I took his bare feet and eased him to the floor.
Then we rolled him in the carpet, kneading and threading him into the tapestry like bread with a yummy center.
I put my ear to the rug.
Daniel’s breaths were muffled, but I heard them.
“Stay here, Jemina. Your face will detect too much attention. I hope the earl knows how much you love him.” Patience charged out the door.
I couldn’t think about that now, not until Daniel was safe and with his treasured reputation intact.
* * *
It took ten minutes, but Patience returned to the parlor with five fellow members of the Widow’s Grace, including Mrs. Cultony. Each lady was elegant in their gowns, their pristine chignons and pearl pins, and those shiny silver bands Lady Shrewsbury gave us.
“I have his carriage pulled to the rear,” Patience said. “We just need to take this carpet out back.”
The ladies spread and took a position about the Cleopatra roll.
In a blink, we had Daniel in the air. Covered by the music of violins, we strained and hauled our barrister out of Lady Shrewsbury’s house.
Mr. Anthon jumped down and brushed past the women who’d set down the carpet. “What did they do to him?”
I clasped the young man’s arm. “He’s fine. They played a mean trick to compromise him. We just have to—”
He began pulling at the layers. “Why is he in a carpet?”
“He’s fine.” I turned to the Widow’s Grace. “Ladies, go on back in. Thank you.”
Everyone but Patience returned to the ball.
Mr. Anthon stepped closer. “Mrs. St. Maur, what did they do to him, ma’am?”
His voice shook, then I remembered how close this young man was to Daniel. I had to reassure him. “He’s fine, sir, but they stripped him half naked and poured brandy down his throat We got him out of there. No one saw him. He’ll be safe once we get him in the carriage.”
Daniel’s man-of-all-work trembled, his face twisting with rage.
“What is it, sir?” I called after the fellow as he advanced on the house. Fists balling, the young man looked as if he wanted to set everything ablaze.
I ran and caught his arm. “Mr. Anthon, we have to go.”
“They have to pay, ma’am.”
“It was a trick. We’ll plot—”
“No. Mrs. St. Maur, they didn’t just set a trick. They wanted him ruined. They strove to take away all he’s worked for. They don’t want him to matter.”
The heat in his voice, the strain in the muscles of his neck, hurt my heart. “Mr. Anthon, calm down. We have to get Lord Ashbrook away.”
He shook his fist at the house. “Ma’am, you don’t get it. They wanted everyone to believe this good man was a criminal attacking women. Compromise is what they call bad behavior by one of them, the accepted sons of theton, not a Blackamoor earl.”
My anger at Lavinia was already hot, but I needed to burn. I had only thought this a trick to force him to marry Lavinia. I forgot about those who held Ashbrook in suspicion, the whisperers who cast aspersions on thedark earl, those who wanted to believe the worst about him because of his skin.
My mouth dropped open. “Patience, Lavinia called it an assault.An assault.”
“I saw the wetness on her cheek.” My dearest friend groaned and covered her mouth for a moment. “Let’s get the carpet in the carriage. We need to get him out of here.”
This was the part of Daniel’s walk he didn’t think I’d understand.
