“Stay seated.” Ethan sat in front of him.
A steaming cup of tea and a plate of almond biscuits lay on the polished table.
David closed his trembling hands around the cup. “Did he leave?”
“Yes.”
“Was he angry?”
“Yes.”
David’s breathing sped up. His cheeks paled. “I must leave. The longer I stay here, the angrier he’ll be.”
Ethan touched David’s arm. “Wait. Where’s your mother?”
David stared at his cup for a long minute before answering. “She should be at the Royal Veterans’ Society.”
“Let me send for her. We’ll wait for her here together. Don’t leave until she’s here.”
Ethan made short work of sending an urgent message to Cora via his footman. He could go to the centre with David, but it wasn’t a place for a child who already suffered from an overload of worries.
“Your mother will be here soon.” Ethan poured himself a cup of tea. He needed it.
David ignored the tea and the biscuits. His knuckles showed a few scratches, likely from when he’d climbed the wall to Ethan’s garden. Drops of blood trickled down his fingers.
“You’re hurt,” Ethan said.
“It’s nothing.”
“Let me take care of those cuts.” Ethan took a clean cloth and a bottle of carbolic acid.
David didn’t protest when Ethan dabbed the cuts. He didn’t make a noise even though the disinfectant had to sting.
“I worked with the surgeons in the army,” Ethan said. “I don’t have a degree in medicine, but I learnt on the field.”
David raised his gaze. “Did you see many wounded, sir?”
“Many. Pirates don’t have mercy. The army surgeon couldn’t keep up with the wounded, who never stopped arriving. That’s how I started helping him.”
“I wouldn’t be able to do it.” David winced but didn’t complain.
Ethan wrapped a light bandage around David’s hand. “Sometimes the circumstances decide for us. You’re brave. I don’t doubt you would find the courage to face blood if needed. Not that I ever wish you that.” He tied the bandage.
Despite the encouragement, David didn’t brighten. Ethan had exhausted his ideas about how to cheer up the boy and acknowledged his failure. He didn’t have many opportunities to talk with a child. They sat in silence, sipping their tea. He smiled, but David didn’t smile back. Great.
“David.” Cora strode inside the sitting room before the maid could announce her, her capelet fluttering behind her. “What happened?”
Ethan stood up as David rushed to hug his mother. Mrs. Parker followed.
“What’s this?” Cora held David’s bandaged hand. “Are you hurt?”
“Only a scratch,” David said. “Lord Stark disinfected it.”
“I apologise for not having greeted you properly, my lord.” Cora curtsied, her voice trembling.
Ethan bowed. “It doesn’t matter.”
“My lady.” Mrs. Parker seemed at a loss.
