“Lord Marksman survived the night, which is always a good sign, though I suspect it will be several days until we see his lordship at his own table again. He spent five days at the Lyon’s Den when Lord Duncan was shot outside the place.”
“Such is why his lordship still searches the grounds,” she said, feeling quite foolish for not putting all the “bits” together to know the full story.
Patterson poured her tea. “After university, Lord Duncan sent our Lord Thompson to Edinburgh to study medicine. He is often called upon to assist Mr. Harlan Rheem, a renowned London surgeon. I suspect his lordship wishes he could continue his studies further, but his responsibilities to the earldom must take precedence.”
“He still has a ‘healing’ touch when he assists so many he encounters. Neither the child nor I would have survived if he had not come to my rescue. People would have kicked me from the way when I collapsed,” she confessed.
“I was valet to the previous Lord Thompson,” Patterson confessed, “and I can honestly say Lord Louis Thompson’s nephew will exceed his uncle.”
Though it was Sunday, Victoria did not attend church. She did not feel safe in doing so without his lordship. Today, it would be just her and the boy, for she had presented Mrs. Sullivan with an additional day off to attend to the lady’s own family. The child would be back to pap for his meals, which meant he would not sleep so long or so soundly, but they would manage together. They had survived because of Lord Benjamin Thompson’s most excellent heart. She would honor his lordship with a prayer upon his behalf and enjoy the child and know the hand of God had moved over them when Lord Thompson acted kindly and saved them.
Sunday came, butnone at Duncan Place attended church services. They had all gathered in the morning room, but not all at the same time. Orson finally made an appearance, but his lordship did not come to the table. Instead, Orson had presented Duncan with a quick report of all they had accomplished and all that still needed to be addressed and then he sought his bed and his wife. Orson had been awake for nearly fifty hours straight, and none of them thought to detain him a minute longer.
When Benjamin made it to the table, he sat with Aaran Graham. “How is Marksman fairing?” Graham asked softly.
“His fever still rages. I will be thankful when Rheem arrives. In my opinion, the fever should have lessened by now.”
“Thompson, you should listen to your instincts. There is no reason for you to doubt yourself with Marksman or even with Miss Whitchurch. You are a man worthy of your title and your convictions,” Graham declared.
Ignoring Graham’s comment about approaching Rheem, forBenjamin had already set himself the task of questioning the surgeon, Benjamin asked, “You truly think I should actively pursue Miss Whitchurch?”
Graham smiled widely. “As the lady was the only thing of which you heard, yes, I believe you should pursue her.”
Benjamin frowned. “Miss Whitchurch would not consider a proposal until she finds her sister and reunites Miss Cassandra with the child.”
“Beyond what I already know, what else has been executed to assist the lady?” Graham asked in serious tones.
Benjamin explained in more detail what the letter left by Miss Cassandra said when the woman abandoned the child, of how Cassandra Whitchurch had been employed for a short time at the Lyon’s Den, and then of an unknown position in a grand household, and the girl’s final return to the Den and being denied new employment by Mrs. Dove-Lyon. “That is when Titan sent her to The Red Rooster for a cook’s position, but Miss Cassandra never applied. Duncan and I spoke to the owner of The Red Rooster. His lordship was to ask Hartley to contact the local constables along the route the girl would have taken, but I cannot say with confidence that such occurred in the midst of all this madness with the forged bank notes and Honfleur, as well as Theodora’s brief kidnapping. I should have asked, but…”
“I will see to it,” Graham declared. “I have contacts that even Duncan cannot claim.”
