Freddy returned with the linens, her face wan as she knelt beside me. Together, we pressed the cloth to Edward’s wound, and he hissed sharply, his body curling away from the pressure.
“It started at White’s. I was sitting near a group of men, pretending to play faro. Chudley was there—and East India Company sorts, from the sound of them. They didn’t see me, and their conversation... Well, they spoke too freely. Something about a shipment, and howthe governor mustn’t know.”
My stomach twisted at the news, including Lord Chudley’s name. “What shipment? What did they mean?”
He shook his head, wincing at the movement. “I didn’t know. I followed the trail. Limehouse seemed the place to start.”
“You went there? Alone?” Freddy’s voice rose to an unnatural pitch.
Edward’s lips curved despite the pallor of his skin. “It didn’t seemso risky at first. But when I got to the docks, I saw them—men loading crates onto a small vessel. Armed men, not dockworkers. The crates bore company markings, but something was off. They moved too quickly, as though afraid of being caught.”
“What was in the crates?” I asked, dread coiling around my chest.
“I couldn’t get close enough to see.” His voice faded to a whisper. “I tried to slip away. One of them fired. I heard my name called. Someone recognized me.”
Lord Chudley?
Freddy let out a small cry, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh, Edward...”
I reached out, gripping his arm. “Did you see enough to stop them?”
His bloodshot eyes met mine. “Not yet. If I can gather more evidence...” He trailed off, shaking his head as though the very idea exhausted him.
“Evidence?” I demanded. “Edward, you’ve nearly been killed. Isn’t this enough?”
His head drooped forward. “Why do you think I’ve left the townhome night after night? For pleasure? No, I’ve hunted the worst sorts of creatures on behalf of the Clapham Sect. Tell Wilberforce I saw the stamp of a tiger. The tiger, Kit.”
Then his eyes rolled back, and I knew he had fainted, no doubt from the loss of blood.
“If only Grandfather were here. He would know what to do,” I muttered as I braced Edward’s shoulder, fearing if I let go, he would tumble to the flagstone. “Freddy, I cannot move or lift Edward to his room and we must stem the bleeding.”
With our butler and footman gone, I had only a frightened staff, Freddy, and Aunt to assist me.
And I had no intention of calling for Aunt.
Grandfather did not return—at least not to my knowledge. The cook started a fire in the kitchen fireplace despite dropping the tinder and flint with his shaking hands while Edward remained slumped against the table.
We did what we could to stem the bleeding from the gaping wound.
I jumped all the same when footsteps clattered against the stone floor and there stood Sebastian. Relief swept through me, swift and disarming. The chaos no longer felt insurmountable, not with him here. Some part of me, foolish or not, believed that as long as Sebastian was here, Edward might yet be saved.
Beside Sebastian stood a short, disheveled physician, his cravat missing and eyes bleary as he clutched a black leather bag.
22:Sebastian
To act with common sense according to the moment, is the best wisdom I know; and the best philosophy, to do one’s duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one’s lot, bless the Goodness that has given so much happiness with it.
HORACE WALPOLE
Kitty and I found a secluded spot within the library once Edward was tended and transported to his room. Her desire to speak privately was urgent, judging by her rigid stance.
I left the door open at this late hour, determined not to repeat another blunder, and yet, as I studied her ... all thoughts of being a proper gentleman fled.
“I didn’t know who else to call,” she admitted as she rubbed her arms in front of the fireplace. I immediately shrugged out of my coat and draped it around her shoulders.
She tugged the superfine wool, enveloping her slender frame. My pulse thrummed in response to the sight of her—hair half tumbling free and her engulfed in my coat as if she truly belonged to me.
The past day and a half had proven exhausting. I had paced back and forth in my room, disappointed when I dared to inquire about Kitty and was turned away by her friend.
