They pulled up in front of no.35, and she gaped.“This is only three blocks from my house.”
He sighed.“Yes, this is my house.I don’t generally allow anyone to know where I live.So I would appreciate your discretion.”
“Why don’t you want people to know where you live?”
“It’s a safety concern.”
Violet thought about the men who attacked them in the alley.She supposed that it wouldn’t do to have your enemies know where you live.The carriage door opened, and she alighted first.A dark-skinned man who had been leaning against the front door straightened and hurried over.He set down his bag and helped Jim pull Rhys gingerly out of the carriage.“Boss, what happened?”
Once Rhys’s feet hit the pavement, he shook their hands off.“Newgate Boys.”He took a couple of steps forward with obvious pain.
Violet stepped in front of him.“Let them help you.”
“I’m fine.You can go home now.”
“You are not fine.You have a blasted knife sticking out of your leg!”Violet pushed a finger into his chest.“I am not going anywhere.I am going to make sure you take care of yourself.”
Rhys’s nostrils flared as he glared down at her.
But she didn’t care if he was angry.He had saved her life, and she would make sure that his wounds were tended to properly.Left to his own devices, he would probably let them fester.They stood toe-to-toe, staring at each other.
“Come on, boss, let’s get you inside.”The man who had been waiting for them took hold of Rhys’s arm.Violet stepped to the side as the two men made their way to the front door.Who was this man who called him boss?
She turned to Jim.“Go home and find out from Hodgins where my husband is and if he plans to be home for dinner.Please send Ginny over here with the information and the jar of salve from my chambers.She’ll know what I mean.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jim replied.
“And please keep the events of the afternoon to yourselves.”She glanced up at George.“You will be rewarded for your discretion.”Lord, she was getting used to this bribery thing.
“That’s not necessary, ma’am.Discretion is part of our job.We would never think to gossip about you, mistress.”Jim bowed.
“That’s the truth.”George tipped his hat.
Violet let out a long breath.“Thank you.”Then she hurried up the walk to the front door and into the foyer of Rhys’s house.Shutting the front door behind her, she turned the lock.The first thing she noticed was a long staircase in dark mahogany that rose to the first floor.Rhys and his friend stood at the bottom of the stairs.Violet hurried over to them.
“Is there anywhere for him to stretch out here on the ground floor?”she asked.
The man shook his head.“He hasn’t any furniture, save for the dining room table.I’m definitely not letting you get blood on that beautiful piece.”
“You forgot about the piano.”Rhys grunted.“I’ll be fine.I can make it upstairs.”
“What can I do to help?”Violet asked.
“Can you go find Louisa and get her to bring up some fresh water in a basin?”the man asked.Then he put his arm around Rhys’s waist, and the two of them started up the stairs.
Violet fretted.Would he be able to make it all the way up the tall stairs?She wrung her hands.
“Violet, go get the water,” Rhys said gruffly.“Louisa is probably in the kitchen.Back of the house.And if you see the dog, don’t pet him.Just be calm and avoid him.”
She nodded.He didn’t want her to watch him struggle up the stairs.She turned and headed through the foyer to the back of the house.There were two rooms flanking the front of the house.She peered into the room on the left; it was the dining room.Bare, except for a table, but without even a chair to sit on.She continued down a short corridor, the walls also bare of decoration, and past two more closed doors.At the end, she pushed open a large door.Three stairs led her down into the kitchen.An older woman came through the back door at the same time.The woman froze with a basket of herbs in her hands.“Who are you?”
“I am Violet Sommerset.I just arrived with Mr.Seaton.He has been injured.We need a basin of fresh water to clean the wound, please.”
“Oh dear.”The woman bustled into the kitchen and set her basket down on the table.An enormous mastiff rambled inside behind her.His big, sad eyes stared at Violet for a long moment before he walked over to the hearth and lay down.Apparently, the dog did not see her as a threat.Violet was glad of that.The dog was massive, but with those soulful eyes, he didn’t scare her.“What’s his name?”Violet tilted her head to where the dog had stretched out.
“Oh, he doesn’t have a name yet.I don’t think Mr.Seaton was planning on getting a pet.I’m Louisa, Mr.Seaton’s housekeeper.”She pumped water into a large pitcher.
“A pleasure to meet you, Louisa.”
