Page 52 of Silence of Deceit
“Everything is well, button,” Warwick said, his words clearer, perhaps out of anger. Then, in a lower tone, he said something stern to the aunt.
The door to the closet was open a crack; Audrey opened it further, praying for greased hinges, and backed into the space.
No sooner had she started to close the door than a cold object pressed against her throat. An arm grabbed her as a hand clapped over her mouth to stifle her yelp of surprise.
“Quiet,” a voice hissed. “Or the little girl and the woman will pay for your selfishness.”
ChapterSeventeen
Basil didn’t see him right away when Hugh entered the ward. The valet was sitting in the chair next to Sir’s bed, legs crossed, book open in his lap. He appeared to be reading aloud to the lad. When Basil caught sight of his employer, he closed the book and stood to greet him.
“Sir, am I relieved of my watch? I quite miss my regular bathing schedule. If the poor lad does not wake up on his own volition, I’m afraid my rather fragrant state might induce it.”
Hugh arched a brow at the valet’s blithe comment, and because he knew that Basil did, indeed, worry for the boy, suspected Sir had improved.
“He has woken up again?”
Basil nodded. “Once more, briefly. Mumbled something aboutwinning.”
Relieved, Hugh stepped closer to the bed. It had been five days now. His body had gone through a trauma and was recovering slowly. The fact that he was already so thin and battered likely made his healing more of a challenge.
“His mother has come in a few times.” Basil rocked back onto his heels, his hands clasped behind his back. He quietly added, “A fresh bruise on her chin.”
Something would have to be done about the father. Hugh would have to find the man and take proper stock of him. See if he was just a bully with no one of his own size willing to challenge him, or something much more dangerous.
“We’ll take care of that later. Soon, but later,” he told Basil. “For now, I’ve got to get to Bow Street. I might have an idea who—”
“’S a lady.”
The groggy, slurred words almost did not pierce the low murmur of the rest of the ward. Sir shifted his head on the thin pillow, eyes still closed. “Lady.”
Hugh whipped toward Sir, then went to one knee upon the floor, gently placing his palm on the boy’s shoulder. “Sir, are you awake?”
His parched lips broke apart. “Mister Hugh,” he rasped. Basil called for a nearby dresser, busy changing another patient’s bandages, to bring some water.
“Yes, I’m here,” Hugh said. “Are you in pain? You’ve been out for days. I worried…” He didn’t finish, realizing exactly what he’d worried: that Sir would not wake up. That the boy would die, that Hugh would have been responsible, and that he would keenly feel the empty space Sir left behind.
“Winning…she tried to…” Sir mumbled, his eyes fighting to remain open.
Hugh frowned “It’s all right. Let me get you some water.”
The dresser had brought a small cup and pressed it into Hugh’s hand. He set the glass to the boy’s lips. After some spluttering, at last, Sir’s lashes parted. Hugh met the barest sliver of green irises and dilated pupil.
“Winnie,” Sir rasped. Winnie, notwinning.
“What’s all this about Winnie?” Hugh asked.
“She were getting me a pie at Jim’s cart,” he said. Hugh nodded, construing that Winnie had been buying him food at a street vendor. Sir had claimed the ladies had taken a liking to him, and it seemed he had not been stretching the truth.
“Suddenly, she pulls me back. Points to this bloke and lady, arguing in front of a shop. Says the lady’s her friend—” Sir broke off, coughing. He moaned and paled as he closed his eyes and tried to catch his breath.
“That’s enough for now, gentlemen,” the doctor said as he appeared at the bedside.
“Sod off. It’s important,” Sir said, sounding just as quarrelsome as ever. Hugh suppressed a grin. “Winnie calls her over, waving her arm, all excited-like. Calls her Delia.”
An odd stroke of calm silenced Hugh’s mind. He stood, his blood beginning to charge. “Delia? Are you certain?”
“As a nun.”
