Page 60 of Much Ado about a Widow

“A chamber pot.” Georgie raised her head. “I hit him with mine.” She turned back to Rob, tears trickling again. “I am so sorry, Rob. I’m afraid I shattered it on Lord Travers’s head, so I hope your mother was not very f-fond of that particular p-pot.”

Gathering her back to his chest, Rob shushed her again. So comforting to be crooned to that way. He made her feel so warm and loved. She never wanted to leave him.

“I’m certain she will be happy to give it to such a worthy cause.”

“Georgie.” Elizabeth had turned her attention on her friend again. “What is going on—Oh!”

Groaning, Lord Travers stirred for the first time since Georgie had hit him, then sank back to the floor.

Elizabeth skittered away, and Jemmy hurried to her side. “Stay here out of the way, my dear.” He motioned Rob toward the fallen man. “I believe we have a bit of rubbish that needs throwing out, St. Just.”

Much to Georgie’s dismay, Rob deposited her in the chair. “Stay there, sweetheart. This won’t take long at all.”

“How is it you two come to still be dressed?” With a glare of suspicion, Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at Jemmy. “It is the middle of the night, you know.”

“Nothing suspicious, Lady Brack, I assure you.” Rob grinned at her. “After you and the other ladies retired, Jem and I sat to more brandy and reminisced about our Grand Tour travels. We were just coming up the stairs when we heard Georgie cry out.” He glanced down at Travers. “A good thing we are dressed. We have work to do.”

“What should we do with him?” Jemmy bent over the earl, then rose swiftly. He clamped a handkerchief over his nose. “That must have been an excellent knock, Georgie. He’s only moved that once, though he is alive.”

“More’s the pity.” Rob went to stand over the body, black fury in his face. “I say we toss him off the parapet. It would make our lives so much easier, don’t you think?”

“Don’t be so bloodthirsty, pirate.” Shivering, Georgie sat up in the chair. She wrapped her arms around her chest, trying to get warm. The fire, though close, couldn’t take away her chill tonight. Only Rob could do that.

“My dear.” Speeding over to her, Elizabeth stripped her own robe from her and pulled it around Georgie’s shoulders. “It must have been a terrible shock.” She looked up expectantly at Jemmy. “Can you tell me, my love, what did happen?”

“By some foul means, yet to be determined, Travers entered the castle after most of us had gone to bed, got into Georgie’s bed, and attempted to accost her.” Gingerly, Jemmy leaned over and rolled the earl over on his back. The fall of his trousers fell open, exposing his nether regions, his member shrunk away to nothing and his thingamabobs red and swollen.

“Dear Lord.” Jemmy reared back as Rob leaned closer.

“Oh, dear.” Georgie and Elizabeth quickly hid their faces in each other’s necks.

“Georgie, what . . . happened?” Rob stood as well, looking rather pale.

“He was trying to ravish me. He had his hand over my mouth, threatening to suffocate me if I moved or tried to scream.” She pulled Elizabeth’s robe tighter around her. “So I managed to put my hand down between my legs, to keep him away. And when he lunged at me, his . . . member slid up onto my wrist and his . . . jewels landed in my hand, so I gave them a hard squeeze.” She demonstrated, making her hand into a fist. “Like I was squishing a ripe peach.”

Both men groaned and looked away. Jemmy bent at the waist, as if he were in pain, while Rob walked stiffly away, cutting his eyes toward Georgie and shaking his head.

“For goodness sake, Jemmy.” Elizabeth spoke sharply. She’d raised her head to discover Lord Travers still immodestly unclothed. “Make him decent, if you please.”

“I’m glad I’m only Georgie’s brother,” Jemmy said, stooping to button up the unfortunate man. “You’re going to be married to her shortly. I’d watch my step if I were you.”

“Can we please just get him out of my home?” Taking charge again, Rob grabbed Travers under the right arm and motioned to Jemmy to follow suit with the left.

“You will refrain from tossing him off the roof or out the window, won’t you, my dear?” Georgie called as they headed for the door.

“I promise to restrain myself as much as possible,” Rob called as they dragged the still unconscious earl from her chamber. “When we’re done, I’ll wake a maid to come clean up the mess.”

“Elizabeth, can you light our way?” With both hands occupied, Jemmy nodded to the candle she’d set on the bedside table.

“Will you be all right left alone, my dear?” Sweet that Elizabeth would worry more about her than about her own husband falling down the stairs in the dark.

“I will be fine. I have my guard dog here with me, don’t I, Lulu?”

Lulu yipped and stood, as though longing for another fight.

“Then I will leave you for a short while only. I shall light them down, then return to you.”

Shaking her head, Georgie rose and handed Elizabeth back her robe. “You need your rest. Go back to bed, and take your husband with you.” The only one Georgie would want in her bed tonight was Rob, and that was impossible given the circumstances. “Good night.”