Page 43 of The Love Potion
He rushed to the bedside and saw that Nate had one eye open. “Ras? What are—ow.”
Not dead then, nor insensate. That was something. No gushing wounds. Nothing large enough to indicate a stabbing. Footpads, most likely. Ones who liked a good pair of boots.
“Damn it, man,” he muttered. “Why didn’t you just give them what they wanted? No need to fight.”
“You give ’em what they want,” Nate grumbled. “I keep what’s mine.”
“You try to keep it,” Ras said as he gently ran his hands down his friend’s arms and legs. Though the man winced several times, there was no cry of pain from broken bones. “How bad are the ribs?”
“Leave me alone.”
“The hell I will. Damn it, I came here to beat some sense in you. Leave it to you to get it done beforehand.” Ras straightened up. “Stay here. I’ll send for a doctor.”
“No.”
“If it’s a matter of payment, I’ll take care—”
“No!” Nate’s breath wheezed into a whimper. When he spoke next, his words were slow and careful. “No doctor. He’ll bleed me and charge you for the pleasure. I’ve lost enough blood.” He waved absently at the window. “Close that and leave me to die.”
He knew Nate was joking, but the possibility of death was all too real. Even without broken bones, the risk of infection was severe. And here? In a cluttered room with no manservant? This was not acceptable.
“What’s the name of the butler here?”
“What?”
“Your butler’s name. What is it?”
“Hopfer. Good man if you pay him extra.”
That didn’t sound like a good man to Ras, but then he had the luxury of retainers who had served the dukedom for generations. They often took his ducal status more seriously than he did and would never extort him for more money. Of course, it helped that he paid them well.
He walked swiftly to the top of the stairs. “Hopfer! I need clean water and linens. And you will send a footman to my home. I have a message for my housekeeper.”
Mr. Hopfer peered up the stairs, his expression none too pleased. “And why—”
“I am the Duke of Harle, and I do not like being questioned.” He rarely needed to throw his title in someone’s face, but sometimes it expedited things.
He went back into Nate’s sitting room and scrawled out a message for his staff. Nate would not lie here on bloodied sheets while he recuperated. Ras had few true friends among the sycophants and leeches who always surrounded a duke. He would not lose one now, no matter what Nate had written in his blasted gossip column.
He intended to wait until his friend was healthy and then thrash Mr. Pickleherring. Verbally.
Once his letter was done, he went into Nate’s room. He quickly spotted clean clothes and the man’s last pair of shoes. He packed what was needed in a satchel. Nate had fallen back into an uneasy sleep. Ras hated to disturb him, but it was necessary. Especially as a footman arrived with a basin of water.
“Wot happened to ’im?” the footman asked.
Ras raised a brow. He was not used to servants who asked cheeky questions. It was not the footman’s business what had occurred, but again, that was a ducal privilege. Servants pried if they were allowed, and apparently Mr. Hopfer had a lax hand with his staff.
“Footpads,” he snapped. “Tell my coachman I require Tillman’s assistance.” His coachman would have to stay with the horses, but Tillman, a groom, was young and strong. Together, they could get Nate into the carriage.
“You don’t need anyone else. I can ’elp,” the footman said. And indeed, the man was larger than Tillman, but his curiosity was palpable. His gaze kept running around the room, landing on papers and whatever it was Nate had strewn about. That was the attitude of a man looking to pinch something.
“You will help by showing Tillman up here. I will let you know if I require more.”
The man sniffed as if he’d been insulted, but he did as he was bid. Meanwhile, Ras went to Nate’s side and began to wipe away the worst of the damage.
“Stop,” his friend moaned.
Ras ignored him. Normally, he’d strip Nate out of his clothing first, but that might as well wait until they got to his home. He was just mitigating the damage until he could get Nate transported.
