Page 14 of A Raven Reborn

“The pain’s not so bad now. I can manage.” He waved his coat slightly. “This is the difficult part.”

“And what about the fact that you’re too soused to remember we don’t drink while we’re working?” Ash took the coat and slid it over the sore arm first and then the good one. He was right, of course. None of their employees were allowed to drink while on duty, nor the three owners.

Patrick nodded. “Just don’t get rid of O’Connell tonight. You need him here.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I trust that he won’t be leaving the floor unattended again.” There was a slightly evil gleam in his eye.

“What did you threaten him with?” Patrick shook his head.

“Me? Threaten?” Ash tilted his head to the side, attempting a look of innocence… and failing miserably. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

With a chuckle, Patrick walked across to his desk and opened the top left drawer. There were always spare boxes of cards inside. He helped himself to one and slipped it into his breast pocket. “I imagine you will survive the next two hours without me.”

Patrick was really looking forward to returning home in the hopes that Rosie might have waited up for him again. A small smile played about his lips at the thought. It really wasn’t fair of him to hope for that. She should be in a deep slumber like the rest of the normal people in London.

Nevertheless, he was pleased to see light creeping under his bedroom door when he looked down the hall. As usual, Finch entered his study just a minute behind him. Somehow Finch never missed him coming in, even if he was two hours earlier than normal.

He immediately began pulling Patrick’s overcoat off. “Careful!” The word had come out rather more sternly than he’d meant.

“I’m sorry, my lord.”

That was the exact wrong thing to say to him after the night he’d had. Patrick tugged the coat out of Finch’s grasp. He shook the garment off, pain be damned, and left it in a heap on the floor, then threw his hat down to join it. He stalked around his desk and sat, dropping his forehead into his palm.

Finch retrieved the discarded hat and coat. “I apologize, Patrick.” He spoke the words quietly.

It wasn’t his fault, of course. He’d only been trying to help. Finch hadn’t had an easy life before becoming Patrick’s manservant, and yet he’d still always been loyal and kind. He’d accommodated the odd hours and foul moods without complaint and usually with a smile.

Patrick raised his head. The poor man looked at a complete loss.

“No, Finch. Tonight, I am the one in need of apologizing. I’m sorry. Thank you for all you do for me.”

Finch’s eyes went wide. “Have you bumped your head?”

Patrick choked on unexpected laughter. He didn’t deserve Finch. “Later, I will need your assistance removing this, if you wouldn’t mind.” He tugged at his lapel. “An unexpected situation led to having my shoulder restitched tonight.”

Finch opened his mouth and closed it again. He undoubtedly wanted to hear the whole story, but now wasn’t the time. “I can help you with it now, if you’d like?”

“No, later please.”

Just then Rosie stepped quietly through the door. Finch’s lips curved into a knowing smile. She was, of course, the reason Patrick wanted to remain respectably dressed. Although, it seemed a bit superfluous given that she was wearing her nightclothes.

“I can help you with it, when you’re ready,” she offered with a shrug.

Finch tried to pass his laugh off as a cough, but Patrick knew better, and from the flushing of her cheeks, so did Rosie.

“Out!” Patrick speared Finch with a sharp gaze and pointed at the door.

“Yes, m…” He stopped himself just in time but gave a slight bow before scurrying from the room. Quiet laughter floated in from the hall as he went.

Remembering his manners, Patrick quickly stood and gestured to a chair on the opposite side of his desk.

“What do you mean ‘restitched’?” She didn’t sit. “Are you injured?”

“It’s nothing. Sit, please.” She folded her arms across her chest but didn’t move. How had he managed to surround himself with stubborn people?

“I’ll make you a deal. If you’ll join me, I’ll tell you over a game of cards.”

Her shoulders fell slightly. “I don’t know how to play cards.”

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