Lord help her if she knew. Her experience with men was presently limited to the one she’d had with Oliver. Annoyed with how complicated her life had become, she swiped at her wounds. With swift movements she cleaned away the blood until she looked slightly more presentable.
She glanced at Lucy, who’d fallen into a peaceful sleep after the doctor’s departure. Crossing to the bucket, Harriet picked it up and carried it from the room. She’d clean this first and then see to the chamber pot after. If luck was on her side, Mr. Evans would suffer a stroke of amnesia and forget all about her poor living conditions and the fact that she very much feared she may have looked like she would welcome that kiss.
13
When Brody arrived back at Hudson & Co., he went straight to his employer and handed him the agreement Ada had signed.
“The author accepted the offer,” he said. “I was asked to give you her thanks.”
Mr. Hudson beamed. “That’s excellent news indeed. I can’t wait to get started. Which brings me to the problem regarding Mr. Michaels.
“I managed to locate him,” Brody said. “His sister is sick and required attention. He apologizes for not sending word, but it’s my belief his morning was spent locating a doctor. In any event, he has assured me that he will return to work tomorrow morning.”
“Very good. Thank you, Mr. Evans. That certainly is welcome news since I very much want a man of his skill to be working on this new project.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Brody said. “If you like, I can inform the print room.”
“Yes, yes.” Mr. Hudson, his attention already back on the manuscript he’d been perusing when Brody arrived, waved him off.
Brody strode to the print room where he found the men Mr. Michaels worked with sweeping the floor and tidying the shelves. The tempo had certainly slowed since he’d been here last.
He entered the room and cleared his throat to attract their attention. “I’ve come to inform you that Mr. Michaels will be joining you again tomorrow.”
“Is he all right?” asked Mr. Tomkins, who did the reading for Mr. Michaels.
Brody explained the situation while the three men looked appropriately concerned. He chose not to mention the attack on Mr. Michaels, deciding this was more personal in nature and that the young man could reveal as much or as little as he chose himself.
“Is there anything I can help you with here in the meantime?” Brody asked.
“I don’t suppose you’re able to read while I set some type?” Mr. Tomkins said. “I’m not as quick as Mr. Michaels, but we’ve only got three pages left of the chapter we’re working on, which shouldn’t take long. It would be nice if we could finish before he returns.”
“I’m happy to give it a try,” Brody said, “provided Mr. Hudson has nothing else for me to do. I’ll check with him and let you know.”
When Brody returned five minutes later with Mr. Hudson’s consent, he perched on the stool he’d seen Mr. Tomkins use and accepted the page that was handed to him.
“Read from there, one sentence at a time,” Mr. Tomkins said. “I’ll let you know when to continue.”
Brody did as he asked, allowing the print room to get back to work. It was, in truth, a welcome distraction. During his walk from Mr. Michaels’s lodgings, Brody had thought of little besides the wounded young man he’d left behind. And the fact that he’d almost kissed him.
Had it not been for Mr. Michaels stepping away, he would have done so. He would have kissed him. On the mouth!
There weren’t enough words in the English language to try and explain how such a thing could have happened. How it had come to this when he’d always been drawn to women? He loved their luscious curves and enjoyed the pleasure he found with them in bed. But that mouth…
It tempted him with a frightening degree of purpose. He’d not been strong enough to resist the pull. Which was perfectly mad.Hewas mad. Or at least he felt like he was since all he could think of was Mr. Michaels and what it might be like to taste those lips.
Ugh!
Enough.
He read the next sentence and savored the brief reprieve from his uneasy musings. Thankfully the rest of the chapter required four hours of work, after which Brody’s admiration for those who worked the print room grew. It wasn’t easy. He himself was downright exhausted. And all he’d done was sit on a stool and read. But his throat was sore and he could not wait to get home and relax in one of his plush armchairs.
First, he intended to check on Mr. Michaels though. Not because he longed to see him again or because he couldn’t seem to get the man out of his mind, but because he worried. Both over him and his sister. He wanted to make sure all was well and…
He paused on a sudden idea. It could prove disastrous. With the duel between Finn and Ramsgate now scheduled for the next morning, he had enough to worry about. But the fact was Mr. Michaels’s living conditions weren’t the best. Least of all for a sickly child in need of recuperation. So it made sense for someone in Brody’s position to offer assistance.
First, however, he’d have to convince Mr. Michaels to let him back into his room.
He knocked when he arrived roughly one hour later. And waited. The sound of rustling ensued from behind the door, along with a series of thuds. It took a while before the door was finally opened by a bleary looking Mr. Michaels. He stared at Brody with undeniable surprise before covering a yawn with his hand.
