask.”

  “Of course I have questions. What does this lady look like? Is she old or young? Do you like her? And what idea does she have? Do you think it will help you?”

  Gideon rolled his eyes at the number of questions his brother asked, then looked over Ben’s shoulder. A smile broke out across his face. “You can judge for yourself what kind of lady she is. She’ll be inside the house in a few minutes.”

  Ben spun around and watched Eve Cornwell walk up the lane. “Bloody hell, Gid. No wonder you didn’t tell me about her.”

  Gideon started toward the front door to let Eve in. “Yes,” he said over his shoulder. “And don’t you forget it.”

  From Ben’s laugh, he knew his brother took his meaning.

  . . .

  Eve walked through the door Gideon held open for her with a smile on her face. The sight of him always affected her more than she wanted it to. He was such a striking figure, every inch a marquess, and future duke. His dark, rugged features moved her unlike any man had before, and when he smiled, his coffee-rich eyes glowed with delight.

  Although she reminded herself over and over not to forget who he was, and who she was, it was impossible to slow the increased thrumming of her heart when she was near him.

  Just as it was impossible to stop the emotions she knew she shouldn’t feel.

  She stepped into the familiar cottage and Matthew followed close behind her. As he and Thomas had gotten into a habit of doing, Matthew walked to the kitchen to heat water for tea.

  “Good day, Eve,” Gideon said, closing the door and ushering her to the study where they usually met.

  “Good afternoon, Gideon,” she said. “I brought the leftover cake the kitchen served at the noon meal.”

  “I hope you brought an extra piece,” he said as he walked beside her. “I have a guest.”

  She stopped.
“Oh, am I interrupting? Would you like me to come back later? Or tomorrow?”

  “No. It’s my brother. I want you to meet him.”

  Gideon’s hand pressed against her back and she continued to the study.

  “Ben, I’d like you to meet Miss Eve Cornwell. Eve, my brother, Ben, Lord Benjamin Wayland.”

  Lord Benjamin rose. “Miss Cornwell.”

  Eve smiled as she studied Gideon’s brother. He resembled Gideon to a point, yet differed from him in several respects. His hair had the golden hue of honey, and his eyes a rich blue so deep even the sky on a summer’s day paled in comparison.

  Lord Benjamin had the same shape and angles to his face, only his features were softer than Gideon’s. Not nearly as roughly chiseled or well defined. And of course he still had the look of youth, where Gideon’s age and experiences had seasoned him. Even hardened him.

  “Lord Benjamin, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “And you, Miss Cornwell. Gideon and I were just speaking of you.”

  Eve turned her gaze to Gideon. “Were you?”

  “Yes, but please. Let’s sit.”

  Eve sat on one end of the settee, and Gideon sat on the other. Lord Benjamin sat in a chair facing them.

  “I was just telling Ben about your efforts to find a cause for my seizures,” Gideon explained.

  Lord Benjamin leaned forward in his chair. “Do you think there’s something causing Gid’s seizures? A way to stop them?”

  She saw the hopefulness in his eyes. Heard the anticipation in his voice. “So far it’s just a hunch I have. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything concrete to back up my supposition.”

  “Have you discussed this with your father?” Gideon asked.

  She nodded. “He admits it’s possible, but warns me that until I have something more to corroborate my theory, it’s unlikely that we’ll find an outside cause to your seizures.”

  “But at least there’s hope. You’re the first person to offer even that much.”

  “Except that I’m not a doctor,” Eve admitted. “My opinion isn’t based on scientific evidence.”

  “Gideon doesn’t need scientific evidence,” Ben said. “He needs someone to search for a way to stop his attacks.”

  Eve couldn’t hide her smile when she looked at Gideon. “You’re quite fortunate to have such a champion on your side.”

  Gideon didn’t have the opportunity to acknowledge what she’d said. Matthew entered with the tea, and she poured them each a cup, then handed them each a plate of cake.

  They visited while they finished their tea. Gideon’s brother wanted to know everything they were doing. Every idea they had. Every possibility they were considering.

  After a while, Gideon’s brother rose to leave.

  Gideon walked Lord Benjamin out, then returned with a broad smile on his face. “So, what do you think of my brother?”

  “I think he’s absolutely charming.”

  “So do all the young ladies in London,” he said with a laugh. “From what Father says, he’s cutting quite a swath through the ton.”

  “What do you think of that?”

  The expression on Gideon’s face spoke of his confusion. “Does this have something to do with my seizures?”

  She shook her head. “Absolutely nothing. I’m simply curious.”

  He sat back against the cushions. “In that case, if the truth were told, I’m both relieved and jealous at the same time. Relieved because I’ve never had to go through the ritual of attending balls, and musicales, and soirees, and garden parties. Yet jealous because I’ve never had the opportunity. Nor will I. Does that make sense?”

  “Perfect sense. You’ve had to give up a lot. More so because of who you are: the heir to the Duke of Townsend. One might even consider that you would feel a certain animosity toward your brother because he has had the opportunities you’ve never had. Perhaps even anger because he is more widely known and recognized in London than you.”

  Gideon laughed. “Animosity toward Ben? Never. How could anyone not love Ben? How could anyone be jealous of him? Especially me. He’s been more than a brother to me. He’s been the best of friends.

  “As far as being angry because he has taken my place in Society, he told me just before you came that one of the reasons he was so desperate for you to discover the source of my attacks and stop them was because he didn’t want to be tied down with the responsibilities of being Father’s heir. Ben has no desire to be the future Duke of Townsend. And why would he? He’s enjoying himself far too much to give up the life he’s living.”

  “He strikes me the same.” Eve paused, then lifted the folder she’d brought with her.

  “Do you have something?”

  She looked at the papers in her hands. “These are your mother’s files. They contain notes made by Dr. Milton while he was treating her.”

  Gideon extended his hand to take them, but Eve didn’t hand them over right away. “I want you to think about this before you look at them, Gideon. You may not want to know some of this information. It might be better if what your mother endured before her death remained unknown to you.”

  “Do you think there’s information in the files that might shed some light on what’s happening to me?”

  Eve hesitated. “It’s possible. Then again…”

  Without hesitation, Gideon reached out to take the folder from her. “You know as well as I that my seizures are getting worse. It won’t be long before one of them is so severe I won’t recover from it. I can’t afford to be cowardly at this point.”

  Eve handed over the folder, then rose to leave. “If you find it too difficult—”

  “I won’t. Hopefully, there’s something in Dr. Milton’s notes that will lead us to an answer.”

  Eve walked to the door and Gideon followed. She stopped before she stepped outside. “I won’t be here tomorrow. Father is sending me to visit with Viscount Marley. His family sought us out about bringing Lord Marley to Shadowdown.”

  Gideon frowned. “I wasn’t aware Marley was still alive.”

  “Yes, but he has several health issues, and Lady Marley can no longer care for him. If their son was near it might be different, but he is in London most of the time and can’t help as much as he needs to.”

  “Does he become violent?”

  Eve nodded. “At times. That’s often the case in older patients.”

  “And younger,” Gideon said.

  Eve knew he was referring to himself. “That will change as soon as we know what we’re dealing with.”

  The smile on Gideon’s face warmed her from her head to her toe. He reached for her hands and she gave them over willingly. The blood rushed to her head when he wrapped his fingers around hers.

  “You’re good for me, Eve. I’m very glad you came along when you did. I was beginning to give up hope.”

  “Never lose hope. There’s much we haven’t discovered about what causes your seizures.”

  Her gaze locked with his, and a smile lifted the corners of his mouth. Then, he slowly raised her hands to his lips and kissed her fingers.

  Fiery shards of molten heat shot through her, warming her as if she were on fire. The touch of his lips against her flesh was as startling as if he’d kissed her on the mouth. She knew why he hadn’t. He’d explained the reason the last time he’d kissed her. But Eve wished he had.

  There was nothing she wanted more.

  CHAPTER 8

  It had been two days since Eve had seen Gideon. The trip to visit with Lord Marley had taken longer than she thought it would. Then, her father had needed her help when she returned to Shadowdown, and by the time she finished yesterday, it was too late to visit Gideon.

  She hadn’t gotten as early a start as she’d intended this morning. It was just a bit past the noon luncheon, far later than she usually visited. She’d make sure she left before it got too late.

  The one fact she’d discovered going through Gideon’s files was that every one of his attacks
occurred either late evening, or during the night. That bit of information puzzled her. What happened that would cause an attack only in the evening?

  She hurried toward the cottage with Thomas at her side.

  “Will you be long, Miss? It’s already getting late.”

  “I know, Thomas. I won’t stay too long.” Eve looked to the side where Thomas walked beside her. The worry on his face was plain to see. “Did you check on Lord Sheffield yesterday?”

  “Yes, miss. Matthew checked on him the day before, and I did yesterday.”

  “How did you find him?”

  “His lordship seemed good. Although he didn’t leave the cottage like usual. He kept busy all day with some papers. He had them laid out on his desk and was writing stuff down on a separate piece of paper.”

  “Did you bring him his lunch and dinner?”

  “Yes, and he ate it while he worked.”

  “Was that all he ate?”

  Thomas nodded. “The only other food he had to eat was some of those cookies his brother brought him the other day. And tea, of course.”

  They reached the cottage and climbed the stairs to the entrance.

  “Will you be needing tea, miss?”

  “No, Thomas. I shouldn’t think I’ll be here that long.”

  “Very good, miss.”

  Eve rapped on the door, then entered when Gideon answered. “Good afternoon,” she said when she entered the foyer.

  “Welcome, Eve. Please, come in.”

  Eve walked past him. The glow in his eyes told her he was glad to see her, but the drawn expression on his face told her something bothered him. And she was sure she knew what it was. He’d been reading his mother’s files and he’d discovered several things that bothered him.

  She followed him to the familiar drawing room, then to the settee where he indicated, and sat.

  He gathered the papers from his desk and sat in the chair opposite her. “Would you care for tea?” he asked when she was settled.

  “No, I’d rather talk about what you discovered,” she said, knowing he was anxious to talk about something he’d found.