Marlow continued to ignore Loren.
“…he’d brought himself a little trouble.He did this withintent.He has a friend who also attended that same establishment, a favoriteof his, and became embroiled in a game they like to play there, which is morefittingly referred to as blackmail.”
“Brother, silence,” Loren ordered, again to no avail.
“As such, this friend also lost the woman he loved and wasimminently going to marry.Our man here”—Marlow tossed a hand to Loren—“feltsomething needed to be done about it, and this he did.They were not bestpleased he intervened in their regular swindle, and this evening, themastermind behind it sent some men to share her displeasure.Alas, the marquesshas a terrible habit of leaving some jobs undone, especially when the villainis of our fairer sex, and we suffered for that oversight this night.Though, Iwill take this moment to point out, Lore suffered more than me.”
Wordlessly,Satrinewas regardingMarlow as he spoke, and she didn’t stop when he ceased, therefore, Loren calledher again.
“Satrine, my darling, please waitfor me downstairs.Once the doctor has completed his work, I’ll get decent andjoin you.”
NowSatrine’seyes came to him ashe spoke, and they didn’t leave when he was finished.
She said nothing for long, weighty moments.
And then she turned her head side to side, and requested ina soft voice, “Gentleman, if I may speak with my fiancé alone.”
“By all means,” his father growled.
Marlow’s face tightened in pain, but he beat back the winceas he gave her a short bow and said, “My lady.”
Both men left, Marlow shutting the door behind them.
Loren looked back toSatrinetosee she was already regarding him, or more to the point, his bared chest.
He opened his mouth but found his luck had not changed as hewas foiled again.
“Allow me to get this straight,” she continued in that softvoice, her attention lifting to his face.“You were at a bordello tonight.”
“Dear heart—”
“And were set upon by rogues who you’d angered atanotherbordello you were at some weeks past.”
“Satrine—”
“However, where youweren’ttonight, or last night,or the one before, and the one before that, and so on, was anywhere near me.”
The physician grunted a sympathetic, fraternal grunt.
Loren fell silent.
She said nothing.
He hissed in breath as the doctor poured alcohol on hisnow-stitched wound.
The man then stoppered the vial, set it aside and looked toSatrine.
“Milady, this request comes at an inopportune time, I’maware.But it would be most helpful if you could aid me with the bandage.”
Damn it all to hell.
She nodded, came forward, threw back the front folds of hercloak and lifted her hands to drop the hood from her hair.
Loren sat up as she assisted the physician in winding thebandage around his stomach and tying it off.
As usual, she smelled phenomenal.
She immediately retreated when this was done, the doctorpacked up his bag, and bending over him, he whispered, “Good luck.”He thenstraightened and said toSatrine, “If his gracerewins your favor, I ask you to be certain he rests, at least for a good week.Nothing strenuous.He must allow the healing to set in.”
