Tilly hurried to Ambrose. “Are you all right? You’re bleeding.” She pulled out her handkerchief and pressed it to his jaw.
“I told you to stay with Ruby.” He glared at her. “When are you going to actually listen when I tell you to do something?” Anger snapped and sizzled in his eyes.
“Who is Ruby?” Lord Seddon asked.
“She is there, leaning against the wall with her dog, Barnaby.” Tilly thought it an excellent idea to leave at that moment, as the large lord continued to glower at her. “Good day, and thank you, my lords, Mr. Sinclair.” She bobbed a curtsy. “I will go to her now.”
A hand wrapped around her wrist. “You’re not going anywhere, and Ruby is merely a few feet away.”
“Someone explain what is going on and why I suddenly feel like I need to find something with the Seal Of Solomon on it?” Leo demanded.
Tilly felt her stomach clench as Ambrose turned to glare at her. “Did you take that book from down there?”
“Ah—well, as to that?—”
“You went back down there alone?” he bellowed. “You are without doubt the most reckless, irresponsible?—”
“No, of course not,” she lied. In fact, Tilly had gone down there and taken another look at the book, as she knew it likely held the clue as to what was going on in that room. However, she was not admitting to it.
“You’re lying.” He jabbed a finger at her. “Your eyes are squinty.”
“They are not.” She blinked twice.
“If we could focus, please. I want to know why you are here,” Leo said. “And further to that, who is Ruby?”
“She’s not well,” Lord Sinclair said suddenly, moving away from them to where Ruby leaned against the wall, eyes closed now, clearly in pain.
Tilly followed, as did the others.
“Ruby, these are good men. Please don’t be afraid.” She put her hand on the woman’s arm. So much pain, she thought, looking into her eyes.
“Well now, aren’t you a grand fellow,” Mr. Sinclair said, patting Barnaby. He then dug into his other pocket and pulled out another pie. He broke it in half and placed it on the ground before the dog.
“She has no bleeding inside, but she still needs rest and care,” Lord Sinclair said, turning to look at Tilly. His eyes were so bright, it was hard to look directly into them now.
“I will see she gets it,” Tilly assured him. “She is coming back with me to The Iris Club.” She didn’t look at Ambrose after this declaration. No doubt he would disapprove and call her actions rash, but that club was hers, and she could do whatever she wanted there.
“Where is your carriage, Ambrose?” Leo asked.
“I told my driver to head to Trotter Street, as it is wider with more traffic and therefore safer,” he said, glaring at Tilly again.
“I will get a hackney cab for Ruby, Barnaby, and myself,” Tilly said quickly. “If you will?—”
“Shut up,” Ambrose snapped. “Come, Ruby. It is not far.”
Tilly didn’t argue, as the other men were listening, and he had every right to be angry with her. Her actions could have gotten him hurt worse than he was, and she felt guilt over that. She knew that she and Ruby owed him a great deal for what he’d done today.
Yes, she likely shouldn’t have come here alone, but she had, and thankfully they were going to leave with Ruby, and not too much damage done. Her eyes shot to Ambrose. His face looked sore. Her guilt increased.
Tilly didn’t answer to many people in her life. Even her parents let her come and go as she pleased, sure in the knowledge that her actions would be rational and not dangerous—which they perhaps had been today, she conceded.
“If you are finished with us, we shall return home to our sister, who is a healer, and send her to The Iris Club, Miss Wilson,” Lord Sinclair said.
“Well done on the club, by the way, Miss Wilson. Capital idea that the women in our family are enjoying very much,” Mr. Sinclair said. “Good day, and take care.”
“Thank you very much for your help and your kind words,” Tilly said. “If you both wish to leave also, I can deal with this,” she added, looking from Leo to Ambrose.
“You cannot be serious?” Ambrose growled.
