“Miss Damaris stabbed me,” Claxton announced.
“It was not intentional,” Miss Damaris cried.
“She scalded me last night and thought to take my hand off today,” Claxton grumbled as tears filled Miss Damaris’ eyes.
“It was an accident. Both incidents,” Miss Chloe chastised.
“And the soup was not all that hot,” Percy added. “Not enough to burn.”
“It ruined a perfectly good pair of trousers,” Claxton complained.
While Deborah could understand him being bothered by the inconveniences, both had been accidents.
“I am truly very sorry, Lord Nevil,” Miss Damaris cried right before she ran from the room.
“How many lives did she claim in your former town?” Lord Nevil asked.
“None!” Miss Chloe pulled the bandage tight enough to make him wince. “It was an accident.” She then marched after her sister.
While she did not know Claxton all that well, and her encounters with him had been during the Season and rare, Deborah hadn’t thought him so difficult.
“You are being an arse,” Percy said.
At least she wasn’t the only one who had that opinion.
“I will apologize later, but that woman is a danger to herself and everyone near her.”
Tilson pressed a glass of brandy into Claxton’s uninjured hand then offered one to Percy.
“What happened to you?” Except Claxton’s question wasn’t directed at Percy, but more accusingly at Deborah.
“My foot slipped while I was climbing an apple tree and I slammed my knee against a branch.”
“I have asked the housekeeper to send for a physician to see to your hand,” Lord Jude announced as he entered the parlor, carrying fists of rosemary that he tossed on a table. “I still believe you need to have it stitched.”
He winced, but Deborah also wondered if he wasn’t correct since fresh blood already stained the recently tied bandage.
“He will also need to examine Lord Shrewsbury’s knee,” Deborah announced, then explained what had happened.
“I do not need a physician,” Percy complained.
“Prove it by standing and walking across the room,” Deborah challenged, which earned her a glare before he sipped his brandy.
Percy hated that Deborah was correct.
Well, not in her stating the facts, but angry that he might be stuck on this settee for the remainder of the holiday because of an injury to his knee.
He needed to be able to move around and court her because he was certain that she would not remain at his side, engaging him in conversation as he had done when she had fractured her ankle. No doubt Tilson would take advantage of the situation to have her to himself, not that Tilson had any idea of Percy’s intentions.
Though, he could tell his friend and maybe he would step aside and not use the opportunity to further a potential courtship.
He truly hoped that there was nothing more than a bruise from which he would quickly recover. Just because there was discomfort now did not mean it would continue to cause him difficulties in the following days.
Soon after the others arrived with their evergreens and ivy, a tea service was rolled into the parlor. While they may have noted his straightened leg, they were more concerned with Claxton’s hand and when the Simpson sisters, who had not been present earlier learned, they left to check on Miss Damaris.
And, while Deborah could have taken the opportunity to remove herself, she remained by Percy’s side and even moved closer so that another could join them on the settee.
“The yule log has arrived,” Wingate announced as he hauled it toward the fireplace with the assistance of Peter.
