Chapter Twenty
Both Theodora andLady Annalise volunteered to be the first to watch over Alexander, but Benjamin Thompson overrode both their offers. “You may remain close, but not tend him during the first twenty-four hours. Rheem has given Marksman a large dose of laudanum and that particular elixir, as you well know, often causes a man to meet his ‘devils.’ We have secured him to the bed much as we did your father. As with Duncan, our Alexander will ‘fight’ those tending him, Theodora.”
Theodora had tears in her eyes when she nodded her agreement. “Lady Annalise and I will be in Richard’s room across the hall. Will we not?”
Alexander’s sister appeared quite bewildered, but she said, “I would be honored, my lady.” To the others in the room, she said, “I am not afraid to assist you, sir. I was raised on a pirate ship and am accustomed to treating wounds. I believe either Lady Theodora or I are capable of proving useful when called upon.”
They all looked in amazement at the young woman who was Alexander’s sister. Obviously, the girl was ignorant of the ways of society, but it was the first time Theodora thought she might have discovered a kindred spirit. Lady Emma held the daring to lead Theodora to the infamous Lyon’s Den and its mistress,Mrs. Dove-Lyon, but Lady Annalise Dutton had been raised by a man, without a wife. Moreau taught the girl not to fear fighting and intrigue and stratagems. He had taught the girl everything except how to be comfortable in society. In many ways, they were closer in temperament than Theodora ever thought possible.
She caught Lady Annalise’s hand. “It shall take both of us to assist Thompson and the others. I am counting on you, my lady, to stand with me when my brothers consider me ‘just a woman.’”
It had been a solemn night, but by breakfast all of Dora’s brothers, except Beaufort, had arrived at Duncan Place and much of the meal dealt with a recitation of what had been accomplished during today’s staged capture of more than two dozen forgers.
“The government’s men reportedly had a great deal of difficulty taking over William Booth’s and John Yates’s former operations in Perry Barr that they had to bring in a party of dragoons to claim entrance,” Richard explained what he had learned of the other part of yesterday’s assault. “God only knows what they will find this time.”
“I know everyone else likely knows where Perry Barr is located, but please recall, my lord, I have not been beyond London and Lincolnshire,” Emma told her husband.
Orson smiled easily upon his wife, and Theodora wondered if she would ever view such contentment upon Alexander’s face. Previously, she had seen frustration, longing, desire, and anger, but never had she viewed the simplicity of knowing satisfaction.
“In Staffordshire, about five miles from Birmingham,” Richard responded before continuing. “Booth had hired several people to assist him. Some speculate that Yates was one of them. From what I was told, Booth had turned his farmhouse into a ‘factory,’ of sorts, for forgeries and money making. Supposedly, there were multiple trap doors to move from one room toanother, and the house had so many fortifications that even the dragoons had difficulty breaching it. We assume Yates meant to step in once Booth was arrested and run the operation himself.”
“I expect a speedy trial,” her father remarked. “The government will not want society to know how easy it was for street thieves nearly to bring down the Bank of England.”
Dora did not care, but she did not lash out at the others. She knew from experience this was her brothers’ manner of setting the world to right again. They openly announced their successes.
Lady Annalise asked softly, “May I know what will happen to my uncle and cousin?”
Though they all had expected his presence at the table, Beaufort had not arrived. Instead, he had joined Liverpool’s men in apprehending any who had escaped the melee earlier today. Liverpool wanted even the least of those involved, meaning shopkeepers and the like who willingly passed the uttered notes, taken into custody.
“Both have been arrested, but are not being held in the same facilities,” Richard explained.
Dora purposely reached for the girl’s hand. “I know you must still hold some sort of allegiance to the Moreaus, for they have been the only family you recall, but those around this table are your family now.” Lady Annalise squeezed Theodora’s hand in response. In that moment, hope rose. They became connected no matter what the outcome of this latest investigation might be.
For the nexttwo days, both Thompson and Mr. Rheem did all they could for Alexander, but Marksman’s fever continued to rage.
“Did I or did I not order that the windows were to remain open?” Theodora demanded. She had permitted her father toconvince her to take the time to bathe and refresh her clothes. Now, she returned to find Alexander’s room closed up and dark.
“It was chilly, my lady,” the new maid said in obvious surprise.
“As Lord Marksman’s fever still rages, I doubt his lordship finds the breeze too cold and not refreshing,” Dora said in a tone one might use with a small child. “Now open the drapes and the windows and blow out the candles.”
“Yes, my lady. I apologize, ma’am.”
Dora swallowed her prior anger. “Where are Ladies Orson and Annalise?”
“Lady Orson insisted that Lady Annalise must leave the house for a few minutes, my lady. Like you, the young lady had been overseeing his lordship’s care for nearly three days straight. I believe they were to call on the modiste to arrange a fitting for the young master’s sister.”
“Such sounds of Lady Emma’s habits,” Dora said as she sat beside Alexander’s bed. Emma was of the nature always to view the future. “Might you bring me fresh cloths and lavender water so I might wipe his lordship’s fevered brow?”
“Yes, my lady.” The girl scurried away. If Dora was a betting person, and she was not, she would bet a different maid would deliver the cloths and lavender water. Though she did not mean to do so, she had frightened the girl.
“His fever is still intense,” she told herself as she used the back of her hand to judge Alexander’s condition.
“Good morning, my lady,” Mr. Rheem said as he breezed into the room. “How is our patient today?”
“Alexander’s fever has never completely subsided,” Dora explained. “It has decreased now and again, but it never stays low for long. Should it not have left his body by now? Could we have missed something?”
Rheem frowned as he used the last of the water in the pitcher and the soap in the bowl to wash his hands. “Perhaps we should have a second look at the different bandages. As you well know the slightest sliver of bone can cause additional infection. Please ring for Mrs. Chester and ask someone to fetch more cloths and hot water.”
