“I’m afraid that he is not accepting callers at this time, miss.”
“Townson, must we do this every time I come to visit? I am not just any caller. He will see me. Now, where is he? Breakfasting?”
“No, miss. I’m afraid he is indisposed.” Townson’s eyes darted to the left, where Hart’s formal drawing room lay.
Strange. Why would he be in a room expressly used for receiving guests? Who would he be entertaining at this hour of the morning? Lucy passed her umbrella and bonnet to Helen and then headed for the door. Mr. Townson hurried after her across the black and white tiles of the polished marble floor, sliding to a stop in his rush to prevent her from entering the room.
Lucy turned to face him. “Are you going to open this door and announce me, or shall I barge in?” She glared at the butler who looked so red he might be having an apoplexy.
She was in no mood for games this morning. She had important venting to do, and Hart must listen to what she had to say.
“Right then.” She turned the knob and pushed the door open.
Inside, the smell of liquor and smoke hit her right in the face. Three men lay across various pieces of furniture. One man slumped in a chair, his long frame stretched out. His arm hung down over the armrest, a bottle of liquor clutched in his hand. Another man lay prone along the settee, one leg over the edge of the cushions and one planted on the floor. His sprawl was comical as he was dressed elegantly in evening clothes.
Then she spotted Hart. He lay in the chaise. His eyes closed, and was that blood staining his shirt?
“Dear Lord! Why is there blood on your shirt?” She hurried across the room.
Hart’s eyelids popped open. He blinked, bleary-eyed, as though he was trying to focus. “Lucy?”
“Indeed.” She glanced again around at the other two men, whom she had woken, as they clumsily straightened to sitting.
It was clear that the gossip rag hadn’t made everything up. He had gone out drinking with his friends.
She put her hands on her hips. “And here I thought I would find you having a quiet morning with a cup of tea. Instead, I see you left me at my doorstep last night and then went out for a night of carousing with your degenerate friends.”
“Hey,” one of his friends protested.
Hart ran a hand down his face. “Lucy, could you please speak at a lower volume?”
“No, I cannot. Why is your shirt stained with blood? I told you to be careful until we could figure out what sort of danger is afoot. But no, you immediately go out and find trouble. What happened?!”
Hart rose to his feet. “Lads, I must ask you to go. Now.”
The two men struggled to their feet and straightened jackets and cravats. One of them paused as he passed Hart. “Sorry, mate, didn’t know you’d taken a wife.”
Hart closed his eyes briefly. “I haven’t.”
Lucy crossed her arms and waited as the two men exited the room.
Hart turned to face her. “I’m fine. The wound has been stitched up.” He tugged the two sides of his waistcoat together, covering his bloodied shirt.
She couldn’t stop herself from moving closer. “What happened?” she repeated.
His fingers quickly fastened the buttons. “I was attacked in the alley behind Brook’s. It’s just a flesh wound.”
“Attacked? By who?”
“Just some ruffian trying to steal my coin while I was taking…” He coughed into his hand.
Doubtful. Did he really think it a coincidence? “More likely someone hired to finish the job they started last year. Think about it. No one knows how much Galey did or did not tell you in that carriage. That makes you a liability for whatever secrets they are keeping about the death of your family.”
Hart frowned. “Perhaps. It’s hard to tell. He ran off when my friend’s carriage pulled up behind us.”
“Hard to tell. You mean because you were sloshed?” she scoffed. “I felt bad for you last night, but you were just beginning your evening of drunken revelry.” She paced away from him.
To think she had been angry on his behalf for the lies she assumed the scandal rag had made up. But everything it said had been true. Her reputation was tarnished just by being acquainted with an infamous rake like him. To top it off, someone was trying to kill him, and he was too stupid to realize it.
