Page 78 of The Artisan and the Duke
The silence was broken by a moan, and Jules grabbed Gregory’s arm. Gregory put his hand comfortingly over her hand as they moved towards the study. Gregory peered inside and saw the form of his uncle lying on a couch there.
“Uncle,” Gregory said as he went over to the man quickly with Jules right behind him.
Uncle Lawrence’s pale hair was flecked with dried blood. His eyelids blinked open, and he startled. “Gregory,” Uncle Lawrence’s voice croaked out.
Gregory told the man, “Calm yourself, Uncle. How badly are you injured?”
“Do not,” Uncle Lawrence grimaced, “know. I don’t know.”
Jules asked, “Was Fredrick here?”
Uncle Lawrence nodded as best as he could. “Yes. He dragged me up here from the cellar. Never thought he would be able to, but he did,” Uncle Lawrence said as he blinked back tears. “I am so sorry, Gregory. This is my doing, my fault.”
“Save your pardons for later and burden your priest with them. We need to get you to the doctor,” Gregory said as he reached under the man and lifted him. Uncle Lawrence was light enough that Gregory could carry him, but Jules aided as best she could by holding doors out of the way.
Once Uncle Lawrence was on the stallion, Gregory sighed. “I don’t think Fredrick is here. He would have made himself known by now. We’ll get Uncle looked at, and perhaps he can help us piece together what happened,” Gregory said quietly to Jules who just nodded.
Gregory rode with his uncle to keep the man from falling off the horse, and Jules followed them back to the doctor’s house.
The doctor and his wife were out on the porch when Jules and Gregory approached. It took the doctor little time to recognize another patient. Gregory helped the doctor get Lawrence inside.
“What happened to him?” the doctor asked as he began checking the man over once Uncle Lawrence was in a bed upstairs.
Gregory shook his head. “That we do not know. He apparently was walled up the same as I was, but I do not know what happened before that,” Gregory said with a sigh.
The doctor sighed. “Let me work, and I will see what I can do for the man.”
***
“We need to return to London, but I cannot do so until I find out what has happened to Fredrick,” Gregory said in anguish.
Jules said softly, “I could return ahead of you and see if I can aid your mother.”
“No,” Gregory said firmly. “I cannot bear the idea that you will be lost to me again.”
Jules put her hand on Gregory’s shoulder as they sat near his uncle’s bedside. “I know it will be a long while before you are comfortable letting me out of your sight again, but I can take care of myself. I was simply guilt-ridden and caught off-guard by David last time. I will be fine.”
Uncle Lawrence groaned,and Gregory was quickly over to the man. “Uncle?” Gregory asked gently. “How are you feeling?”
“Thirsty,” Uncle Lawrence croaked out. Jules watched as Gregory gave the man a drink of water. “Thank you,” Uncle Lawrence said with a sigh of relief.
Gregory ventured, “Do you feel up to telling us what happened last night?”
“No, but I will do so anyway,” Uncle Lawrence said as he pushed himself up to a sitting position. “He dragged me up to the study. He got some water and said he was going to shut the house up tight. There was a storm, thundering lightning outside, so he dared not venture out with me.”
Gregory sat down on the end of the bed as his uncle spoke.
Uncle Lawrence sighed, “I blacked out for a bit. I don’t recall how long. Then there was a loud noise, some shouting. I could not make out the words. Then there was silence. I called out for Fredrick, but he never came. I eventually fell asleep, I suppose. Then you were there.”
“Someone took Fredrick,” Jules said softly. “But the highwaymen from before said that Uncle Lawrence told them to do it.”
Uncle Lawrence looked sheepish, “I only meant them to delay Fredrick.”
“Well, that is not quite the story they gave, Uncle,” Gregory said. He wanted to give the man a lashing for it or worse, but he did not have time, and apparently someone had already beaten Gregory to it. “Who did this to you?”
Uncle Lawrence wrung his hands and looked away from Gregory and Jules. “I told Boris what I had done, and he became angry,” Uncle Lawrence said quietly. “He said I was as bad as the rest of my family and that I should pay the price with them.”
“I assume he means the St Claire family,” Gregory said, and Uncle Lawrence nodded. “I do not understand it. Family means everything to Boris. Why would he actively seek to destroy us?”
