Page 32 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke
"Christ, man. Do you have a death wish?" William groaned, untying the mask on his face.
"I do not," he said with a grin.
His face and jaw felt numb with the number of blows he had taken and now that the blood lust had worn off, he felt pain from the number of blows he had taken.
"You look like hell," William noted, wrinkling his nose.
"I feel like it too," Theo groaned, unable to think up a witty retort. "Shite, I need something strong."
"I have already sent for a bottle of whisky."
"You have my thanks."
Theo shut his eyes, lifting his head to lean against the wall so some of the nausea he felt would pass but he sensed his friend's gaze and knew the man wanted to say more even with his eyes closed.
"What is it, Mayfield?" he probed. "You will put holes in my skull if you keep staring at me. Say what you will."
"I doubt you will like what I have to say or listen to me."
He already knew what the man wanted to say as they had had the conversation severally in the past since he had discovered Theo's secret hobby but the man was correct in deducing that he would not indeed like what he had to say or listen to him.
"I do not like this self-destructive habit of yours, Emerton," he complained with a sigh. "You can surely find more engaging hobbies to fill your time. This…"
"Is not a merehobby,Mayfield," he reminded him. "I need this."
"Why?" William asked, visibly exasperated. "You cannot imagine how terrible you look right now. If any of the others were to see you like this…"
"And they won't."
"I have half a mind to tell them if it would make you see sense," William threatened again but the words had lost their bite as they both knew he would not be doing so. He sighed, running a hand down his face.
"What am I to do with you?" he groaned.
"Keep me alive long enough to enjoy all of life's pleasures."
"You will not be enjoying any pleasure for the time being," William pointed out. "You look like you have bruised your ribs. I would suggest you be on bed rest until further notice but I know you would do what you wish."
"You do not think very highly of me, Mayfield, and it wounds me to see you do not," he chided. "I will be seen to by my doctor and be well in no time. Can I trust you to explain my absences from our next few meetings to the others? Without letting them know I am injured of course."
"I will do my best. Thankfully, Gillingham is much too busy with his wife and the babe to visit and Blackmore will be glad to be rid of me."
"You know that isn't true. He cares for you even if he does not show it."
Theo scoffed even though he knew it to be true. Theirs was an odd friendship but one he wouldn't trade for anything else.
No doubt if Magnus ever came to know of this side of him, he would lecture him on the foolishness of such rashness while Edwin would ensure he wasn't let into any of the underground clubs he frequented. The man had a network of connections that rivaled Theo's own and he used them to do his dark bidding.
"You fought well, Your Grace," a man said, coming into the changing room which caused Theo and William to stiffen. "My congratulations on winning the match and putting on a good show. It was most riveting."
They hadn't even heard him approach, which suggested training of some sort.
He studied the man: well-dressed but not ostentatiously so or he would be stabbed and robbed before he left the East End, yet his clothes spoke of wealth. Tailored to highlight his narrow frame. He didn't look intimidating but warning bells went off in Theo's mind that this man was not one to be taken lightly.
He wasn't nobility or Theo would have recognized him, and with the knowing smile on his face, it seemed he knew him well. He could be a merchant but his accent was refined and spoke of good education, contradictory facts that stoked the headache he was already feeling.
"Who are you?" he asked, hating that he had to be the one making enquiries.
He hated being in situations that he hadn't ultimately calculated or discerned the end and this was one conversation he hadn't been expecting yet he wanted to end quickly.
