Page 76 of The Artisan and the Duke
“I know. I’ve worked for the St Claire family since I was a boy,” William said thoughtfully. “Don’t really know what I would do otherwise.”
***
“He’s not going to get away with it,” Gregory said. Jules and Fredrick had finally managed to calm the man enough to allow them to get him to a doctor. It had been horrible trying to keep the man in the saddle, but finally, they had arrived at a local doctor only to have to convince Gregory again that he needed to be seen.
The doctor overlooked Gregory’s ramblings explaining, “Blood loss makes people spout all sorts of things. I won’t hold him to any of his words.”
Jules was relieved to hear it as Gregory insisted on rambling about Boris and his uncle. “Darling, just quiet down now, and let the doctor work. You’ll be back in London soon enough to set things right,” Jules said coaxingly which seemed to work for a bit.
Fredrick sighed with relief as Gregory grew silent, even if it was only temporary. He longed to head back to London, but what Gregory had said nagged at him as they got him from the cellar to the doctor’s house.
Gregory had insisted that Uncle Lawrence was in the house, but they had found no trace of the man while searching for Gregory.
“I should ride back up to the house and search again. Perhaps there are more chambers like the one that Gregory was in,” Fredrick said finally.
Jules looked at Fredrick in concern. “If you must, but please don’t delay. As soon as Gregory is able, we need to return to London.” Jules' voice held an anxiousness that Fredrick could relate to.
Fredrick nodded. “I shall endeavour to be quick,” he said. “Don’t give them too much trouble, Your Grace,” Fredrick said to his brother who merely grunted in response. Fredrick asked the doctor’s wife, “May I borrow a lantern or candle? The light is non-existent in the cellar that I need to search.”
The woman who had been standing nearby looking on at what was happening swiftly nodded and left the room. She returned a moment later with a lantern. “This should work well enough. We keep spares around for emergencies.”
“I think this qualifies,” Fredrick said with a laugh as he accepted the lantern from the woman. He left shortly after with a dip of his head to Jules and Gregory.
It took the doctor several minutes more to clean and dress Gregory’s wounds. When the doctor stood up, he sighed wearily. “You may want to let him rest the night here,” the doctor suggested kindly.
“There is a guest room where you can stay the night with your husband if you wish,” the doctor’s wife offered.
Jules looked at Gregory swaying slightly in his chair and gave in. “Alright. Perhaps we should stay for a bit,” Jules said softly. “Gregory, let’s go get you lying down.” She put her arm under one of the man’s arms, and the doctor helped her to lift Gregory to his unsteady feet.
Through much effort, they got Gregory to the guest bed, and the man sank into the feather mattress without even a whimper. A few moments later, Gregory’s breath was coming in soft, even puffs.
Jules sat down on the bed next to her husband and tentatively touched his hair. There was a bandage over the back left of his head where there was a deep gash.
“What am I going to do with you?” Jules asked softly, but the man did not stir. She lay down beside him and felt the heaviness of her own eyelids before she too succumbed to sleep.
***
The next time Jules stirred, it was to the sound of the cleaning. She got up and cursed under breath. The sky was streaked with light outside their window. She had not meant to sleep so long.
Downstairs, Jules found the doctor’s wife cheerily making breakfast. “Good morning,” she said softly as she came into the kitchen.
“Oh, good morning. How is your husband?” the woman asked with a smile.
It felt odd not to be addressed as some honorific, but then they had not formally introduced themselves, and Jules found it refreshing. She smiled. “He’s still sleeping. I’m afraid I fell asleep myself,” Jules said in conversation as she came over to where the woman was cooking. “Can I help in any way?”
“Oh mercy, no,” the woman waved off Jules’ offer. “I like cooking, and we often have guests with my husband’s line of work. Works out well.”
Jules nodded thoughtfully. “Did my brother-in-law come back last night?”
“The tall fellow with the cane?” the woman asked. When Jules nodded, she said, “I haven’t seen him. I thought he might have gone back to London perhaps.”
Jules sighed. “I don’t think he would have done so without us,” she said in worry.
“Worry after breakfast. Your husband needs his strength. I’ll be up in a bit with your food,” the doctor’s wife said as she ushered Jules back out of the kitchen.
Try as she might, Jules could not wait on the worry. It was not like Fredrick at all not to come back to help. With one attempt being made on Fredrick already, the man’s absence was very worrying for Jules. Upstairs she put on a smile and gently rubbed Gregory’s shoulder, “It’s morning. Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Gregory’s eyes blinked open, and he started to sit up but winced. “Easy,” Jules said softly.
