Page 106 of The Moonstone Hero
“Late. About three o’clock in the morning.”
“No wonder I’m exhausted.” Caden climbed into the Seaton carriage after Stafford, then laid his head back against the squabs and groaned. “Where shall I drop you?”
“I live in Bloomsbury along with the hungry students. A hole-in-the-wall apartment on Southampton Row, near the university. It is out of your way. I can see my own way home.”
“How? On foot? Do not be absurd. Some cutpurse will carve out your entrails before you get ten steps around the corner.” Caden knocked on the roof of the carriage. “Southampton Row, Danvers.”
“As ye wish, my lord.” The driver turned the carriage around and set the horses at a trot for Stafford’s residence. Because of the late hour, there was no one on the streets, and they made fast time.
“Where do you plan to be tomorrow?” Stafford asked. “I thought I might put my article past you before I hand it over to my editor.”
Caden nodded. “I am flattered you would do so. I’ll be mostly at my grandfather’s bedside, but first thing in the morning, you will find me with Ella. I am serious about marrying her tomorrow…this morning…” He rubbed his eyes. “Lord, I am exhausted. How do you manage to keep alert?”
“I sleep whenever I can,” Stafford replied. “In fact, I stretched out on the chairs and napped for several hours while you wereholed up with England’s finest. I had supper, too. Do you know they have a private dining room in the Foreign Office? They must have a luncheon banquet planned for tomorrow. I ate one of the meals. Delicious.”
Caden laughed. “I’ll scrounge something in the kitchen when I return to my grandfather’s place. Cook will have something left out for me, I’m sure.”
“His staff likes you.”
Caden shrugged. “Better than hating me, I suppose. Most of them have been with my grandfather since before I was born. They’ve known me a long time, ever since I came to live with the old man. I was six years old. Feels like three lifetimes ago.”
The carriage drew up in front of an elegant building on Southampton Row. Caden peered out. “Doesn’t look like a hovel. You must be doing better than you let on.”
“I’m not quite a pauper. But a reporter’s wages will never make me rich.” Stafford hopped down and waved to Caden before entering the building. In truth, it looked like an impressive residence from the outside, but he supposed the rooms had been carved up to fit as many apartments as possible.
He gave this no more thought as he reached the Seaton townhouse and rang for Swindon to unlock the door. He thought he would have a few minutes to wait, but the reliable butler must have been awake and pacing the entry hall, for he opened the door almost immediately. “Thank goodness you are home. I have been beside myself, not knowing what to do.”
Caden’s heart shot into his throat. “Is it my grandfather?”
Swindon nodded.
Bollocks.
“Has he taken a turn for the worse?”
“No, my lord. He is alert and has been asking for you.”
“Thank the Graces,” Caden muttered, his heart now soaring with elation. “Has he been able to eat? More important, has he been able to drink?”
“Yes, he’s had two helpings of Cook’s broth. No solid foods, however. Dr. Farthingale would not allow it. The doctor was here but left several hours ago.”
“Is His Grace awake now?”
“No, my lord. He fell back to sleep. You could use some sleep yourself. You look dead on your feet, if I might be so bold as to comment. A few hours’ rest won’t hurt you. Mrs. Nance brought a tray of fruit and cheese up to your room, knowing you might be late and not have eaten. There’s also a pot of tea, but I’m sure it has grown cold by now. She also left you a bottle of wine from His Grace’s cellar.”
“Fruit, cheese, and wine sound perfect.”
He climbed the stairs and quietly looked in on his grandfather, but did not stay because he saw the old man was comfortably sleeping. The night attendant was awake and nodded to him. He nodded back, pleased she was alert and on duty instead of snoring off in a corner.
He undressed, popped a few grapes in his mouth, quickly washed the day’s grime off himself, then climbed into bed. A few hours’ rest was all he intended, but he fell into a dead sleep before his head ever hit the pillow.
*
The sun washigh in the sky by the time Cranford entered and began to fuss about his bedchamber. “Oh, my lord. You are finally awake. I was beginning to grow concerned.” He drew the drapes aside to allow the sunlight to stream in.
“Bollocks, what time is it?”
“Almost noon, my lord.” He scurried to the armoire and withdrew Caden’s robe. “I have taken the liberty of ordering you a bath. You’ll need a shave, too. Your uniform is refreshed and neatly pressed, and your boots are polished to a shine. I just assumed you would be wearing your uniform today. Or shall I set out…”
