But that single word lingered, refusing to fade, no matter how hard she tried to let it go.
The carriage swayed as thoughts tumbled around inside Alice’s head, and then slowed as the familiar façade of her father’s townhouse appeared. She pushed the turmoil aside, relieved that they would soon be out of here and someone could help Jamie.
The door swung wide before the carriage had fully stopped, and Bobby stood there.
“I need you to go inside and rouse Ezra, Bobby.” The boy took off up the steps and soon disappeared inside the house.
“Come along, we shall get you inside, Jamie.”
“Alice, I should go to my townhouse.” The words had no strength and were more a painful wheeze now.
“I have a maid who tends to anyone who is sick in my household. She will tend you, and then we will send you home.”
“Where have you been, Lady Alice?” Ezra’s bellow was loud enough to reach all residents on the street.
“Someone is unhappy,” Jamie whispered.
Ezra stomped down the steps behind Bobby. Her footman nudged the boy to one side as they reached the hackney, and looked in.
“No time for censuring now, Ezra. We need to help Lord Stafford.”
“You’re not very good at watching her, Ezra,” Jamie said, the words sounding slurred as he battled the pain.
“I didn’t know she was sneaking out of the house,” Ezra snarled.
“I’m sure it’s not the first time,” Jamie added.
“Yes, thank you, that will do,” Alice told both men. “We need to get him inside for Maggie to see to his injuries, and then get him home.”
“I could have called a doctor.”
Ezra snorted at Jamie’s words. “A doctor has little skill. My wife, however, does. Now come along with you.” He reached in to help her from the carriage. “You and I will be having words soon.”
“As you can imagine, it’s a moment I’m looking forward to,” Alice muttered.
“I can get myself out,” she heard Jamie protest.
“I can see the state you’re in, my lord. It’s best you let me aid you.”
Jamie appeared with Ezra helping him. Then Ezra and Bobby took a side, and they walked slowly up toward the front door of the townhouse.
They made a strange procession up the steps. A bruised lord, a stubborn lady, a barefoot boy, and her angry footman. In theentry hall, the lamps had been turned up and Alice noted Maggie and Phipps were standing inside.
“Take him to the first room upstairs,” Alice said. “Maggie, bring your things. Phipps, get a basin of water and some cloths.
“And shall I call a doctor, my lady?”
“No, thank you, Phipps, we shall see what Maggie says first.”
Orders steadied her and always had. When Charles came home a different person and after her father left, it had been her that people turned to for instruction.
They got Jamie upstairs, and he’d stopped protesting in favor of panting from the exertion as they finally lowered him onto the bed.
“Did his body take a beating also?” Ezra asked her as he stood glowering down at the marquess, who was now leaning on the pillows.
“It did, yes,” Alice said.
“Well then, let’s have your jacket off, my lord.”
