They’d taken Yihui like robbers holding up a carriage, except it had been in London in herhome.The violation of it made her furious, sick, and so shaken she could barely stand.
“Are you all right, my lady?” Chiverton asked, his voice wavering.
No! She’d never be all right again.
What was going to happen to Yihui?
Oh God!
She wasn’t accomplishing anything by standing in the doorway. She turned, seeing her aged butler looking older than she’d ever seen the man. He was pale, his hair askew, and his hands were shaking.
“Are you all right?” Her gaze skipped past her butler to where the footmen were regaining their feet. One was holding his arm as if it might be broken. The other had a hand pressed to his head.
“Just rattled, my lady,” Chiverton answered.
She stepped back into the house, absurdly furious that her stockings were now wet. She should have been wearing shoes. The men were straightening, their injuries looking less serious by the second. Indeed, Millie looked the most injured and that was because she was cupping her wrist while still holding a broken book.
“The bloody cheek!” the maid cursed.
Emmaline heartily agreed. “Thomas, Henry, do you need a doctor?”
Both men shook their heads. “No, my lady.”
“Naw, my lady. But I’ve punched softer walls.”
She understood the sentiment. “Get some ice pressed to your head, Thomas. Millie, how bad is your wrist?”
“Just a sprain, my lady. Nothing that won’t heal in a few days.”
Emmaline nodded, coming into the center of the foyer. She had her arms wrapped tight around her belly as she tried to erase the feel of a stranger holding her helpless. She had to will herself not to vomit. Thank God her mother wasn’t here.
“It’s my fault, my lady,” Chiverton said as he smoothed down his hair. “My deepest apologies.”
“It’s not your fault that ruffians attacked—”
“No, my lady. No!” He straightened his coat, clearly using the gesture to pull his thoughts back in order.
“Chiverton, don’t fret—”
“My lady, it was the duke’s command.” He picked up the letter where it had fallen to the floor. He smoothed out the creases and set it carefully on the side table. “We shouldn’t have interfered.”
Emmaline spun on her heel, at last finding a target for her fury. “What?”
“I should have just allowed them in.”
“You did allow them in!”
“They wouldn’t have hurt anyone if I’d just let them do as they wish.”
“They did do as they wish!”
“Yes, yes, but with so much hubbub. It was unseemly and completely my fault.”
She took a breath, thinking it would calm her. Instead, it set the fire inside her belly to white hot. Damn it, how long had she tolerated his insolence? He’d been campaigning to get rid of Yihui from the very beginning, despite what Max planned and what Emma explicitly ordered. Hell, even her mother had thrown herself into training Yihui to be a lady, but Chiverton had his own ideas, and he regularly demonstrated his attitude.
“Chiverton, they abducted our guest.”
The man looked awkward, his expression apologetic. “His Grace mentioned several days ago that she had overstayed her welcome.”
