The Lost Heir by Sheila Rabe

Author:Sheila Rabe [Sheila Rabe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nov. Rom
Published: 2013-12-19T23:00:00+00:00

Edmund rolled sideways and his attacker's knife cut into his arm instead of delivering the mortal wound intended. The man swore and ran off after his friends.

"Grayborough! Are you all right, old fellow?" It was young Lord Carrington. He knelt beside Edmund and helped him sit up.

"Glad you happened by," Edmund said to his new friend. "It was nearly bellows to mend with me.

"These curst footpads. They get bolder all the time. Can you stand?"

Edmund nodded and his friend helped him to his feet. Shock coupled with his wounds made him sway.

"Here now! You are weak as a kitten," exclaimed his rescuer. "Worth has his carriage and we shall take you home in that. Can you make it back to the club?"

"If you will give me your arm, I believe I can," said Edmund, and the two made their way slowly back down the street.

There were many horrified exclamations at the sight of Edmund. What was it coming to when a fellow couldn't leave his club without being assaulted by strangers? Something definitely needed to be done about those footpads.

Edmund listened to the talk as his friends staunched his wounds, gave him claret, and bundled him into Lord Worth's carriage. He said nothing other than a heartfelt thanks for their kindness, but as the carriage made its progress through the streets of London to Grosvenor Square he mulled over what he was sure he had heard right before he had been set upon—"That's him!" Very picky, these footpads.

Edmund tried to keep both his return home and his condition a secret. But Harris, the guardian of the door, knew where his loyalties lay. Lady Mary was summoned immediately, and before James barely had his master's coat off, she was at his door demanding entrance to his room. Edmund moaned. "Go to bed. Aunt," he called weakly. "I am fine."

The door opened and Aunt Mary entered, her tall frame encased in a red velvet wrapper, her gray hair in curlpapers and covered with a lacy nightcap.

"Such a vision of loveliness," murmured her nephew, stretching himself out on his bed.

Lady Mary had paled considerably on seeing Edmund. She ignored his quip and rushed to his side. "What has happened? James, go for the doctor."

"There is no need," said Edmund. "They are both clean wounds and easily dressed, and if you will return to bed I shall rest much easier. I told Harris not to wake you."

"Harris is not in your employ," said her ladyship. She turned to James. "I shall need warm water, bandages, and basilicum powder."

James disappeared and Lady Mary returned her attention to her nephew. "What happened?"

"I was set upon by footpads coming home from the club," replied Edmund.

"Footpads, eh?" His aunt looked thoughtful. "Are you sure they were footpads?"

Edmund saw no sense in upsetting his aunt so he kept what he thought to himself. "Of course. What else could they be?"

Lady Mary sat regarding him and chewing her bottom lip. "You must have a care," she said. "Promise me there will be no more wandering the streets alone.

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.