Page 93 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

“That’s right, my love.” Tessa bent and softly kissed his cheek.

“I will be thinking, though,” he said. “About what to do to Ellington.”

She stiffened. “No, you won’t. You are to leave your mind a blank and concentrate on nothing. Besides, I have already told Uncle Uxbridge Lord Ellington is responsible.”

What she didn’t tell Spencer was that she had also asked her uncle to send for her Uncle Edgar. Since Tessa knew the time and place Lord Ellington was supposed to meet his ruffians, she wanted him confronted then and there.

“Good,” Spencer murmured. “Should . . . have known . . . my Boudica . . . would take care . . .”

He stopped speaking and Tessa saw he had fallen asleep.

She sat stroking his arm lightly until Rigsby returned with a page.

“Here you are, my lady. Nothing too difficult. Though I suspect his lordship might be a difficult patient.”

She smiled as the valet handed her the page. Reading through, she saw Spencer was to do three seconds of deep breathing in order to expand his ribcage, followed by three more seconds of relaxed breathing. That was to be followed by a few huffs of short breaths, with a light cough thrown in. Once again, another three seconds of relaxed breathing would follow.

“The doctor said do it in this order,” Rigsby explained. “And to repeat the cycle three to five times. We are to do this multiple times a day.”

“It will hurt,” she agreed. “And he’s certain to get cranky.”

The valet smiled. “That he is, my lady. But you will be here to calm his temper.”

“I can tell you are a valued and trusted servant, Rigsby.”

“I have only served Lord Middlefield for a short while. I have done my best to whip him into shape. He needed quite a bit of work.” The valet paused. “I believe between the two of us, we will see that his lordship lives up to his potential.”

“Oh, you are going to get along splendidly with Abra,” Tessa declared.

“Your lady’s maid?”

“You know her?”

Rigsby nodded. “I know of her. I am stepping out with Bridget, you see. Lady Adalyn’s lady’s maid. She has told me quite a few things about Abra.”

“I think Lord Middlefield and I are very fortunate to have you and Abra in our lives, Rigsby.” She looked to the bed where Spencer lay sleeping and back at the valet. “I must go home for a bit. I have summoned my uncle, Sir Edgar Goulding, from the War Office. I want his help in bringing Lord Ellington to justice.”

Rigsby’s quick intake of breath was audible. “Lord Ellington did this? The earl that his lordship trounced at Gentleman Jack’s?”

“He did. Along with two thieves from the streets whom I banished from London. But it is Lord Ellington I want to pay for his crime.”

The valet shook his head. “It doesn’t work like that in Polite Society, my lady.”

Tessa didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that a peer would never be brought to justice for a crime.”

She became incensed. “But he ordered those two men to beat Spencer to death!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Rigsby said, shaking his head sadly. “Lord Ellington is an earl.”

Tessa stood. “Well, it matters to me.” She strode across the room.

“What are you going to do, Lady Tessa?” Rigsby asked.

“Find a way to see that Lord Ellington pays,” she said.

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