Page 67 of The No Good Irresistible Viscount Tipton
FIFTEEN
Maddy was still fuming as she marched upstairs. Who asked the mighty Lord Tipton to start acting like an older brother? She had been getting along just fine without him these last fourteen years. Her hand absently struck a door as she moved down the hall, fury almost blinding her. If she was so uncultured, perhaps he should just send her back to the country, where she could rusticate with the rest of his livestock. Her hand connected with another door.
“Enter at your own risk.”
She froze. She had forgotten about the other guest in the house. She did not know much about him except that he was an invalid and a friend of her brother. Considering her present feelings toward her sibling, the last thing she wanted was to visit some boring old man and listen to his nauseating praises for the blackguard.
“Come on. If the thought of looking at it sickens you, can you imagine how being at your mercy angers me?”
The bitterness she heard in the mysterious booming voice should have sent her running to her room. Instead, she hesitated. What wasithe expected would sicken her? She pushed the cracked door open and peered into the room.
“It’s about time you got in here, you heartless wench. Did you expect me to sleep on my arse? Come closer so I can get my hands around your spineless spongy neck.” His severe features lightened in puzzlement, then to delight at his unexpected visitor. “Well, well, whom do we have here? Come in, come in.”
Maddy chewed on her lower lip, wavering about what she should do. “I was warned not to disturb you, sir.”
“You’ll do on many levels, and I am in the fortunate position to have the time to contemplate each one of them. Please join me. My apologies for not rising to greet you formally.”
“Lord Tipton will not like me being in here.”
Brogden gave her a measuring look. “Neither of us gives a farthing what the lofty surgeon thinks. Come closer, pretty Madeleina. I do bite, but I’m adequately hobbled.”
Her gaze followed his down to the stump he had concealed under a blanket. “How do you know my name?”
“By the usual manner. I asked.” Cynical amusement curled his well-formed lips. “Do you want to see it? I’m thinking about charging admission. Dr. Sir Wallace Brogden, physician and freak. Since I am feeling generous tonight you may gawk all you want.” He reached to lift the blanket. Maddy boldly blocked his hand, then pushed it back down to his side.
“Forcing me to look at your wounded leg is not generosity. It is plain meanness. Is someone supposed to attend you? You thought I was someone else when I passed the door.”
“Oh, the cruel Mrs. Winters. As cold as her name, with a face that makes a monkey’s arse appealing.” His eyes widened when Maddy’s hand covered her mouth to stifle her giggles. “How rude of me! Is ‘a monkey’s southern port’ acceptable?”
“I do not know. According to Lord Tipton, I am an uncivilized and ungrateful chit. I have been dragged to London to better my ways so I can be married off.”
“A beauty like you needing improvement? Absurd. If you were older or I less jaded I would have to think of something to prove otherwise.”
Sensing he was merely being kind, Maddy just shrugged. “You are more tolerant than Lord Tipton.” Deciding she was being rude, she added, “Thank you. Can I find your Mrs. Winters?”
“Actually welcome her to my room? Never!” His whiskey-colored eyes glowed in mock horror. She laughed at his expression.
“Fine. No Mrs. Winters unless she breaks down the door. So how can I help you?” Studying him, she guessed his age was close to her brother’s. Brogden’s face looked menacing, with the shadow of a beard highlighting his gaunt cheeks. Whatever had made him ill enough to take most of his leg had also ravaged his entire body.
Brogden glanced at the bed. “The bones in my arse—there I go again with my salty speech. I feel like the bones—”
“In your southern port,” Maddy offered.
“Aye, those very ones.” He grinned, the first genuine grin she had seen, and she was stunned by how handsome it made him. “Those bones feel like they’ve been hammered into the chair. I was wishing for some relief in the bed.” He shook his head as if coming to a private decision. “Maybe you should hunt down the disagreeable Mrs. Winters after all.”
It was obvious that the idea had little appeal for the injured man. Pity swelled in Maddy’s heart, but she swallowed it back down. She suspected Dr. Sir Wallace Brogden possessed no tolerance for that particular emotion. “You could lean on me, if you like.”
“Thanks, lass. You are such a wee thing. I would not want to hurt you.”
Now she was feeling challenged. “Brace yourself on the chair. We’ll need it for support to get you standing.”
“Your brother will cut off my other leg for touching you, dearling.”
“You aren’t touching me. I am helping you. Besides, you were correct. I don’t give a farthing what Lord Tipton thinks.”
His face shone with approval. “That’s the spirit. All right, Miss Wyman. I will have to put my arm around your shoulders as an anchor. You promise not to slap my face for being too forward?”
“Your face is safe, sir. I have not had a lesson regarding impropriety yet.”
