He couldnt sleep. All because of a woman? Hell, no. It was the nightshirt that was strangling him, and all the blankets his mother had tucked so tightly around him. She seemed to feel that a wounded man needed a raging fire in the hearth, a mound of coverings, and all the windows shut tight. He was used to sleeping naked with one thin quilt, and fresh air to breathe. How could he recover when he was drenched in his own sweat?
He kicked the blankets to the floor but he was still too hot in the confines of his fathers night rail. He tried to tug the blasted nightshirt off, but the collar buttons were too small for his swollen knuckles to manage, so he just ripped the thing down the front and tossed it aside. He banked the fire, then found where Deauville had left a carafe of water and a plate of macaroons. Maybe hed been too harsh with the chap after all.
He ate the macaroons, drank the water, relieved himself, and, naked, climbed back in bed, his sore muscles protesting the effort. He lay on his stomach to protect the stitches on the back of his aching head and felt a great deal better. Now he could sleep.
He wouldnt think about a woman, any woman. Any brown-haired woman. Any brown-haired woman with lovely breasts. Any breasts with brown hair. No, that didnt seem right. Any woman . . .
He snored. Corie added that to the long list of the mans faults. She could hear him from halfway down the hall, and remembered his sister saying that was why they placed him so far away from any of the occupied rooms. Well, if he was sleeping so soundly, she wouldnt disturb him to ask if he wanted tea or anything. Shed just shield her candle and peek in to see he wasnt lying in a pool of blood. Hed said some cook stitched his head, but really, he should have seen a surgeon to have it done properly. He should have
He should have a sheet over him, by heaven!
And she should leave, but she didnt. Corie stepped closer, for a better look. That was when she decided perhaps his mother and sister were right, that he was indeed some kind of deity. From this angle, he sure beat those marble museum gods to flinders.
Chapter Seventeen
L
ady Cora believed Daniel ought to stay in bed until he felt better. Deauville, back in Daniels employ, believed he ought to stay in bed until he looked better. Judging by the sudden flush on Miss Abbotts cheeks, her averted eyes, and the way she pushed her breakfast plate aside, his appearance must be worse than Daniel thought.
No matter. He had business to attend to. Deauville applied a bit of powder to cover some of the scratches and tied his cravat higher to cover the bite marks on his neck. Daniel refused a bandage around his head, but he did agree to wear a hata hat, by Jupiter!so as not to scare women and children with the stitches on the back of his skull. And he put on glovesgloves, by Zeus!to shield his bloodied knuckles.
His first call was to the Royce and Stamfield solicitor. The two families, plus the earls other son, Harry Harmon, kept Mr. Marcus Glessing so busy and well paid that the man did not need many other clients. Of course he had time to spare for Mr. Stamfield, even without an appointment. He had time to congratulate him on his excellent appearance. Why, he was a regular Beau Brummell, Mr. Glessing said with a chuckle, a new man.
Id wager its the influence of a special lady, eh? Your mother must be delighted. She was just telling me she wished
So Daniel took off his hat and his gloves and loosened his neckcloth, to prove he was his own man, the same man.
Ah. I see. So what may I help you with today, sir?
Glessing accepted without a qualm Daniels need to arrange secure and speedy transport and a livelihood for a gentleman who had proved an embarrassment to the polite world. He should not return, not speak of the past, and not be trusted. But he shouldnt be left to starve, either.
If one of his special clients said the moon was made of green cheese, the solicitor would have accepted the statement as fact, so if Mr. Stamfield said the man was guilty, then guilty he was. Ill get on it immediately.
Excellent, Glessing. I knew I could count on you. Whenever you have the arrangements finalized, send a message to McCanns Club. Harrison will see the dastard delivered, under guard.
Mr. Glessing eyed Daniels bruised knuckles. Will he be, ah, needing medical attention aboard ship? The captain will want to know.
Oh, Harrison must have called for a surgeon. I dont think the cook had time to set a broken wrist, straighten a broken nose, which might have improved the maggots looks, or shove back a dislocated jaw. She had a roast in the oven, for the evening dinner rush. But dont worry; Babcock isnt going to die. And I have witnesses who know he attacked me first.
I never doubted that. Ive seldom known you to start a fight. So spoke the man whod had to pay damages at more taverns than hed known existed, and replace enough windows, tables, and chairs for the queens castle.
Thank you. Daniels business was finished, except for one last request. Oh, there is another small matter Id have you look into. That goddaughter of my mothers who she brought to Town?
Yes, a Miss Corisande Abbott. I look forward to meeting the young lady.
Could you find out the terms of her mothers marriage settlement, to see if a dowry was left for the young lady, and under what conditions?
Glessing beamed. It will be my pleasure.
Great gods, Daniel almost shouted. It wouldnt be my pleasure were talking about. Not that Miss Abbott isnt acceptable, if I were accepting leg shackles, which Im not. Not at all. The female is attracting suitorsthats why my mother brought her to London in the first placeand I need to know what to tell them.
Oh. Of course.
Daniel could hear the regret in Glessings voice, but couldnt imagine why the solicitor was disappointed in a clients contented bachelorhood. Then he remembered that Glessing had a wife and a cricket team of children. Misery loved company, they always said.
His next call was to Lord Morgans town house. Daniel did not want the old gent to hear of his nephews disgrace and imminent departure from the servants grapevine, or to wonder at the circumstances.
The house was small, with weeds where a flower path used to be. The brass door knocker was tarnished, and the windows were so covered with soot that Daniel couldnt see any light coming from within. A surly butler answered the door, the onions on his breath enough to discourage any less-insistent visitors.
At least the room where Lord Morgan sat was warm. He sat near the fire wrapped in a blanket, a bottle of medicine beside him, the newspaper in his lap, an old spotted hound sleeping at his feet. The dog opened one eye, saw that Daniel had no food, and rolled over.
Lord Morgan was surprised at Daniels visit to his house, but not at his news. I knew hed come to a bad end sooner or later, the way he was headed. Im only glad for his mothers sake that no one ran him through or shot him in some alley. I appreciate your giving him a chance and keeping his reputation, such as it was, out of the filth. Youre more generous than most men would be, especially after he broke a bottle over your head.
He got worse. But tell me, if you will, did you know about his scheme to hoodwink Haversmith into paying a sham debt?
No, I swear. Outplaying a green un at cards is one thing. Even loosening his purse strings with liquor. But signing his name after poisoning him? Thats the devils hand, none of mine.
Daniel believed him. If hed felt the slightest itch, hed have left instead of staying to hear the older man out.
I only knew Jeremy was badly dipped. I thought hed find a rich wife, although that would satisfy his creditors for too short a time. Hed keep losing, and keep gambling until the money was gone.
Which every father, brother, or solicitor in the country knew. No one with a care for his daughter, or her fortune, would let her wed a man like him.
True, all too true.
They both thought about that for a bit, how neither one of them could pass muster in a fathers eyes, or, in Lord Morgans case, a sons eyes.
The older man sighed. I think he hoped to seduce some woman who had control of her own fortune, but your Miss Abbott was too downy a bird for him.
I would have been the one to run him through.
Yes, well, thats what I told him.
What about his sister? Daniel asked.
Lud, you cant be interested in my niece. Ugly as mud, and mean as a snake.
No, I meant her future. Will she and her mother be in dire straits without Jeremys support?
What support? Ive been paying their bills since my younger brother died. Asthma, dont you know. Runs in the family, Lord Morgan said.
I am sorry to hear that.
Not as sorry as I am. With a family like that, though, I doubt my brother was keen on staying around. He wheezed and pointed to his cordial, so Daniel poured him a glass. Theyll manage. If they werent both foul-tempered shrews, Id have them here. He looked around, then cleared his throat, embarrassed. Place could use a womans touch, I suppose.
It could use a maid, at any rate. Dishes and old newspapers and dog hair covered every surface. Lord Morgan hadnt shaved. His slippers had holes in the toes.
If you wont have them here, would they want to go with Jeremy?
What, to some heathen country where theyd be too poor for the British gentry? No, they keep busy with their church committees and friends in the country, I suppose. No reason to banish them, too.
Daniel stood, his mission completed. He hadnt been offered tea or spirits or anything to eat, which worried him on Lord Morgans behalf. Will you be all right?
Without Jeremy sponging off me here? Do you think he cared about his old uncle? Only what he could borrow or steal. It was the gambling and the drink together, you know. Like a disease, it was, worse than the asthmatics. He could not fight both. No backbone, just like his father.
Daniel did not know what to say to that. He fiddled with the gloves he still carried, not putting them on, but edging toward the door.
Lord Morgan did not expect a reply. Ill be fine. Thank you for asking. In fact, Ive decided to mend my ways before they kill me. Havent had a drink in days, and no cigars, either. Early nights, not such rich food. Im breathing better already. Can you tell?
The fact he was still breathing at all was a miracle to Daniel. I wish you continued improvement.
Its your mothers influence, dont you know.
Daniel ripped the seam of one of the gloves by cramming his hand into it. Yes, I do know.
He left, after putting a flea in the butlers ear about taking better care of his master and the house, and putting a gold coin in the mans hand to encourage him.
His next stop was at McCanns. He went around the back to look at the alley, but the clubs staff had cleaned up.
Cook insisted on checking her handiwork, and feeding him. Now that was more like itgood food, a good cat on his lap, no one nattering about a fellow changing his ways.
Harrison was glad to hear of the arrangements for his bothersome guest. Luckily the surgeon left enough laudanum to keep Babcock drugged, because his moans were disturbing the paying guests. Harrison thought he might be trying to shout for his release, but who could tell, with his jaw held together with a wide bandage around his head? The club manager knew Mr. Glessing and would deliver the unwanted baggage in person. The crime and the assault happened at his club, so he felt as if he were responsible.
Daniel asked to look at a couple of checks while he ate the plentiful, and free, meal. With all the crime in the city now, and gentlemen being attacked right outside their own clubs, some of the swells were afraid to carry so much of the ready with them. Some of them forgot how much money was in their accounts, too. A few forgot their names.
Daniel could help them remember.
Corie had errands that morning, too. Lady Cora blinked a time or two, but she did not say anything when Corie took one of the maids along and asked Dobbson to hire them a hackney.
The butler raised his eyebrows, but did as she requested. After all, she was not a daughter of the house, and not a flighty young miss, either.
Corie told the maid she wished to purchase a trinket or two for Lady Cora, who had been so good to her, and directed the driver to Rundell and Bridge. The jewelry shop was a favorite of the upper classes, and known to be reputable. Corie had no intention of taking the first price she was offered, having learned to bargain at the village fairs. In fact, she hoped she never needed to sell her mothers gems at all. But their worth was a starting place, so shed feel more in command of her own life again, so she could plan for disaster if it came.
The clerk was polite, but no more, after he inspected her clothing to see if she was worthy of his minimal attention. He turned into a fawning lackey when she mentioned she was a guest at Royce House. The countess was one of the establishments best customers. What could he do to assist?
