Rogues, Rakes & Jewels

“Yes, we found him by the side of the road. He had been shot … we brought him here …”

He was out of the room like a charging bull, taking long, hard strides. Myriah shot out of bed and dug in her portmanteau for the sky-blue velvet robe she had packed. She quickly slid into it and tied it at her small waist before barefoot she padded after him.

*

Lord Wimborne stood for a moment over his brother’s still form. William looked absurdly youthful, dangerously pale, and helpless. His lordship decided not to wake him but instead brushed a stray lock of hair from his brother’s forehead. Billy’s eyes flashed open.

“Kit!” whispered young Wimborne as though he were viewing a god.

“Young fool—they tell me you caught a bullet,” Lord Wimborne said gravely.

“Devil is in it that I did—but there was nothing for it, Kit … had to go out … for I got word …”

“Never mind that now. We’ll talk about it later. I would like to know something about the chit in my bed … if you feel up to talking.”

“Ah, you’ve seen the she-devil, have you?”

Lord Wimborne laughed. “I have.”

*

“She-devil?” Myriah almost snorted as she came to stand beside Billy’s bed and touch his forehead. “Now that is a fine introduction to your brother.”

“She makes me eat gruel,” Billy Wimborne explained to his older brother.

“For your own good.” Myriah smiled sweetly. “And besides, I put a touch of honey in it, didn’t I?”

“Still not palatable, and I tell you what, I want eggs and ham tomorrow morning.”

“Eggs and ham.” Myriah shook her head and touched his arm. “Well, we shall see … I will leave you to your brother.”

Billy reached out and grabbed her hand. “No need for you to leave.”

“And still, I think, you need some moments with your brother.” She turned to his lordship and eyed him darkly as though silently berating him for their earlier encounter. “Do not tire him.”

*

His lordship watched the young woman’s retreating form. She was an exquisite beauty, and her fiery hair against the blue velvet caught and riveted the imagination.

“Now tell me … who the devil is she?”

Billy suddenly realized he had not yet asked Myriah her name. He had been teasing her all day, and they had bantered back and forth, but all he knew was that her groom, Tabby, called her Miss Myriah. He told his brother this with a heavy sigh, beginning to feel fatigued once more.

“And that is it? You didn’t ask her where she was from, or what she was doing on the Pike Road at that hour, or what her family name is and how she can stay on here without sending word to someone?”

“No … very ill mannered of me, I know … but … wasn’t feeling quite the thing …”

Kit realized at once that he had over-taxed his young brother. He touched Billy’s arm, saying, “There … go to sleep. We will get this all sorted out in the morning.”

“Aye, but Kit … Fletcher gave her your room.” Billy grinned mischievously.

“I have already discovered that fact!”

Dawning lit in Billy’s gray eyes so much like his brother’s. “Oh! So that is it!” He laughed, coughed, and laughed some more.

“Good night, scamp,” Kit threw over his shoulder as he made his way to his bedroom.

He encountered the lady in question in the long hallway. She had her bag and had made her way down the hall to open a door and sniff. She turned to him and said stiffly, “It smells dusty, but I’ll deal with that in the morning.” A nod of her head and she was in the room, closing the door, which he then heard bolted.