Chapter Sixteen
Florence knew she was being stubborn when refusing to leave Trajan’s side.
There was nothing scandalous about her remaining in his bedchamber, because his cousins also declared their intention to camp out here overnight.
“I am not hosting a bloody party in my room,” Trajan grumbled. “All of you, out.”
“No,” she said, holding her ground. Was it not right that they all should be worried about him?
It was well into the wee hours by the time the magistrate finished taking Trajan’s statement. The doctor conducted a quick examination of the assailant’s corpse and declared him to have died of a broken neck received due to an accidental fall.
The magistrate, an older man by the name of Lord Amos Charwood, seemed competent enough and also quite deferential to Trajan when asking his questions. He accepted the duke’s account in full. “Your Grace, do you recognize this man at all?”
“No, and neither does anyone on my staff. We have no idea who sent him to cause this mischief.”
“And you, Lady Florence? Have you ever seen this man before?”
“No, and I can assure you that my aunt has not either. Did you know that Lord Frampton had complained to us of trespassers just the other day? I recommend you question him and his staff about this man. I’m sure someone at Frampton Court must have seen him and may be able to provide a name to his blasphemous soul. ”
Trajan squeezed her hand. “Florence, no need to involve anyone else in this affair.”
“Your Grace, your betrothed makes a good point,” Charwood said. “I’ll stop by Frampton Court tomorrow and have a chat with his lordship. Let’s hope he did not have a similar incident.”
“Do send him our warmest regards,” Florence said. “And let him know we look forward to seeing him again shortly.”
Oh, she knew Trajan would be scathing mad at her for the impertinent remark. But how dare Frampton send this man to hurt them! Should they not send a message right back to let him know they were not intimidated?
Lord Charwood walked out with the doctor. Andrew escorted the two men out.
This left Nathan and Sebastian in the bedchamber with her and Trajan, whose scowl was as thunderous as a summer squall. “Florence, are you purposely trying to goad Frampton?”
“Not at all. But is it not important to let him know that we do not fear him? And that we will not be stopped in our mission to right his wrongs.”
“We?” He groaned as he stretched out on his mattress, his arm a hideous shade of red because it was inflamed and had black stitches poking out of it. He was obviously exhausted and in pain. “You might have given me a few days to recover before going at him again.”
“He has to know that he has gone too far this time. He’s just had his man shoot a duke, and the entire royal family will be in a livid rage when they learn of it.
Besides, if you are well enough to travel to London, as you proclaim, then you are well enough to stand up to Frampton. You have been brilliant so far.”
“Do not flatter me. I have not been so brilliant,” he grumbled. “Did you not notice I was shot?”
“All the more reason to draw that horrible man out. As soon as we get to London and hand those letters over to the princess, we ought to stop by the Home Office and alert them about Frampton’s activities.
Or we can go directly to the prime minister.
He’ll want to hear about this, especially if he was the clot who wrote those letters to Lady Simmons. ”
“Let’s just worry about getting to London at all,” he said, yawning. “Go to bed, Florence. Your own bed. You’re not sleeping in here. My cousins will look after me.”
She reluctantly did as he asked, because he was hurting and she was to blame for it, no matter than he continued to deny it.
However, before leaving, she addressed his cousins. “Check his brow during the night. Summon me immediately if he turns feverish.”
Andrew assured her they would.
She looked in on Hermia before retiring to her own chamber.
“Oh, my dear,” Hermia said, stretching out her arms to her. “Come here and let me give you a hug. I’m so sorry I was out of your life for so long. I should have taken you from my brother when you were still a child.”
Florence hugged her. “You couldn’t have known. Besides, you were always kind to me whenever you visited.”
“Which was never often enough.”
Florence smiled. “You have no idea how little it takes to satisfy a child starved for love. A gentle pat on the hand. A smile. Taking me onto your lap. Those small gestures kept me going until your next visit.”
“I’m glad, child. Although it really was not enough.”
She kissed her aunt and bade her sweet dreams before returning to her own bedchamber. She had once asked Hermia if she knew the reason why her mother disliked her so much, but her aunt claimed she did not.
That was years ago, and she had not asked again. Perhaps when this Frampton affair was resolved, she would try once more. Florence sensed her aunt knew more than she was telling her about her family situation.
Would her brother or parents care that Frampton had tried to kill her tonight?
Fatigue overcame her once she was abed, and she fell asleep quickly.
She awoke amid the gray haze of approaching dawn, and was on her feet, washed and dressed in a gown suitable for riding, although it was not an actual riding habit, by the time the cock’s crow marked the sunrise.
Most of the staff was not yet awake. There was not a sound in the house, although the scullery maids were probably rousing about now, since they had to light the kitchen fires.
Trajan had insisted they leave for London at first light, but she was not certain it would happen. She made her way to his bedchamber, knocked lightly, and, when she heard no response, quietly entered.
After all, why disturb his cousins if they were still asleep?
But the cousins were all awake, their clothes rumpled because they had slept in them, and sporting cowlicks and stubbles of beards, since they had not yet groomed themselves.
Trajan was also awake.
Dear heaven.
Magnificently awake.
He had just finished washing up and was now shaving, but what caught her breath was that he had nothing on save a towel wrapped low around his hips.
She had walked in on him while he was giving his cousins final instructions. None of them noticed her at first. She couldn’t make a sound to alert them of her presence.
Nor could she breathe while gawking at Trajan’s trim, muscled body.
“Florence,” he said, turning toward her and frowning. “Are you all packed?”
She nodded, unable to stop staring at his broad shoulders or his sculpted torso.
Dear heaven. He was magnificent.
“Good, then wait for me in your bedchamber. I’ll be along in a few minutes to get you and your belongings.”
His cousins were smirking. She could not stop gawking at Trajan.
Sebastian rose and approached her. “Let me escort you back. Deucedly early, isn’t it? Your eyes look like they are about to bug out of their sockets.”
“I’ll have the grooms ready your horses,” Nathan said, also getting to his feet and trying not to chuckle at her.
Andrew stayed perched on the arm of one of the hearth chairs, no doubt remaining behind to assist Trajan in dressing. His valet, Reed, was also awake and assisting him.
Florence frowned, for Trajan’s arm appeared even redder and more inflamed than yesterday. “Check his brow, Andrew. Does he have a fever?”
Trajan scowled. “Don’t touch me. I am fine.”
She strode over to him and put her hand to his forehead. “You are warm.”
“Because I am hot for you,” he said with enough heat to turn her cheeks to fire.
His cousins could not contain their laughter. Reed had turned away, but Florence saw his shoulders shaking and knew he also found Trajan’s quips humorous.
Were all men so infantile?
Florence knew she should not be in his bedchamber, but was it not more important to make certain he was not burning up with fever? And he did have a fever, although it was a fairly mild one.
She looked at his eyes, and they appeared clear enough. She would have pushed him back in bed had they been glazed or unfocused. “Trajan…”
“I’m all right, love,” he said more gently because he noted her distress. “Truly. We’re only going to ride as far as Poole and then catch a mail coach directly to London. From then on, I can sleep the entire way to London.”
“Is there not someplace closer that—”
“I dare not have us take the coach from Weymouth. That is the closest one, but Frampton might have his men watching for us.”
She nodded. “All right, I see your point. But you know I am not a good rider.”
“You’ll have to do your best. We have to get to London fast, and this is the best I could come up with. It will take us a full day’s riding just to get to Poole. Can you manage it?”
She winced. “Yes, I can manage. It is you I am worried about.”
A light mist fell as they left the house a few minutes later and made their way to the stable. Nathan was standing by the saddled horses while Sebastian and Andrew followed with their travel bags. “We could come with you,” Nathan said. “It won’t take me a moment to saddle three more horses.”
“No,” Trajan insisted. “I need you to protect Gull Hall. Believe me, it is not an easy task. Frampton is going to be livid once he learns we are on our way to London. Your role is to delay his finding out as long as possible. You have my authority to dismiss anyone on my staff who gossips about our departure.”
“No one will,” Andrew said. “They like you. No one likes Frampton.”
“Well, he has his spies. But this could also work in our favor. Let word spread that I was hurt. Exaggerate the rumors of my injuries. I want Frampton to think I am in my sickbed and Florence is racked with worry while tending me. Most of all, be ready for something to happen once he learns he’s been tricked. ”