“Taking advantage of someone else’s physical condition is against the rules, my lord,” Finn said.
Ethan stepped between them. “What do you expect from a coward? From someone who asked his dear papa to be relieved from his military duty out of fear.”
Silence dropped. Only Fraser’s laboured breathing could be heard. A few gentlemen muttered their disagreements. Finn shook his head in disapproval at Ethan. In retrospect, Ethan should have stayed quiet.
“You have no proof of that, Stark,” someone said.
“It’s your word against Roxbury’s,” another shouted.
“You soldiers have become too arrogant.” That was Lord Ashby, another peer who had never seen a military academy. “Just do your duty and shut up.”
“You’re a bloody idiot, Ashby,” Ethan shouted. Not his best comeback. But anger and pain were never a good combination for clever responses.
Finn shook his head again and mouthed, “Calm down.”
“How dare you.” Ashby turned red in the face. “Don’t you know who my father is?”
“Do you?” Ethan shot back.
“Oh, boy.” Finn hid his face behind his hand.
“Hit him, Roxbury!” Ashby raised a fist, because of course he wouldn’t jump into the ring and fight Ethan himself.
Loud voices and yells echoed in the training room.
“I’ll take advantage of whatever Iseefit. Pun intended, Fraser,” Roxbury said over the din. “Tell me, Stark, do you believe yourself clever for having gone to war and returned without an ear? I’d say you are the bloody idiot.”
Anger burst into Ethan’s brain. He moved before he could think and tried to smash his fist against Roxbury’s jaw. But he was faster. He sidestepped Ethan and hit his bad shoulder with surgical precision. Instant, cosmic pain; it was so excruciating that Ethan couldn’t even shout. All the air was punched out of his lungs as he dropped to his knees.
Roxbury seized his hair and yanked his head up. “Stay away from my wife, Stark, or the pain you feel now will be only a taste of what I’m going to do to you.”
That was the last thing Ethan heard before Roxbury smashed another fist into his throbbing shoulder, and the pain caused him to pass out.
nine
YEARS SPENT AMONG soldiers and battles had scarred Ethan’s mind, damaged his shoulder, and taken one of his ears, but they had also honed his senses. He paused in the middle of the gravel path in his garden and tilted his head to direct his good ear towards a subtle noise. What was it? A body dropping to the ground? Feet shuffling?
The loud thud coming from a corner of his garden hinted that something heavier than a cat had landed on his property. If it was a thief, it had to be the worst criminal in history since Ethan’s bad ear could detect the noises. Anyone could attempt to trespass into his house in search of loot. Today was the wrong day to challenge him. After his abysmal performance in the ring and the shame of fainting in front of his friends, he didn’t feel inclined to forgive. Finn and Fraser had told him his fainting was justifiable. He disagreed. Whole-heartedly.
His ego still bruised by Roxbury, he marched towards the other side of the garden, fists clenched, ready to drag the thief out of his hiding place. The bushes swayed as something large moved behind them.
He raised his fist and lunged. “What are you doing here?” he roared.
A boy cried out and scurried towards the wall on his feet and hands. His terrified amber eyes looked larger in his small face framed by auburn curls.
“I’m not a thief, sir.” The boy held up his hands.
Ethan had seen David for a handful of hours years ago, but the shivering boy had to be him. Besides, the resemblance to Cora was extraordinary.
The boy remained petrified. His fine jacket was torn in a few spots, and his shiny leather boots had scratches. Definitely, he wasn’t a street urchin.
Ethan crouched and cleared his throat. “I mistook you for a thief. I won’t hurt you. Are you David Wiley?”
The boy hugged his knees. A scatter of freckles lay across his nose, just like Cora’s. “I am he, sir. Do you remember me?”
“I do, and you look exactly like your mother.”
David’s face brightened, but he didn’t stop shivering. “I remember you as well. Very well.”
