Page 25 of From the Ashes
"She ain't the only one I brought, if you care to look, Dolt," Gus said, grinning.
Seth turned and I drew in a gasp at the sight of his cut lip and bruised cheek. I suspected his knuckles would be in a worse state but he'd tucked them behind his back so we couldn't see.
Lady Vickers whimpered. "Oh, my dear boy. Your beautiful face."
Seth didn't seem to have heard. He broke into a grin. "Charlie!"
He came toward us, but his mother intercepted him. She grasped his chin and twisted him this way and that. After a thorough inspection, she let him go. "What is the meaning of this? Why are you naked? Cover up at once. There's an innocent young woman here."
"And thank God that she is!" Seth bypassed his mother and scooped me up into a hug. "Avert your eyes, innocent young woman, before my nakedness corrupts you."
I laughed and hugged him back. "Put me down before your mother faints," I whispered.
"She never faints. Her constitution is much too strong, unfortunately. A fainting spell every once in while would give me peace." He put me down, still grinning from ear to ear. The cut on his lip opened and began to bleed, but he didn't seem to notice.
His mother swooped in with her handkerchief in one hand and Seth's shirt in the other, her lips pursed tight. She reserved her scowl for me, however. "Remember your promise," she whispered.
Seth was too busy dressing to have heard. "You escaped!" he said, tucking in the shirt. He did not complete the task and left half of it out. His mother finished the job while he buttoned. "I knew you would. Good girl."
"What are you doing down here?" Lady Vickers asked before I could respond. "And don't tell me it's dancing lessons." She looked around, taking in the rope marking out the boxing ring, the thug who stood watching us with an impatient tap of his foot, and finally, the blood-stained floor.
Seth quickly tucked his hands behind his back again, but not before I noticed the cut and bruised knuckles. Poor Seth. Why had he taken up the brutal sport again? Not only was bare-knuckle fighting illegal, it was utterly inhumane. The toffs loved it as much as the low-lifes upstairs. It was one of the few activities that crossed the class divide. That and whoring.
"I'm, er…" Seth swallowed and stared at his mother.
I tried to think of something to tell her, but couldn't. Gus came to his rescue. "Meeting his tailor." He nodded at the brute. "Who else would dress like that but a man of fashion?"
I pressed my lips together to suppress my grin. Gus winked at me.
The brute suddenly stood straight, and drew back his round shoulders. He fidgeted with his cravat and stepped forward. "I was just fittin' the mister here for a new suit, ma'am." He shot a smug grin at Seth, pleased to be included in the lie.
Lady Vickers sniffed. "Does no one use your title anymore?" she said to Seth. "It's Lord Vickers," she said loudly to the brute, as if he were hard of hearing. "And you will address him as such or he'll take his custom elsewhere."
The brute's top lip curled up like a dog ready to attack. "I'll return for another fitting later," Seth told him quickly. He ushered us toward the steps, shooting wary glances back at the thug.
"What abouttonight'sfitting?" the man growled. "We had an agreement."
"You'll have to find another…client. Surely you must see that I can't stay now."
The brute hurtled toward us like an out of control boulder rolling down a hill, his yellow teeth bared. "Come back here, you fucking cock licker!"
Lady Vickers' jaw dropped. Then it became hard and her eyes harder. She planted her feet and turned. Definitely not a fainter.
"Mother!" Seth shouted. "Move!"
She thrust her hands on her hips. "Howdareyou call my son suchvilethings!"
"Move, lady," the thug snarled. "I ain't got no quarrel with you." When she didn't budge, he shoved her aside with a sweep of his arm.
She stumbled and would have fallen if Gus hadn't caught her.
"Go! All of you!" Seth settled his feet in much the same way as his mother had done. He closed his hands into fists and hunched into a fighting stance. "Gus, see that they get to safety."
"Seth!" Lady Vickers screamed. "No!"
Chapter 6
"He'll be all right," I assured Lady Vickers, taking her hand and dragging her with me to the steps. "He's very capable with his fists."
