Page 35 of Holding Onto Love

“It was closest.”

“Bring it all,” Jasper ordered. “Quickly.”

“Quickly is a nice touch.”

Jasper was very much not in the mood for Hazard’s flippancy. Stupidly, he hauled his friend up to the study—he should have used a room downstairs—and sat him in a chair.

“What the hell, Haz? Do you need a doctor? Let me send for—”

“No! If I had needed one, I believe it would now be too late. And there is nothing worse for one’s constitution than an unnecessary physician.” His strained breathlessness gave lie to his amusement.

“What happened?”

“Footpads. Obviously.”

“You were set upon by the world’s most incompetent thieves?”

“Incompetent?”

Jasper tapped Hazard’s gold watch fob, then flicked the chain of his purse, which had not been cut.

“Yes, well, I beat them off.”

Jasper shook his head. It wasn’t theft. “Them? How many?”

“Enough? Or too many. It was dark. I can’t say for sure.”

Finley entered along with two maids. They brought towels and bandages, water basins, soap, brandy, and glasses. The maids arranged it all on the reading table, and then Finley ushered them out.

“Will there be anything else, my lord?”

Jasper looked at Hazard, who said, “Thank you. This should do.”

When they left, Jasper poured Hazard a large glass, which he took and finished in four gulps. His hands were shaking. And his knuckles looked mashed.

“Here,” Jasper said, bringing a water basin closer. “Put your hands in here.”

Hazard did. The water turned pink. Then brown. Jasper leaned to the table to take a towel to dip into the clean water bowl. Then he started dabbing at the blood on his friend’s face. Hazard sat stoically. Quietly. From time to time, something Jasper did made him wince. After a while, he pulled his hands from the water and took the towel from Jasper.

“Have you a mirror?”

Jasper fetched the one hidden on the side of the bookshelf and brought it close. He held it in front of Hazard. Hazard’s breath caught, which made him groan and press his upper arm against the side of his chest.

“Ribs, too?” Jasper asked.

“Just bruised, I hope. I need a favor.”

“God, Haz. Anything.”

“Can I stay here? A few days. Until my face looks like mine again.”

“Yes. Of course, you can. But who are you hiding from?”

“Ah.” He laughed a little. “My mother, actually.”

“Haz.”

“No, I am serious. Eyes like a hawk.” The jesting tone fell away. “I’ve caused the poor woman enough heartache.”