Chapter Twenty-Six
No, he hadn’t meant it like that, at least, she told herself he hadn’t. She wasn’t important to him, not in the way his words had suggested. He’d only been worried she’d gone after Jackson, and that she’d left the house chasing a lead. That was all.
But still… he’d said care.
The word echoed in her head as warmth unfurled through her, no matter how she tried to smother it. Jamie was in pain, and he hadn’t meant to say what he had. He’d never bring it up again, and she’d pretend she didn’t remember. People said things they didn’t mean when emotions ran high.
But that single word lingered, refusing to fade, no matter how hard she tried to let it go.
The carriage swayed as thoughts tumbled around inside Alice’s head, and then slowed as the familiar facade of her father’s townhouse appeared. She pushed the turmoil aside, relieved that they would soon be out of here and someone could help Jamie.
The door swung wide before the carriage had fully stopped, and Bobby stood there.
“I need you to go inside and rouse Ezra, Bobby.” The boy took off up the steps and soon disappeared inside the house.
“Come along, we shall get you inside, Jamie.”
“Alice, I should go to my townhouse.” The words had no strength and were more a painful wheeze now.
“I have a maid who tends to anyone who is sick in my household. She will tend you, and then we will send you home.”
“Where have you been, Lady Alice?” Ezra’s bellow was loud enough to reach all residents on the street.
“Someone is unhappy,” Jamie whispered.
Ezra stomped down the steps behind Bobby. Her footman nudged the boy to one side as they reached the hackney, and looked in.
“No time for censuring now, Ezra. We need to help Lord Stafford.”
“You’re not very good at watching her, Ezra,” Jamie said, the words sounding slurred as he battled the pain.
“I didn’t know she was sneaking out of the house,” Ezra snarled.
“I’m sure it’s not the first time,” Jamie added.
“Yes, thank you, that will do,” Alice told both men. “We need to get him inside for Maggie to see to his injuries, and then get him home.”
“I could have called a doctor.”
Ezra snorted at Jamie’s words. “A doctor has little skill. My wife, however, does. Now come along with you.” He reached in to help her from the carriage. “You and I will be having words soon.”
“As you can imagine, it’s a moment I’m looking forward to,” Alice muttered.
“I can get myself out,” she heard Jamie protest.
“I can see the state you’re in, my lord. It’s best you let me aid you.”
Jamie appeared with Ezra helping him. Then Ezra and Bobby took a side, and they walked slowly up toward the front door of the townhouse.
They made a strange procession up the steps. A bruised lord, a stubborn lady, a barefoot boy, and her angry footman. In the entry hall, the lamps had been turned up and Alice noted Maggie and Phipps were standing inside.
“Take him to the first room upstairs,” Alice said. “Maggie, bring your things. Phipps, get a basin of water and some cloths.
“And shall I call a doctor, my lady?”
“No, thank you, Phipps, we shall see what Maggie says first.”
Orders steadied her and always had. When Charles came home a different person and after her father left, it had been her that people turned to for instruction.
They got Jamie upstairs, and he’d stopped protesting in favor of panting from the exertion as they finally lowered him onto the bed.
“Did his body take a beating also?” Ezra asked her as he stood glowering down at the marquess, who was now leaning on the pillows.
“It did, yes,” Alice said.
“Well then, let’s have your jacket off, my lord.”
Ezra began removing Jamie’s clothing. He hissed in pain several times, but finally the jacket was off. Next came his necktie.
“Right, then, let’s see what we have,” Maggie said, bustling in as Ezra was removing Jamie’s shirt. “You’ll step back, or better yet, leave the room, Lady Alice, but knowing your stubborn streak, I’m doubting you’ll do that.”
She should leave the room. Alice knew that. It wasn’t right for her to be here with him while he wore no shirt. But then, it wasn’t right for him to be here in her father’s townhouse either, she reminded herself.
The linen peeled away. Alice swallowed. The sight should not have winded her, yet it did.
The breadth of him, the pale stretch of torso now marred with bruises forming over his ribs.
A long mark scored his side. Had someone’s ring done that?
Dark hair dusted his chest, trailing lower to the line of his trousers where her eyes had no business dwelling.
Her gaze moved back up his body and collided with his.
His mouth wore a small smile, and Alice couldn’t believe he had the nerve to be amused.
“I’d like a few words with those who did this,” Ezra growled.
“Aye, well, you’re not,” Maggie said, dropping a cloth in the basin.
She then touched Jamie’s body with fingers that had soothed fevers and aided any number of household ailments, including Alice’s, over the years.
Jamie’s jaw clenched under each probe. When Maggie touched the worst of the bruising along his ribs, a moan escaped him.
Alice stood still and wanted savagely—not for the first time tonight—to destroy the men who had done this. Jackson needed to pay for those he’d hurt and tormented.
“Bruised ribs,” Maggie diagnosed, her tone grim. “Not broken through, praise be. Your cuts will need cleaning. You’ll curse my name for the next quarter hour, and after that you’ll rest easier. Laudanum?”
“No,” Jamie said.
“Yes,” Alice added.
His eyes met hers again. “I will not lose my wits by drinking that stuff.”
“You’ll be in agony if you do not,” she returned. “A small dose, Maggie. Enough to take the edge and no more,” Alice insisted.
She ignored his protests and took the liquid Maggie poured onto a spoon. He refused to open his mouth, looking like a small child.
“I will hold your nose, while Ezra is holding down your hands if you don’t take this, my lord,” Alice said, leaning over him.
“I don’t want to dream.”
The words were whispered, but she heard them. There was pain behind them. Had he been forced to take laudanum when he was hurt at Blackwood Hall?
“I promise to be there if you dream,” Alice whispered so only he could hear.
For long moments she held his eyes, and then his mouth opened and she poured the liquid down his throat. He grimaced at the bitter taste.
“Right,” Maggie said, “we need to bind those ribs now. Help him rise, Ezra.”
“I can do that without help.”
“I’m sure you can, but as my wife gave an order, you’ll forgive me but it must be obeyed,” Ezra said.
He then levered Jamie forward by sliding an arm around his back. Alice moved to the other side of the bed to help keep him there. His skin felt hot, and his body hard beneath her hand. She focused on her maid’s actions and not the fact that Lord Stafford was half naked in her house.
Maggie wound the bandage tight around Jamie’s ribs. With each pass, he went rigid, then forced himself to relax. Alice could feel every tremor that didn’t show on his face. On the third pull of the bandage, his hand shot out and caught the fingers of her other hand.
“Nearly done,” Alice soothed.
Maggie tied the last knotting of the bandage. “Lie back, my lord.”
Alice and Ezra eased him down and he released her fingers. Sweat beaded at his temple, and she hoped the laudanum would ease some of his pain soon.
“Now we need to clean the cuts,” Maggie said. “And you get him something to put on that is not torn and bloody.”
“Pass a cloth,” Alice added.
Maggie held one out to her, and she took it. She dabbed the cut high on Jamie’s cheek, and then moved to the split in his lip. He watched her face, the intent look in his green eyes unsettling.
“You have a determined expression,” he murmured.
“I am determined not to let you bleed on my sheets, my lord.”
“Jamie.”
She finished with the lip and then smoothed some salve Maggie held out to her over the cuts.
“I have brought tea and brandy,” Phipps announced from the doorway.
“He can’t have brandy surely if he’s just had laudanum?” Alice asked.
“I am sure my constitution requires it,” Jamie said gravely.
“Your constitution requires sense.” Maggie nodded to the glass Phipps carried on the tray. “A small sip only if you please, my lord, and then you’ll rest.”
This time he braced himself, easing upright to settle on the pillows. He then took the brandy and a small sip.
“You have my thanks for taking care of me, Maggie,” Jamie said. “I feel a great deal better already.”
Ezra returned with some clothes and placed them at the foot of the bed.
“I’ll be back soon to check on you,” Maggie said, collecting her supplies.
Alice’s staff then all left, with Ezra the last. He left the door open wide after giving her a look she had no idea how to interpret.
She should leave. Move away from the bed that held the large disturbing male and go to hers. She needed to wash, and then sleep, but Alice knew she would not get much of that knowing that Jamie was close.
“Thank you, Alice.” The words were whispered and a little slurred, which told her the laudanum was now working.
“You’ve already thanked me, so you need not do so again. Now I think you need to lie down again and sleep, Jamie. It is the best thing for you. When you wake, we shall get you home.”
He did as she said and eased back down the bed, resting his head on a pillow. She watched his dark lashes lower on to pale cheeks, and only a few minutes went by before he slept.
Standing there looking at this strong, powerful man brought low enough to fall asleep in her company made something stir inside her. Alice had to fist her hands to stop them from stroking his hair or cheek.
She dragged her eyes from Jamie when Ezra returned. He stepped to her side.
“Bobby said he went outside to check the street in front of your townhouse, Lady Alice,” Ezra whispered, mouth grim. “Says he saw a man in a dark coat loitering across the way. When I went out to take a look, he’d gone.”
“Lord Stafford had a man watching the townhouse,” she said, not meeting his gaze. “It could be him. But in case it is not, then Bobby should not go outside again, Ezra,” she whispered.
“I know that, but he’s used to doing as he wishes, my lady. He is now safe and will be going nowhere again. Phipps is making him stay here.”
“Good.” Alice didn’t know what she would do for the boy, but she knew she wanted to do something.
“While it relieves me Lord Stafford set a man to watching your townhouse, I’ll still have your word you’ll not go back there, to where Lord Stafford was harmed, my lady.”
“Ezra—”
“It’s not right for you to do so, and you know it. He’s hurting because of the people he met there, the same people who could have hurt you.”
She sighed. “I know, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
That mollified him slightly because his scowl eased. He looked at Jamie.
“I’ll not wake him now to change him, as it’s my belief he’ll sleep right through until morning after the beating he’s taken,” Ezra said. “But I’ll check on him again soon, before I find my bed.”
“Thank you, and yes, rest is the best thing for him.” Alice looked back down at Jamie. He hadn’t moved, but she knew that in the morning, to do so would cause him a lot of pain.