Never and Always by Maureen Driscoll

Author:Maureen Driscoll
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2016-12-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

As Rigg expected, Lynwood House erupted into a frenzy of motion as soon as he arrived with Lord Lorton, who was weak from his beating. The back of his shirt was covered in blood and the boy could barely walk. The butler, Heskiss, was extremely concerned and sent one footman to ready a room and another to ensure none of the children would see Lord Lorton in such pain.

“What happened?” Heskiss asked, just as the Duke of Lynwood and Ned Kellington came out of the library.

“The devil!” said the duke, even as Ned rushed forward to take the boy.

Lady Jane and the duchess joined them. “Let’s get him upstairs,” said a shaken Jane. “Heskiss, send up hot water and bandages, if you please.”

Ned and the duke were about to follow the ladies when Rigg said, “If you please, your grace, my lord, there is much I must tell you.”

“What happened?” asked Lynwood, as he ushered Rigg and Ned into the library. The duke sat behind his desk as he motioned for Rigg to take a seat.

“Thank you, your grace, but I cannot sit. I acted inappropriately and you may discharge me when I tell you what I did.” Rigg prayed that would not be the case, but he had overstepped his bounds in confronting the marquess publicly and for speaking on behalf of the duke.

“I cannot imagine I would do any such thing, especially since I am certain you are not the one who hurt Lorton,” said Lynwood.

“Of course not, your grace.”

“And I do not know why you think Lynwood can discharge you, when you are in my employ,” said Ned.

“You may wish to discharge me as well, my lord,” said Rigg. “I have grossly overstepped my authority.”

“Do sit down, Rigg,” said Lynwood. “And that is a direct order. Ned, pour your man a snifter of something, along with the same for us. Now, Rigg, do be so good as to explain what is going on.”

Rigg told them about the fight and how Selden had whipped first the horse, then his son, as well as the cruel things the man had said to Lord Lorton.

“What a bastard!” said Ned. “I cannot imagine ever saying such things to a child of mine.”

“Nor can I,” said Lynwood. “I look forward to demolishing his next speech in the House of Lords. Now tell us, Rigg, where is the part where Ned and I are supposed to discharge you?”

Rigg sighed. “I confronted a nobleman and spoke on your behalf, when I had the right to do neither. I acted with authority I did not have and spoke for the House of Lynwood.”

“Let me see if I have this straight,” said Lynwood. “Do you truly believe I would object to you stopping a beast from whipping his own son?”

“No, your grace, it is not that.”

“Then mayhap you believe I would not open my home to a boy who has been a guest and is a friend to my family.”

“Of course not, your grace.”

“Pray enlighten me, then.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.