Outside the gash at his side that came from a dagger.
Thus, Loren asked, “How is that tallied, my friend?”
Marlow also flinched as he crossed his arms on his chest,which he would do, as he’d taken some body blows (correction, that heat atLoren’s jaw wasn’t it, they’d both taken body blows, however, they weren’tvisible, so they didn’t count).
Marlow did this saying, “I’m not on my back in my bed.”
Loren sighed, as with that, he had no choice but to concedethe point.
Marlow ceased ribbing when he stated low, “Winnow Dupont isgoing to be a problem.”
Loren nodded once and agreed by stating the obvious, “WinnowDupont is already a problem.”
He was about to say more when his bedroom door opened.
Marlow twisted at the waist to peer behind him, makingenough room for Loren to see his father strolling in, face set in granite.
Bloody hell.
Ansley stepped to the side.
And there wasSatrine, the hood ofa cloak over her head, its folds resting enchantingly on her shoulders, therest of the cloak’s black velvet a sheet all the way down to the floor.
He sat up abruptly, grimaced, and the physician hissed,“Remain still!”
Ansley andSatrinecame to a haltat the end of his bed.
His fiancée’s eyes were aimed at the doctor’s work.
His father’s eyes were aimed at him.
“Tell me you did not call her,” Loren growled to his sire.
“After your return this eve, it occurred to me that yourunderstanding of the fact your actions reverberate through the minds andemotions of the ones who love you was not quite being absorbed.Therefore, I’vesought reinforcements.”
He gritted his teeth, forced himself to stop doing that evenas the needle again pierced his flesh, he felt the pull join the two slashedsides together, and he turned his attention toSatrine.
“Darling,” he called.
She lifted her gaze from these ministrations to him.
“What happened?”she inquired.
He was about to say it was nothing, but he was thwartedagain.
This time by Marlow.
“We were at a bordello, see.”
He whipped his head to his brother and bit, “Marlow.”
Marlow didn’t even look at him.
“We were having a whisky.Little did we know that some weekspast, when Lore was spending some time atanotherbordello…”
He sat up further and clipped, “Marlow,quiet.”
“Your grace,remain still,” the physician snapped.
