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Chapter Seventeen
The cool touch of a rag on his wounds awakened Dracott from his misery. He peeled open one eye and found Eden Worthington wiping blood off his knuckles. His other eye had swollen shut. Rogers sat on his other side, cleaning his face. He groaned over the beating his body had taken. The brutes had enjoyed trouncing him, making it the worst he had ever received. He tried pulling himself up.
“Lie still, Lord Dracott, before you do yourself any more harm,” Eden ordered.
“I must explain to Maggie,” Dracott scraped out.
Eden sighed. “It has reached beyond confessing your sins to Maggie. You must confess them to our entire family. Reese is out for your blood because of your deception.”
Dracott brushed their hands away. He would survive. He always did. “Take me to them.”
He swung his legs over the bed. However, before he rose, a rush of dizziness swept over him, crippling his strength.
Rogers’s arms pulled him back and forced him to lie down. “You are in no shape,” Rogers growled.
He opened his eye and stared at him. “I have dealt with worse. Do not blame yourself.”
Rogers shook his head. “I promised your father, and I failed.”
“No,” Dracott denied. “This is no one’s fault but my own. My actions caught up with me.”
“I will make her pay,” Rogers swore.
Dracott grasped his hand. “No, you will stay away from her. Promise me. I cannot stand to lose you, too.”
Rogers clutched at Dracott’s hand, fighting his need to seek revenge. He would promise the boy for now while he recovered. Then he would strike with his vengeance at Lady Langdale and Lady Ravencroft. Both ladies would rue the day they messed with his family. He nodded his head in agreement, too choked to speak.
Eden watched the exchange, curious now more than ever to learn about their connection. Dracott’s beating gave proof of his allegiance to them. Lady L wouldn’t have sought this punishment for someone she relied on. What had Dracott done to bring the lady’s wrath upon him? A beating to this extent showed Lady L sought her revenge for Dracott’s betrayal.
Eden poured Dracott a cup of tea filled with healing herbs. “Drink this. It will help your throat.” Dracott did her bidding, watching her with a weariness Eden herself felt. “I only have one question for you.”
Dracott nodded for her to ask about it.
“Do you love Maggie?”
“With all my heart and soul. I will move heaven and hell to protect her. You have my promise,” Dracott answered.
Eden sat back in the chair. “Very well. Finish your tea, and we shall join my family.” She looked over at the butler. “And you too, Rogers. You have your own share of secrets to confess.”
Rogers nodded in agreement.
After Dracott finished his tea, Eden stepped out of the room for Dracott to dress into a fresh change of clothing. She had sent a servant to collect them from Graham’s bedchamber. She didn’t want the sight of bloodied clothes to scare Maggie. Dracott’s face would be painful enough for her sister to see.
With Rogers on Dracott’s one side and a footman on his other, Eden led them to Reese’s study. “Are you ready? This will not be a pleasant exchange.”
“No, it will not. But one I will attempt with what honor I have. I am ready to unburden my secrets. They’ve been a heavy load to carry,” Dracott confessed.
Eden dismissed the servant and offered her arm to Dracott. He attempted a smile at her support, but his lips ached from the simple act.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“Break her heart and I will not be so kind,” Eden threatened before opening the door.
Rogers and Eden helped Dracott inside. Reese stormed around his desk and advanced on them with his arm pulled back. Graham noticed Dracott’s face and Eden’s support and stepped in front of Reese, blocking him from doing Dracott any more harm. Mama gasped.
Maggie rushed forward. “Crispin,” she cried.
Maggie stood in front of Crispin in shock. Her hand trembled as she brushed her fingers across the bruise on his cheek. He flinched but didn’t pull away. His sigh at her touch broke her heart in two.
