Chapter 4

Leopold stared at the closed chamber door. The doctor had just left and was quite pleased that he had survived the night.

Those words had sent a chill down his spine, but then he wondered at the doctor's education. Had he been so concerned, wouldn't he have instructed Bethany to send for his family or make certain the heir apparent was notified? Though, that would have been difficult since Crispin was in Greece.

The doctor also insisted that Leopold still not travel for a sennight. He agreed only to appease the doctor but would decide for himself when he felt ready to continue his journey.

He'd slept most of yesterday and Leopold wanted to be up and moving. However, each time he attempted to do so, pain racked his body. The few times that he had gotten up, he'd become dizzy. It was bloody aggravating and embarrassing to ask Bethany to call one of her footmen for assistance since he certainly could not ask her. Had he any clothing, then at least he could cross the chamber without her viewing his backside, or his front.

"I will send word to your family," she began. "My driver can be at Faversham by late tonight."

"What of you?" he asked. "Will your family not be expecting you?"

Bethany sank into a chair. "They believe that I was going to remain in London."

"Then they will not be concerned if you do not arrive."

"Nor will they ever learn of our current situation."

"And you will not be ruined," he added. Though in truth, given the circumstances, nobody would think less of Bethany. She'd only taken him from the road, put him in an inn and found a doctor. She could leave, report on the situation and no harm would come to her. Besides, their families would not want to risk her reputation so it was likely nobody else would ever learn the part she had played in his rescue. "You should go."

"I cannot leave you here without someone to take care of you."

"You cannot stay either."

"Nor can I go on to my uncle's home and tell your family what has happened."

"Why not?" He frowned, then relaxed his features when pain sliced through his scalp. That must be where the doctor had stitched him.

"My Aunt Anne." Bethany sighed. "The woman could hear gossip whispered in another county, so no matter how much I would try to tell your family in private, she would learn. That woman gossips more than anyone I have ever met and embellishes with each telling. I fear that if she learns that I have been alone with you in an inn, despite the circumstances, she will not be able to keep quiet and write to all her friends."

Leopold had no idea who this Aunt Anne was, but the last thing either of them needed was households across England learning about his injuries and how Bethany had nursed him alone in an inn. She would be ruined beyond repair.

"Send word to my family and then return to London."

"That would be the wisest course, but I do not feel right just leaving you alone while you are still recovering from your injuries. Dr. Gooding still has grave concerns, and I would not be able to live with myself if something happened that I could have prevented had I been here."

Leopold started to smile. Maybe she did care, even if it was a little bit.

He closed his eyes as they grew heavy. Was it the head injuries or pain that had him wanting to sleep?

"I would seek help from Tessa, but she is too far away," Bethany said almost as an afterthought.

Tessa was married to his cousin, the Duke of Ellings…Leopold opened his eyes, though it was difficult as they felt like there were weights on them.

If there was ever a situation that called for the assistance from any of the dukes in the alliance this would be it. "Write to her…no…write to Darius."

Blast! The ring that he was to use on the wax seal when summoning one of the dukes had been with his things, and was now lost after being taken by some miscreant.

"They are in Shropshire. Days away," Bethany reminded him.

"They are the only ones who can help…keep confidence."

"Are you certain you wish me to address the letter to Ellings?" Bethany asked.

"Yes. Write…tell what happened." His eyelids were too heavy to keep open and Leopold let them close once more. "But do not send it until…"

Bethany looked at the back of the parchment once again. Ring stolen. Come immediately. Those words Claybrook had insisted be written next to the seal of the missive being sent to the Duke of Ellings. Claybrook wouldn't explain why this was necessary, but perhaps he feared that Ellings wouldn't open the missive if Claybrook's signet hadn't been pressed into the wax.

"See that this is placed in the hands of the Duke of Ellings the moment you arrive and make certain that he knows it is from the Duke of Claybrook," Bethany instructed.

Her driver took the letter and then left. Except, he was going to travel to Shropshire on horseback as it would be quicker than taking the carriage.

A second letter had been written per Claybrook's dictation advising his family that he had been delayed and still hoped to join them but would not be able to do so for at least a sennight.

They had discussed the option of sending for his siblings, which would free Bethany, but Claybrook feared his younger brother or sisters might accidently slip and mention how she had remained caring for Claybrook without a chaperone watching on.

That left only one problem. "My family might recognize my footmen. If I send one of them, they may assume that I am with you."

"Not if he claims that you sacked him, and he was then hired by me," Claybrook suggested.

"I am not going to ask Jason or Henry to lie," Bethany insisted. The two stood just inside the door awaiting instructions.

"Then sack one of them," Leopold offered nonchalantly, as if their livelihood was of no concern to him. It was probably because Claybrook was a duke. Why should he care about anyone so far beneath him?

Jason and Henry straightened and shared a look of fear.

"I will not," Bethany insisted. "We will find someone not known to us to deliver the missive."

Claybrook lifted his eyebrows, winced, and relaxed his face. "Whoever you sack I will hire immediately."

The two footmen relaxed.

"That way nobody is lying or being lied to."

Bethany would much rather send a trusted servant than a stranger…

With a sigh she looked at the footmen. "Jason, I am sorry, but you are no longer needed in my employ."

His eyes widened. Certainly, he wasn't truly afraid that he was being let go. He had listened to the conversation.

"Therefore, I shall hire you," Leopold said. "Such heartless employers, letting servants go and this close to Christmas. It really is a shame."

Bethany narrowed her eyes. "This is a temporary situation," she reminded him. "If my parents inquire, tell them that I sacked you and that Claybrook was kind enough to give you a position. Just do not provide them with any details of how it came about, or you will be out of a position." Luckily neither were dressed in the uniform they wore while working at the club, but he wasn't in Claybrook's livery either. Hopefully it would not be noticed.

Jason gulped and lost some of his color. "If they ask, I will tell them I would rather not discuss the matter," the footmen answered.

"Very good," Leopold said. "You will do well in my employ."

Bethany turned on him. "He will return to employment with me," she insisted.

"You sacked him. I may want to keep him."

She stared down Claybrook and clenched her jaw then noted that the footman still stood by the door, his eyes shifting between the two. "You may go and deliver the message from His Grace."

"He is my footman." Claybrook looked to the lad. "You may leave and please see that the message is delivered to my sister."