“It’s Neddy,” Georgie announced in a disconsolate voice. “He must be back.”
“Who the he— Who is Neddy?”
She had risen too. “My brother. He’s been visiting friends.”
“Does he always make so much noise?”
“Usually,” she replied. “That’s because he’s always had too much to drink.”
Another crash, and the sound of breaking glass. “I’d best see to him, then.” And he started for the stairs.
Edward Manning was lying on the floor, his long limbs sprawled out around him as he lay half in the hallway, half in one of the downstairs parlors, and he was, indeed, very drunk. He’d lost his hat somewhere, his cravat was missing as well, and his jacket was torn. He didn’t move from where he lay, but his eyes, a match to Norah’s lavender eyes, were wide open and staring at him in mild curiosity.
“Who’re you?” he demanded in a genteel slur.
“Rafferty. The new butler.” He reached down and pulled the man into a sitting position where he could better assess him. He was a handsome young man, but there were signs of dissipation around his eyes and his skin, and he blinked up at Rafferty in disbelief.
“We can’t afford a butler,” he said, sounding mournful. “Shouldn’t have come back here. Nothing but trouble. Poor little Norah. Ruined her chances.”
Norah was far from pitiful, but Rafferty refrained from pointing that out. He shoved his arms under Neddy’s and hauled him to his feet, where Neddy stood there, swaying slightly, looking like he was ready to take another tumble.
“Which is your room, sir?” he questioned, doing his best to sound patient. He found drunks particularly annoying.
“Third one on the right,” he mumbled, taking an abortive step toward the broad front stairs. Instead, he tripped, down on the floor again before Rafferty could catch him.
Rafferty reached down to hoist him up again when he heard light footsteps on the stairs, and a moment later Georgie was on her knees beside her prostrate brother. “Oh, Neddy,” she said in a gently scolding voice. “When are you going to stop this?”
“Can’t,” he muttered. “Sorry, Georgie. Hate to do this to you.”
“You’re not doing anything to me, you’re doing it to yourself,” she said, catching his arm in an effort to pull him to his feet.
Rafferty immediately reached behind him and hauled him upright once more, keeping a strong hand on him as Neddy wavered. “His bedroom is third on the right?” he asked, needing to verify it.
“Second bedroom on the right,” Georgie corrected. “I’ll show you. He has a tendency to cast up his accounts when he gets this bad, and it’s better that I look after him than you.”
“I disagree. If your brother is ill, I’ll take care of him. You don’t want to ruin your pretty new dress.”
That got a smile out of her. “Well, with luck, he’ll keep everything down. Let’s go.”
Their procession moved slowly up the stairs, Georgie holding his hand, Rafferty keeping him upright. By the time they reached the door, Neddy was mumbling under his breath, a string of unintelligible apologies. He fell face first onto his bed, and a moment later, a loud snore erupted from him.
“Oh, dear Neddy,” Georgie said miserably, as Rafferty lifted his body onto the high bed and rolled him onto his back. Neddy didn’t respond, lost to the world in his claret-induced haze. She started to unfasten his shoes, but Rafferty gave in to temptation and put his hands on her, moving her away.
“I’ll take care of him,” he said, moving her toward the door.
“But I want to help,” she cried. “He’s always been so good to me.”
“Then he’d appreciate it if you didn’t have to see him like this. I’ll see that he’s properly settled and then you can check on him.”
Indecision crossed her face, and then she nodded, reluctantly, before leaving them alone.
At least he didn’t throw up, Rafferty thought as he efficiently stripped the young man of his ruined clothing. There were starched and folded nightshirts in a drawer, and he dressed him and put him beneath the covers before closing the curtains, plunging the room into merciful darkness. He was just about to leave when Neddy spoke up.
“Who the hell are you?” His voice was still slurred.
Rafferty thought of a dozen answers, but went with the simplest. “I’m the butler, sir.” And he closed the door behind him.
He found Georgie waiting for him in the hall, her eyes anxious. “How is he?”
