He was roused from his reverie by voices approaching from the guest side and he'd no wish to be waylaid by anyone. He bounded downstairs and into the drawing room more concerned about those behind him than those in front.

  His inattention was disastrous. He collided with Thea. Despite his fast reactions he couldn't prevent them both from crashing to the floor. He'd managed to roll sideways so that he took the brunt of the fall and she was partially cushioned by his bulk.

  For a moment he was stunned, his shoulder too painful to move, then a small sound of distress from the girl he was now in love with brought him to his senses.

  'My lord, my arm is pinned beneath you and I fear it might be broken.'

  He turned the air blue and only then became aware they now had a circle of spectators. The gasps of horror at his intemperate outburst had drawn his attention to them.

  He rolled over and put one arm behind her knees, the other under her arms, and gently lifted her. 'I'll take you to your apartment. Jones can attend to your injuries.'

  'Please, just put me on a chair in the drawing room whilst I recover my breath and my dignity. I don't think my arm's broken, just bruised, as I can move it without too much pain.'

  Watson shouldered his way through the gawping crowd who'd done no more than mutter and tut but offered no sensible assistance.

  'Let me take her, my boy, it's not your place to be carrying my daughter about. Especially as she wouldn't be in this case if it wasn't for your carelessness.'

  Thea tugged at his cravat. 'I'm not a parcel to be given from one person to another. I'm perfectly capable of walking so put me down at once.'

  He did as she asked but kept his arm around her waist in case she wasn't as unhurt as she hoped. 'I can't apologise enough. I wasn't looking where I was going…'

  She smiled at him and it rocked him back on his heels. 'I would think that was patently obvious, my lord. I believe you've got a great deal of grovelling and fence-mending to do before I'm prepared to forgive you. Not only did you use the most appalling language for the second time, but you also knocked me over in a most ungentlemanly way.'

  'Dora, Lord Harcourt has other guests to speak to. Don't monopolise him, it will give the wrong impression to the others,' her mother said firmly.

  Benedict gave a small bow. 'If you're quite sure you don't need my assistance, Miss Watson, I'll leave you in the capable hands of your parents.'

  He was about to drift off to mingle with his guests when he heard a despairing shout from the far passageway that led to the side door and seconds later Shadow and Smoke loped around the corner eager to join the guests.

  If his language had caused distress to the ladies of the party the appearance of two huge, shaggy dogs was even worse.

  *

  The screams and whimpers of terror from the assembled ladies when they saw her dogs made Thea cross. She snapped her fingers and immediately Shadow and Smoke came to her side obediently.

  'Those animals should be outside, Lord Harcourt, I don't approve of canines in the house at all and certainly not nasty beasts like those. Have them removed at once.' The speaker was one of the more strident ladies and her demands fell on deaf ears.

  'Mrs Williams, these dogs have my permission to be inside but now they've reassured themselves that their mistress is unharmed they'll remain in the hall and not be a bother to any of you.'

  This refusal to do as she bid didn't sit well with the lady. Her face turned an unbecoming shade of puce and then she stalked to the far end of the room sweeping her unfortunate daughter and two sons along beside her.

  'I'm sorry, my lord, I thought they were going to stay in the stable with Sinbad. They obviously escaped.'

  'I'll put them in the hall, with your permission?'

  'Thank you. It seems to be one disaster after another. When the snow has gone, I'm sure that we'll follow shortly afterwards.'

  Something she didn't recognise flashed across his face and if she didn't know better, she'd have thought it was regret. He snapped his fingers and pointed to the door and both dogs trotted off and flopped down in a position where they could see what was going on inside.

  If there's one thing Thea hated it was being the centre of attention, and especially as she'd already told the young ladies who were glaring at her that she'd no intention of marrying the earl they'd come to take for themselves.

  He guided her to the nearest chair, much to her embarrassment and her mother's annoyance, and then bowed a second time and shooed those still gawping at her to the centre of the room where the new butler was efficiently overseeing the trays of sherry and orgeat – neither of which she liked.

  Thea was astonished by her conversations with Lord Harcourt. What could have possessed her to speak to him so freely? She reassured her parents that she was unharmed and just needed a few minutes to collect herself and would then join them.

  She'd reprimanded him about his appalling language, but had forgotten to mention that she hadn't given him permission to use her given name and certainly not to address her as sweetheart. Her arm hurt and she'd been not entirely truthful when she'd told her parents and his lordship that she was confident it wasn't seriously hurt. In fact, she was now unable to move her fingers without pain and knew it would be impossible for her to handle cutlery without drawing attention to herself.

  She glanced at the milling crowd and when nobody was looking in her direction she hurried out and returned to her apartment. Annie was shocked to see her.

  'My word, miss, you look a bit peaky. How did your lovely gown come to be torn at the hem?'

  She quickly explained the circumstances and her maid called in the chambermaid and sent her downstairs with a message to be given to the new butler. Thea had no wish for anybody, particularly her parents, to be anxious on her behalf.

  Removing her evening glove was impossible. The pain was excruciating. Annie fetched her dressmaking scissors and carefully cut along the seam so the glove could be resewn and used again.

  'Oh, my, that doesn't look good. I think your wrist's broken. We need the surgeon to set it.'

  'I doubt that even the most attentive of physicians would come out tonight. The snow's thawing rapidly and someone on horseback should be able to get here tomorrow. I don't want to worry anybody now.'

  'I once set my brother's arm when he fell out of an apple tree. There's no bone showing and although it's dreadfully bruised and swollen, I think a simple splint, some padding and bandages will do the trick.'

  Her maid was competent and Thea was in less pain once the wrist was stabilised by the splints and strips of soft cotton torn into strips for bandages.

  'You need to have it in a sling, miss, and one of your father's neckerchiefs would work perfectly. I'll not be a moment; I'll slip along and speak to his valet.'

  Thea was now in her night-robe, a rug over her knees, lying on a chaise longue. Her stomach rumbled loudly and she bitterly regretted the fact that she'd miss what was bound to be a most delicious dinner if last night's meal was anything to go by.

  She heard the door in the dressing room, the one the servants used, bang. Instead of either the chambermaid or Annie coming in, a tall, thin gentleman, little more than a boy, walked brazenly into her bedchamber.

  Who was the more shocked by the encounter would have been hard to discern? He stumbled backwards only holding himself upright by clutching the door frame. She sat upright so suddenly a shaft of pain went through her injured arm.

  'How dare you come into my bedchamber. Remove yourself at once.'

  He scowled and looked at her with such venom she flinched. Perhaps he wasn't as harmless as she'd thought.

  'Address me correctly when you speak to me. I am Lord Benjamin Harcourt and you are nobody – why are you in this apartment?'

  'I don't care who you are. Get out of my room this minute.'

  She'd thought he'd retreat; he'd obviously believed the room to be empty, but why he had come in through that particular door she'd no notion. Instead, he began to advance in what could only be called a threatening manner. She began to feel a little uneasy.

  'I believe you must be either hard of hearing or a simpleton. You certainly are no gentleman to barge in here without invitation and refuse to leave. Believe me, your brother will hear about this.'

  His face twisted into a sneer and he continued to advance. 'You came here to sell yourself to my brother now you'll have to marry me instead. I'm in your bedchamber and you are in your nightclothes. You're compromised and either you marry me or lose your reputation.'

  'Don't be ridiculous. How old are you? You couldn't possibly get married without your brother's consent and I can assure you that he wouldn't give it and neither would my father. My reputation is safe as a child from the schoolroom is no threat to it. Now go away, there's a good boy.'

  Her robust rejection of his threat had the opposite of the desired result. He launched himself at her and began to tear at her nightgown in a frenzy whilst muttering the most foul abuse at her.

  She did the only thing she could in the circumstances and screamed. The pain in her arm was so excruciating she was having difficulty fending him off. Then Lord Harcourt was there, he took hold of his brother and threw him across the room.

  'My God, are you all right? Has he hurt you?'

  Her face was wet, the tears flowed unchecked, she was incapable of speech. The boy who'd attacked her was scrambling to his feet when her dogs erupted into the chamber and hurled themselves at Lord Benjamin. The last thing she heard as she fainted were his screams.

  *

  Benedict yelled at the dogs and they released their hold on his brother immediately. He gave a cursory glance at him, saw the damage was minimal, and turned his attention back to Thea.

  'Guard him, boys, don't let him move an inch.'

  They both snarled, barring their teeth. Benjamin cowered against the wall and his bladder emptied. The boy deserved to be terrified for what he'd done – but for him to have attacked Thea in this way could only mean his brother was a lunatic and not responsible for his actions.

  Thea's maid returned and, sensible girl that she was, took in the scene and understood what had transpired without an explanation being necessary. She dipped in a curtsy.

  'My lord, if you would be so kind as to remove that person and yourself then I'll take care of my mistress. She'll need to see the surgeon as her arm is broken.'

  'I'll have her mother fetched.' He said no more, as to explain the circumstances to a servant wouldn't be sensible. He'd no idea if the girl was a gossip and would tittle-tattle and thus send gossip racing around the house. Until he'd spoken to his mother and to the Watsons this appalling incident must remain from the guests.

  God knows how Benjamin had escaped and ended up in here, but this whole dismal business was his fault. He was head of the household, had been living here supposedly in charge for the past twelve months and yet he'd failed to notice that his brother was unbalanced.

  He yanked the boy to his feet and, taking a firm grip on his arms, propelled him forward and out of the door that led to the passageway. He met the footman who'd been left in charge of keeping his brother safe coming in the other direction.

  'I've been searching for Lord Benjamin. He laid me out with a candlestick and I've only just come round.'

  'It's not your fault. I'm going to put him somewhere safe, a room with no exits. His mind's deranged and he'll need constant care. Get yourself seen to; I'll not ask you to resume these duties.'

  It was ironic that Benjamin would now reside in the room he'd sent Thea to. This had a window which overlooked the outhouses and there was no way down from there. It had a small closet, but again no exit apart from the one door.

  He pushed his brother into the room without saying a word to him, locked the door and put the key in his pocket. There was a jug of water by the bed and a commode. Benjamin could light the fire himself if he was cold. It would do him no harm to remain in his soiled clothes for the moment.

  His guests would now have gone into dinner and he would be conspicuous by his absence. Tant pis – too bad – he'd never cared much for the opinion of others and tonight was no exception. He went in search of the housekeeper and sent her up with her first-aid basket to see if she could improve things for Thea.

  'The original snowfall is half-gone, my lord, but now it's snowing heavily again. I fear that nobody will get in and out of here for several days. I'll do what I can for Miss Watson as Dr Appleby won't be able to come.'

  He thanked her and returned to Thea's rooms. He entered through the sitting room this time and knocked on the bedchamber door. Rather too late to be following the rules but he'd no intention of making things worse for her than they already were.

  Her maid opened the door. 'Miss Watson has recovered her senses and wishes to speak to you.'

  He was about to refuse but thought that horse had already left the stable. The only positive outcome of this calamity was that now he could offer for her and she might be willing to accept.

  Chapter Ten

  Thea was embarrassed that she'd fainted, and that Lord Harcourt had been there to see it. Only silly girls had a fit of the vapours, not someone of her character. She'd been dismayed to find bruising and scratches on her bosom from the attack but Jones had dealt with it without comment, and also declared her wrist no worse than it was before.

  Therefore, when his lordship knocked on the door she was more than ready to speak to him. She was surprised her parents hadn't come thundering up to take her side, to demand that her assailant be sent to an asylum at the very least.

  'Please, my lord, don't hover in the doorway but come in and the chair positioned especially for you. Annie will be here at all times so no rules will be broken – well, no further rules anyway. There are things we need to discuss and I prefer to do them before my parents are aware of what happened.'

  He did as she asked, didn't even bother to flick aside his coat-tails, but slumped onto the chair. His hair was rumpled, his stock unravelling and she sincerely hoped he hadn't tried to rejoin his guests looking as he did.

  'Your brother did me harm. If you hadn't come when you did then I shudder to think what might have happened. I believe that he's demented and will need to be guarded carefully if he's not to do something worse.'

  He rubbed his hand over his eyes and nodded. 'You have the right of it, Thea, I blame myself for not noticing until it was almost too late. I must tell you the whole…'

  She was unsurprised to discover his brother had been behind the unpleasantness related to her family, that he'd been drinking and up to other mischief with the anonymous villains who for some reason had taken root in the village.

  She then gave him the entire story from her side and his expression was grim when she'd finished. 'My family has done you harm and the only way I can see to recompense you…'

  'No, stop there, my lord. Please don't make me an offer as I'll be obliged to refuse. I don't think you should marry any of us just to save your home. I'm going to ask my father to pay your debts and when you've got your finances straightened you can then repay him.'

  If she'd poked him with her hatpin he couldn't have been more shocked. 'This is a highly inappropriate conversation for us to be having, sweetheart, I don't think you understand the enormity of the insult my brother gave you.'

  'I've already forgiven him as he obviously can't be held responsible for his actions however heinous they might be. When, in some years from now, I do accept an offer it will be to a man that I love to distraction. I do like you; I own you're a very handsome gentleman, but my feelings aren't engaged otherwise I'd accept your offer with alacrity.'

  He threw his hands up in the air and shook his head. 'I have to tell your parents what happened and they might see this differently and demand that I marry you.'

  'They won't ask me to do anything I don't want to do. Shall we put this behind us? Annie tells me that it's snowing heavily again so any thought of leaving must now be put aside. I've decided to enjoy your house party and assure that it'll be a great success.'

  'In which case I'd better join my guests at dinner before the conversation becomes too pointed as you're also absent.'

  She gestured to his stock. 'I suggest that you get your valet to repair your appearance before you do so otherwise there'll certainly be curious remarks as to why you might be so disarranged.'

  He stood up and bowed. When he'd arrived he'd looked defeated, much younger and more vulnerable than before, but now he'd recovered his aplomb and his smile was warm.

  'As always, my conversation with you, Thea, has been both illuminating and enjoyable. I'm surprised that you even wish to speak to me after I've broken your arm and my brother attacked you.'

  'I'm far more concerned with the fact that you're making free with my given name and also using unwanted endearments when addressing me. I don't believe we're on such terms for that to be acceptable.'

  His eyes glinted with something she didn't recognise but it made her heart pound. 'My given name is Benedict; you'll address me as such in future and I'll continue to call you Thea – I think Theodora doesn't suit you.'

  Her reaction should have been shock, anger at his high-handed suggestion, but instead she said something else entirely. 'I agree to call you Benedict, but if you're expecting me to lard my conversation with endearments then you are in for a disappointment.'

  He walked out and his deep, rich laugh echoed in her sitting room as he departed. She settled back onto the pillows trying to make sense of the past few hours. How could so much have happened in so short a space of time?

  Two days ago she'd not wanted to come to Harcourt House and now she'd be reluctant to leave. The household was in disarray, Benedict's family also. Good heavens – it was like living in one of Mary Radcliffe's novels. A very old house in need of repair, a handsome lord in need of a wife, a villainous butler and a lunatic brother. Add into this mix fifty or so guests, none of which knew each other and all there for the sole purpose of capturing the earl for their daughter.