“Why are you here?" he asked Benedick. “Do you not have criminals to catch along the waterfront?"
“Well, after breaking my fast alone, I thought to assure myself of your good health,” his brother answered.
“I apologize if I inconvenienced you,” Orlando answered and wondered if Benedick truly had been concerned.
"I asked him to meet me here," Dr. Xavier Sinclair answered from the doorway. “I need him to accompany me to Westbrook House to confront a most stubborn sister-in-law.”
That lady would be Lady Victoria Westbrook, twin to Xavier’s wife. As Orlando knew them both well since he frequented Westbrook House to treat illnesses and injuries, he was quite intrigued.
“Why?” Benedick asked.
“Lady Victoria has been receiving threats, but it has become more dangerous for her.”
“What happened?” Orlando asked in alarm. Nothing had been mentioned to him when he was there last night.
"She was attacked by a man who could not gain access to Westbrook House."
"I assume that man wanted his property back," Orlando said in disgust.
So many of the women who resided within had escaped husbands or employers who saw them as nothing more than property and became violent if they were displeased.
"Yes, but Lady Victoria refuses to stay at Westbrook House which has guards on duty both in front and in back, where she would be safe. Instead, she insists on returning to her home this evening."
“Why would her home not be safe?” Benedick asked.
“The man knows where she lives.”
Orlando straightened. "He got inside her house?"
"No, she was accosted on the street in front of it but that does not mean that he will not be back and try to gain entrance.”
"What do you need me to do?” Benedick asked.
“She needs a bodyguard if we cannot convince her to remain at Westbrook House until the man is caught.”
"I did not realize that was one of the services you provided. Would Mercutio not be a better choice?"
His brother was a pugilist of renowned fame and most people now were too afraid to face him.
"He is not in London,” Xavier answered. “Therefore, it must be Benedick.”
“Are you certain there is no one else?” Benedick asked. “I could ask someone I work with.”
Orlando frowned. Why would his brother reject a request to protect someone?
“I do not know any of them, I know you, and Lady Victoria needs to be protected.”
"Very well,” Benedick sighed. “But I feel that I should warn you. Lady Victoria happens to hate me.”
Orlando couldn’t imagine anybody hating his brother. "Why is that exactly?" Orlando asked.
Before Benedick could answer, a lad who sometimes sat in the front of the house to help in hopes of a warm meal came in. "Dr. Valentine, the tooth problem is here."
"I promise to tell you at a later time,” Benedick said. “Go see about the tooth.”
He would question his brother, but it likely wouldn’t be until tomorrow, because he would be seeing Blythe tonight, which was more important than wondering why Lady Victoria hated his brother.
Chapter Twenty-Four
