Until this moment, I didn’t.
Mr. Anthon pushed forward. “No. They have to pay. They have to.”
Patience stepped in front of him. “Ashbrook can fight this tomorrow, if we get him away from here. Keep your head. You know what our barrister would want you to do.”
Wiping at his face, the young man nodded and returned to the carpet. He hoisted it in the air, and I guided the carpet into the carriage.
“Thank you, Mr. Anthon.” I touched his hand, my shaking one to his gloved one. “Please, take us to Finchely.”
With glassy eyes, he agreed and closed the door.
Patience whipped it open and stuck her head inside. “Are you sure you are going to be all right?”
I wasn’t, but I nodded my head anyway. “I have my carpet. I’ll see him home and make sure he’s safe.”
“You stay safe, Jemina. You’re red and flustered.”
“Go inside. Keep your mother-in-law from gossiping.”
She murmured our mantra of the Widow’s Grace, our prayer, then added, “May the duke’s Jove be with you, Jemina.”
Mr. Anthon again shut the door. Soon, the carriage was off with a lurch.
Putting my arms about the end with Daniel’s head, I steadied him on the carriage floor.
Yet, I wanted to go back with Mr. Anthon and set everything on fire.
CHAPTER 36
DANIEL—THEHORRIBLE, NOGOODHANGOVER
Loud voices.
Daniel heard them, then nothing. His face hurt. A terrible headache rattled between his temples.
His whole body felt as if he’d been bested in the ring by Gentleman Jackson at his Bond Street boxing rooms or that Bill Richmond had decided to take his vingt-et-un losses out on Daniel’s skull.
He tried to reach his jaw and couldn’t. Something heavy was on him. Heavy and dusty.
Good Lord. Attacked and now stolen? Everything was moving?
Or was that just his stomach?
Daniel punched and twisted to break free and found he couldn’t much move. He lay in a cocoon. His inner fears of ransoms, of being impressed and sold to a ship or worse raged. He pushed away and summoned his dry court voice. “Release me!”
“Daniel?”
Jemina? Sweet Jemina. “J, are you here too? Did they hurt you?”
“I’m well, and I’m here, Daniel. Sit tight. I’m getting you to Finchely.”
“What? How do I get to you?”
“Daniel, I have you. I’ll take care of you.”
He needed to see for himself. He had to free his arms and fought and coughed. “Let me out.”
“Daniel, we rolled you up in this carpet.”
