Citit - A Dangerous Madness by Michelle Diener

Author:Michelle Diener [Diener, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-05-18T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-four

Miss Hillier’s butler was a man of many talents, James noted.

He’d gone ahead of them as Miss Hillier helped James back to the house, and by the time she’d ushered him into the library, Lewis was ready with bandages, salve and hot water.

“I’ve informed your aunt you are well, and will be up to see her shortly.” Lewis arranged his medical supplies on a low table by the fire, and James noticed he was careful to keep his eyes from where Miss Hillier stood, with her arm still around him.

He felt the loss of her warmth as mention of her aunt made her pull abruptly away. No doubt exactly the effect Lewis had been going for.

“Aunt Dorothy.” Miss Hillier looked upward at the ceiling, as if her aunt might be right above her, watching. “I completely forgot…”

“If you would leave us for a few minutes, my lady, perhaps go and reassure your aunt, I will make sure the wound is dressed.” Lewis couldn’t quite keep the satisfaction from his voice.

She frowned at the butler, as if she heard it, too, and stepped close to James again. Instead of putting her arm around him, though, she peered at his blood-stained sleeve. “I think we need a doctor.”

Lewis set the cloth he was holding down. “I promise you I can do it just as well.”

They both looked at James for a decision.

He found he very much did not want a doctor. Not only would it stir up even more trouble for Miss Hillier, but a doctor could be followed home and coerced or bribed. He didn’t want anyone knowing how slight his injury was.

Better they think him badly hurt and less of a threat.

“You know what you’re doing?” he asked Lewis. There was something competent about Miss Hillier’s man that James trusted.

“I was a stretcher bearer in the American Revolutionary War, Your Grace. I’ve treated many shot wounds in my time.”

“All right, then.”

Miss Hillier looked hard at Lewis. “You’ll let me know if it’s worse than you think?”

Lewis nodded, and she gave James a last, worried look before she walked from the room, closing the door softly behind her to give them privacy.

Lewis pulled out a footstool for James to sit on, and helped him out of his coat and jacket. They both looked at his left sleeve. It was dark with blood, already hardened almost to black, and the shirt was stuck fast to his skin.

Lewis took a sponge and dribbled warm water over the wound, loosening the fabric until he could lift it from his arm without it pulling.

He eased the ruined shirt over James’s shoulders, and James saw the bullet had only grazed him, a shallow groove that ran across his upper arm. It would be painful and annoying, but if treated correctly, it wouldn’t slow him down.

“This is the second disturbing incident involving strange attackers at Home House in two days, Your Grace.” Lewis kept his gaze on his work as he sponged the blood away. “You

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