“I am not arrogant.” This from the Earl of Raine.
“Oh, please, the word was created with you in mind.”
An excellent comeback, Daniel thought in that odd detached way you got when you were drifting off to sleep.
“Stop talking and start moving. Go behind the bloody screen!”
There was a shuffling sound and then his damp clothes were being removed. Daniel struggled to help.
“Leave it, I will do it. You are simply hindering me.” Daniel’s hands were forced down to his sides. “Devilishly hard to get those buttons through the holes when they are wet,” Raine gritted out.
He should have been humiliated, but in fact didn’t give a fig, as he had little energy and the prospect of getting out of his sodden garments was a good one.
After that, Daniel had vague impressions of what was going on, and then he was urged to his feet and lowered into the blissful heat of a bath.
“Ouch!”
“That’ll hurt like the devil, starting with his toes when they thaw out,” a woman’s voice said from somewhere. Not Abby’s. Daniel tried to locate the owner, but the effort was too great, so he simply closed his eyes and let the heat warm his body.
“Oh God, I suppose I have to wash him too.”
“N-no,” Daniel managed to get out.
“It’s not like you haven’t cared for one of your brothers occasionally. Just think of him in that manner,” the voice that was not Abby said.
“I would be extremely grateful, madam, if you would simply shut your mouth!”
A cloth was passed over his body, and Daniel felt his shivers slowly ease. Warmth seeped into him, and he sighed.
“Th-thank you.”
There was no reply.
“Right, let’s get you out and into bed. Did you find anything in his bag?”
“There is a nightshirt on the bed.”
“Excellent. Go and see about his meal, both of you, and a warming pan.”
Daniel heard muttering and then silence.
“Women,” Lord Raine muttered. “They are sent to try us, Dillinger.”
Daniel managed a grunt as he was helped out of the bath. He was then dried briskly and bundled into his nightshirt and then urged into bed.
“Thank you,” Daniel rasped. Forcing his eyes open, he looked at the earl, who stood beside the bed looking down at him with a fierce scowl on his face.
“Do you have sisters, Dillinger?”
“I believe I told you I did once before. Several of them.”
“More than one. Good Lord, how do you cope?”
“I also have several brothers, so we share that load.” He was returning to his normal self, although his head felt a bit woolly still.
Raine said something, but Daniel didn’t catch what, and then he forgot every thought as Abby entered the room. He tried to look away, after all her brother was in the room standing inches from him. It would not take much in this state for the man to maim him.
“How is he?”
“Coherent but weak.”
“I’m not weak,” Daniel protested.
“As a kitten,” Lord Raine persisted. “He will need to sleep after that food and will probably do so for some time.”
“I am not weak,” Daniel said again.
“Here is some food. That will make you feel better also.” Abby elbowed her brother out of the way. He moved, but reluctantly.
She lowered the tray over his lap. Would she go now?
“Can you feed yourself?”
“Of course he can bloody feed himself!” Lord Raine snapped, moving to his sister’s side to glare down at Daniel.
Abby said nothing, instead picking up the mug on the tray. “Can you hold this, Daniel?”
“Mr. Dillinger!” Raine snapped.
Daniel took the mug. It wobbled, but she closed her hands around his. “I-I am sorry.”
“For what?” She smiled down at him, and even though he was weak and a bit hazy in the head, he felt it to his toes.
“Putting you all to this trouble.” His senses were returning. “I have been unwell; it seems I was not up to the journey after all.”
“You were ill after Vauxhall Gardens?” She touched his hand, just a brush, and he was pitiful enough to love the contact.
“Abby,” Lord Raine growled. “I will feed Dillinger.”
“You will likely choke him,” the woman Daniel now knew was Dimity said from the end of the bed.
“Don’t you have something to do?” Lord Raine asked her.
“No.” Dimity smiled.
“You were so brave, Daniel. I never got a chance to thank you for that,” Abby said as Lord Raine began to argue with Dimity.
“You were brave also, my lady, as were many.”
She wore a simple dress with a thick gray shawl around her shoulders. Her hair was in a bun, and she looked as she always did to him. Enchanting.
“You called me Abby earlier, when you first saw me.”
“I was delirious,” Daniel said. He had no wish for Raine to hear them. “And I would never do so in front of your brother, who in my current state, would beat me senseless with ease.”
“I wouldn’t let him.” She smiled at him, a soft, sweet smile that had him gritting his teeth. Like she wanted him to be besotted with her. Was she so heartless to want him to fall at her feet declaring his love… not that he loved her, but still, she was to be married! Had she no heart?
“I must congratulate you, my lady.” Daniel forced himself to say the words. Only then would this farce be at an end, and he could put distance between himself and Lady Abigail Deville. “My brother tells me that—”
“No!” Lord Raine said loudly. He tried to wedge himself between Daniel and Abby.
“What are you doing, Gabriel?” Abby elbowed him hard in the ribs. The earl grunted and staggered back a step.
“Let me congratulate you on your—”
“Shut up, Dillinger, you are delirious.” Lord Raine peered around his sister to glare menacingly at Daniel.
“Why are you acting this way, Gabe?” Abby looked concerned. “Don’t speak to Mr. Dillinger in such a way. The man is unwell and in a weakened state.”
“I am not weak,” Daniel gritted out. “And merely wished to say congratulations, Lady Abigail.”
“For what do you wish to congratulate me?”
“On
