Page 96 of Snapdragons
“We need to get plasters on his cuts and bruises,” Marston said, taking up position at the side of the bed. “The sooner we do it, the better they’ll heal.”
“I can help with the plasters or anything else that is needed,” Penelope offered.
But Marston shook his head. “Some of the wounds that needtending are not accessible if he’s to stay decently clothed.”
She wouldn’t insist that his dignity and privacy be violated, no matter how desperately she wanted to stay there with him.
“Do you both vow to take exceptionally good care of him? He means the world to me.”
“Of course, Miss Seymour,” Marston replied.
“We will,” was Wilson’s promise.
Penelope lightly kissed Niles’s less-injured cheek. “Rest, my dear.”
“You’ll come look in on me again?”
“I’d like to see anyone try to stop me. I was taught how to deliver a powerful punch, after all.”
Confident that her darling Niles was well looked after, Penelope slipped from the room.
She softly closed the door, then took in a quick breath. Her heart was racing with a promising possibility that had quite suddenly occurred to her. If this unexpected idea proved a good one, it could change everything.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Niles felt as if he’dbeen run over by a mail coach. He’d sneaked a glimpse of himself in a mirror and knew he looked like it as well. But he’d come away from a bout with the Bath Butcher with no broken bones, able to stand and walk, and with his wits intact. That was reason to be proud of himself.
That hard-earned pride, though, didn’t entirely erase his disappointment. He’d known victory was unlikely, yet he’d harbored some hopes of securing the winner’s purse. He could have been that much closer to beginning his life with Penelope.
There would be other fights he could take up, but he wasn’t sure he dared. It wasn’t merely that he was older now than the majority of his opponents would be, neither was he afraid of taking another beating. He’d drawn more attention during this match than he had in the past. Were his identity to be discovered, it would put an end to a great many things: his political aspirations, his acceptance in Society, his future family’s standing. He wouldn’t do that to Penelope.
This had been his chance at a windfall, and he’d come up short.
A quick knock sounded at the door in the rhythm Stanley and Lucas had always used. The Gents had come to look in on him, no doubt.
Wilson had remained in the room while Niles’s own valet saw to duties that took him to other areas of the house. The young man opened the door but not far enough for anyone to enter.
“Is he decent enough for us to intrude?” Lucas’s voice asked from the other side.
“It doesn’t matter if he is or isn’t,” Wilson declared. “No onewill be intruding on my watch.” The young man was fearsome, that much was certain.
“Are you attempting to improve my manners, Wilson?” Lucas asked with a laugh.
“I’m attempting to look after your Puppy,” Wilson answered. “If you receive a lesson in manners as a result, so be it.”
A rumble of laughter echoed in. Lucas had not, it seemed, arrived alone.
“They can come in, Wilson,” Niles said. “They’ll do so regardless.”
Wilson looked back at him. “If they cause a ruckus, I’ll toss them out. I’ve been using your boxing building, and I’m not terrible at fisticuffs.”
“We consider ourselves warned,” Lucas said as he stepped inside.
As Niles had predicted, the rest of the Gents were with Lucas. But Niles had not guessed that Penelope would step inside as well. He wasn’t disappointed, only surprised.
“Lud, Puppy,” Lucas said, eyeing him up and down. “You look like something purgatory itself tossed out.”
“Quite.” Digby summoned one of his expressions of theatrical dandification. “The purple arising around your eye does nothing for your complexion.”
