Page 31 of Taken By the Broken Duke
She carefully drew the animal to her, working to loosen the snare while cradling its trembling body. In its fear, it scratched her, but she did not react and it released her after a brief moment. Blood flowed from the cut on her finger and she pressed it against her shift to help it clot.
“We will need clean linen to dress the wound and some stiff card that we can fashion into a collar. That will stop him from licking the wound, which will only serve to make it worse,” Juliet ordered, standing with arms protectively around her tiny burden.
Now that she had a patient to care for, she felt confident and unwilling to be balked. She met Horatio’s eyes with a firm, resolved look. If he decided to challenge her, she would stand her ground. He could simply beat her down by the power of his rank but she would not give up without a fight, not now that there was a vulnerable creature in her charge.
But Horatio was smiling boyishly. It transformed his face. No longer did he seem like a stern, eastern warrior of ancient lineage and savage manners. Now he seemed full of joy and happiness, his eyes lit with humor. The harsh angles and lines of his face seemed to soften and Juliet had to resist the urge to return that smile.
“We are perhaps ten minutes’ walk from the castle. Are you up to it?” he asked.
“Yes! Along the way, there are a number of herbs I should like to gather from which I can make a poultice.”
“If we do not find them on the path, I will have a member of my kitchen staff go out and forage for them,” he promised. He swept a bow to her, elegant and respectful, then spun. “Follow me. You will both soon be safe and warm.”
She followed, murmuring soothingly to the trembling rabbit. It was quietening, realizing that there was no immediate danger perhaps. Or succumbing to the shock of pain caused by its wound. Now that its instinct to run had subdued, it would most probably slip into a deep sleep. When it awoke, it would be on the mend, Juliet was sure.
Along the way, she directed Horatio to gather herbs wherever she saw them, until he clutched two substantial handfuls. When they emerged from the trees, it was before a stone bridge with carved handrails and statues at either end. Beyond it was the castle. Before the castle was an expanse of swaying wildflowers and grass gone to seed.
Voices carried across the bridge. Two women. Before Juliet and Horatio had crossed, the sources of those voices appeared.
Aunt Margaret and Frances were promenading down an overgrown path that circumnavigated the castle. They were stepping out from behind a round, corner tower when Frances saw Juliet and whispered to her mother. Aunt Margaret’s head whipped around and she stood with her fists on her hips. But only for a moment.
Upon the sight of Horatio bare-chested and Juliet in her shift, Aunt Margaret’s face paled and she whirled around. Frances did not, drinking in the sight of Horatio with a small smile playing on her lips. Juliet met her cousin’s eyes a moment later and saw a flinty look there. Frances liked what she saw in Horatio but did not like to see Juliet undressed in his company. The conclusion was obvious and Frances practically seethed with jealousy.
“Frances, avert your eyes this instant!” Aunt Margaret shrieked.
“Yes, mama,” Frances said in a humble voice that bore no connection to the look of chagrin on her face.
“Explain yourself, sir!” Aunt Margaret demanded without looking.
“I went for a swim. It is my land and my lake. If you do not like it, I suggest you take up residence elsewhere.”
“And why is my niece in a state of undress!”
“Is it not obvious? She went for a swim also,” Horatio replied with a grin. “Are you perhaps afraid that I intend to take advantage of your niece and then discard her? Are you forgetting my obligation to marry her?”
He stopped just behind Aunt Margaret, who peeked over her shoulder and then covered her eyes. Horatio laughed. Juliet did not care what her Aunt thought of her, or Frances. She wanted only to begin the process of nursing the rabbit back to health. She kept walking, not looking at either woman. Horatio fell into step alongside, steering her towards a small door at the head of a set of narrow steps cut into the wall.
“That will take us directly to the guest floor where you are currently residing. I will have linen and card sent for.”
“And clean, boiled water,” Juliet reminded, “and a mortar and pestle.”
“As you command, my lady,” Horatio replied, courteously.
“Juliet. I will not be ignored! This behavior is… is….unconscionable! Scandalous!” Aunt Margaret shrilled.
Juliet did in fact ignore her as she ascended the steps of well-worn sandstone. At the top, Horatio held the door open for her. Once inside, she recognized the hallway from which the guest suites were located. Hurrying to the door of her own room, she took the rabbit to the bedchamber.
It was slumbering, so she laid it on the bed and took a drawer out of a nearby dresser. Upending it to rid it of the clothes inside, she then used some of the garments as bedding and carefully lifted the rabbit into the nest thus created. As she worked, she glanced up to find Horatio watching her from the doorway. A small smile played on his face. His head was tilted as though in puzzlement.
“Have you sent for the things I need?” Juliet asked, not wishing to be rude but caring only for the wellbeing of her patient.
In answer, Horatio reached for a bellpull beside the door and tugged it sharply.
“Is this sort of thing normal for you? I cannot imagine that old Dragon tolerating it at Wetherby.”
“She does not.Wouldnot. I found an old cottage beyond the Wetherby estate and I use that to care for the waifs and strays that I come across. Poachers use cruel traps.”
“Do the local poachers know who it is that is sabotaging their business?” Horatio chuckled gently.
