He stared at her, and she stared back.
“You must return.”
“You need care.”
“Rose and Patrick will take care of me.”
Audrey shook her head. “You will need someone who is trained.”
Julius twisted his ring ever faster. Scandal had forced both his chums to marry in the past few weeks. If Audrey did not return home …
“Julius?” His gaze returned to meet hers. “You will need proper care. It is the difference between life and death.”
He frowned.
“You lost a lot of blood and there is a risk of fever. I am afraid it is going to be a bad night.”
Her soft-spoken words penetrated the sticky thoughts clouding his mind, and Julius could not refute he was weak and he was giddy still.
“It is the brandy. I shall eat and feel better.”
Audrey came over to his side, placing her cool hand over his to still the agitated toying with his ring. “The needs of the patient outweigh any other considerations. You and I must take this one step at a time, so I shall collect the honey while you eat and Patrick helps you upstairs. I will be back to take care of you.”
As a wave of dizziness forced him to put an arm out to steady himself on the oak table, the wood grain of its surface beneath his fingers helping him to focus, Julius admitted he was not himself. He needed Audrey to stay. He … wanted her to stay.
“Markham House is on the way to the grocer,” he finally replied in a hoarse voice.
Audrey tilted her head in question. “What of it?”
“I need you to deliver a note to a guest staying with the Duke of Halmesbury. He will want to know that I have narrowed the list of suspects in his father’s murder. For the safety of the others involved, they must know this information.”
Her face was reluctant as she thought about it, licking her lips. “I can deliver it, but I will need to be quick. Could I drop off the note with the servants so I can get back here in good time?”
“Agreed. Do you have paper and ink in that magic bag of yours?” Julius bobbed his head toward her valise.
“Of course.”
She bent over the bench, sifting through the bag’s contents until she brought out a leather notebook. Tearing a page from it with great care, she handed it to him, along with a lead pencil. Then she grabbed the birdcage and removed the starling, sitting on the bench to deftly replace the wet dressing that held its wing in place. Julius could not help but admire her resilience under pressure. Audrey was an exceptional ally to have in his corner under such circumstances.
He bent his head to scratch out his note, observing with dismay that his shirt was speckled with drops of blood, some of which made it onto the page. He wiped them away as best he could with the cuff of his bloodied shirt, but he had not the energy to start again.
It is not Smythe. 1 of the other 3. Do not inform Peel until you hear from me. - Traf....
Gadzooks! He could barely finish signing his own name.
But, when he was recovered, there was a genuine possibility he could find the killer based on this morning’s events. It would be premature for Brendan to contact the Home Office to speak to Sir Robert Peel. Nay, his friends must wait.
Folding the note, he handed it to Audrey. “It is for Lord Filminster. He is the duke’s brother-in-law. The duke has trustworthy servants, so you can leave it with whomever answers the door.”
Audrey had been donning her cape while he was writing. Returning to his side, she took the note and stuffed it into her pocket. “You must eat and drink before you go upstairs.”
He grunted, too weary to speak. Rose placed the plate in his hands, and Julius devoured his eggs with single-minded focus, sitting on the table like a barbarian. But he did not care. He would have eaten them with his bare hands if Rose had not provided the fork with such efficiency.
Food!
Stepping aside, Rose pulled a large brass key from the pocket of her apron. “This’ll allow you out the door by the mews.”
Audrey took the key, which looked gigantic in her delicate hand. One of the gentle hands that had treated him with professional competence.
