Page 54 of Stealing the Rake's Heart
“You had the last laugh, though,” she said at last. “You’re here, and so is your swing, and he’s gone.”
Alexander managed a weak smile.
“Yes. I suppose so.”
Their eyes met and held. He felt the familiar warmth prickling over his skin, and Abigail did not look away. He opened his mouth to speak – heaven only knew what he was going to say – but was interrupted by the sound of distant footsteps.
Abigail flinched, eyes widening, and she clutched her book to her chest.
“We can’t be here together,” she hissed, glancing up at him.
“I’ll go,” Alexander said at once. “You stay here until the coast is clear.”
Without waiting for a response, he hurried out of the clearing.
William was outside, striding purposefully along the tree line.
He looked angry. But then, he generally did.
“There you are!” William hissed, hurrying towards him. “Your cursed friend is making a show of himself again. Thankfully, most of the guests are out in the strawberry fields. Get him under controlnow, before they come home!”
Alexander swallowed hard, a sensation of dread trickling through him.
“What… what is he doing?”
“Oh, just come and see. Quickly!”
***
Alexander and William stood side by side, hands on hips, staring down at the crumpled heap that was Lord Hamish Grey.
“I am sorry, Will,” Alexander muttered. “I… I didn’t know he’d be like this.”
According to the footman, Hamish had gone racing through the halls, singing at the top of his voice, and stopped to vomit inside a very expensive vase. The footmen had attempted to stop him, and he had shoved one of them over, and then run into the library, proceeding to pull a small pile of books off the shelves, and then vomited repeatedly overthem.
Also on the rug, which was very expensive and likely would not be saved.
Alexander had guilty memories of himself staring down at the fine rug in his mother’s morning room, wondering if he would vomit on it.
Now, Hamish was lying on the floor, face down. It looked as though he’d tried to get to the couch but hadn’t quite made it.
“Can the books be saved?” Alexander whispered.
“No,” William replied, voice clipped.
“Oh.”
“Do something about him, won’t you? I’ve summoned a few trustworthy footmen.”
Alexander swallowed hard, nodding. “I… I’ll have him stay in his room for the rest of tonight and have him conveyed home in the morning.”
“I think that’s for the best, don’t you?”
Not waiting for a reply, William turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Alexander to manage his drunken friend alone.
He moved over to Hamish’s side, propping him up into a sitting position.
“I was looking for a book of poetry, I think,” Hamish mumbled, only half conscious. “For your Miss Atwater. For you to give to her, that is.”
