Page 51 of Never Tempt a Scot
“Of course, sir. Let me show you to your room.”
Brodie followed the valet upstairs. “Has Lennox sent for a doctor yet?”
“Yes, sir. Apparently there’s one not too far from here.”
“Good.” Brodie began to strip out of his clothes, while Alan unpacked a fresh set of stockings, trousers, shirt, and waistcoat for him.
Once undressed, he asked Alan which room Lydia had been taken to.
“She’s next door on the right. There were plenty of rooms, so Mr. Lennox chose separate rooms for you, him, and Miss Hunt. Fanny will stay with her.”
Brodie didn’t like the idea of staying a full day and night, in case those highwaymen had friends, but Lydia was in no condition to travel today. Besides, he would need a doctor to assess her injuries.
He stepped into the hall and knocked on Lydia’s door. Rafe opened it and sighed. “There you are, I’ve been wondering if you ran off.”
He stepped back to allow Brodie to enter.
“How is she?” he asked in a quiet tone.
Rafe nodded toward Lydia, who lay curled up on one of the two beds in the room, covered in blankets. “Better now.” Fanny was watching her eat a bowl of stew.
Rafe and Brodie moved to the opposite corner of the room, so as not to be overheard by the women. “What happened to her?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” Brodie admitted. “I found their camp just before dawn, but I canna tell what they did to her before I arrived.”
“And the men?”
“Dead. There were three men. Two were sleeping, but Lydia and one man were in the woods. I shot one. Your pistol is in my room. And I used a blade on the other two.” He wondered if Rafe would judge him for killing the men.
“I’m glad you killed them,” Rafe said. “If I’d been there, I certainly would have.” He glanced toward the bed. “We’ll likely know more when the doctor arrives. She’s been asking for you, by the way,” Rafe added.
Brodie stole another glance toward Lydia. “She has?”
“Yes, I don’t think she wanted you out of her sight.” Rafe’s easy smile was softer than usual. The rakehell normally didn’t show his gentle side, but it was quite visible now.
“I thought she wouldna want to see me again after I killed those men in front of her.”
“I don’t think she’s worried about that, old boy. She’s worried about you. She said you were hurt.”
“Only a scratch. I barely even bled. But she caught a knife to her arm, and she didn’t scream or cry. The lass is both bonnie and brave.”
Lydia had finished the bowl of soup and was now speaking quietly to Fanny. She still looked pale, but her expressions were animated.
“Why don’t you go over to her, Kincade? I’ll watch for the doctor’s arrival downstairs.” Rafe patted Brodie’s shoulder as he left.
Brodie drew in a deep breath and walked over to the bed. Fanny turned at his approach. “You may sit if you wish to stay, or you may tend to anything you need to,” he told her.
“Thank you, sir.” Fanny looked to Lydia. “Do you need anything, miss?”
“Not for now. Thank you, Fanny.”
The maid excused herself and left them alone.
Brodie sat down beside her on the bed. “Rafe has sent for a doctor.”
Lydia reached across the blankets, her fingers brushing against his. He turned his palm over, inviting her to touch him. It felt good to have her caress him, even in the smallest ways.
“Lydia, I hope ...” He choked down his fear and continued. “I hope you can forgive me for killing those men. I shouldna have done that.”
