The Heart of a Duke(63)

“It is time to leave Lord Bryant to Petie and the doctor’s care when he arrives—”

“But they aren’t here yet.” She tugged her elbow free to continue her ministrations.

She untied Daniel’s muslin cravat and slipped it off, unbuttoning his shirt and sweeping it from his shoulders. Heat climbed her cheeks as her gaze feasted on the broad expanse of naked chest, his skin hot against her fingertips. Like a scattering of black and blue blossoms, the bruises bloomed over his taut, ridged stomach. But even bruised and bloodied, he was a beautiful specimen of a man. Drawing a ragged breath, she stepped back to let Robbie tug Daniel’s shirt from him.

“Julia,” her father cried. “You need to—”

“Do what I am doing,” she argued. At her father’s stunned expression, she gentled her tone. “I no longer have a reputation to safeguard, so if I am ruined, I might as well take advantage of the benefits of being so.” Seeing her father’s worry, she gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. “Please, he needs my help. Let me do what I can while you see if the doctor is here. It will be all right. We are among friends here.”

“Well . . . I . . .” Taunton stammered.

“Daniel never stood a chance.” Brett spoke to the room at large, shaking his head. When Julia gave him a questioning look, his eyes were bright with admiration.

“Yes, well, you remain with me. I would like to know what happened.” She turned back to the bed and eased beside Daniel.

Petie bustled in, a maid with her, both carrying pitchers of water and clean towels. The buxom housekeeper pinched her lips and surveyed the scene. “Who needs to be in here and who doesn’t?” Her sharp gaze narrowed on Emily and Julia before piercing Robbie, her father, and lastly, Brett.

“Lady Julia and Mr. Curtis will be assisting you.” Her father kept his voice level and met her look with one of his own. She huffed out a breath, knowing when she was outranked. “Emily, why don’t you and Robbie come with me so I can be updated on matters.”

“Are you sure he should stay?” Emily said, giving Brett a suspicious look. “After all, he got him into trouble in the first place.”

Surprised, Brett protested. “I did not get him into trouble. It was three thugs who did, one wielding a knife. I extricated him from it.”

“Mmh,” Emily said, turning on her heel to leave with Robbie and her father.

“The blond beauty bites,” Brett murmured.

“That be Lady Emily Chandler to you, sir,” Petie said, giving Brett another of her looks.

“Lady Emily Chandler,” Brett mused. “Daniel neglected to mention her.”

Julia ignored Brett as Petie handed her a cloth soaked in hot water. Gingerly, she lifted the towel from Daniel’s waist and lay the cloth onto the bloodied wound, grateful that the bleeding appeared to have eased. Daniel’s body arched, and he twisted away from her. “Shh, it’s all right. You are all right,” she soothed gently, laying her palm flat against his chest, the feel of his strong heartbeat settling her nerves.

Brett leaned over the bed and grabbed Daniel’s shoulders, easing him back into the pillows.

Julia delicately washed his bloodstained skin, her heart in her throat as a groan escaped Daniel. She drew her first steady breath as she assessed for herself that while the cut was long and mean, it was not deep. More importantly, it looked pink and clean. “He will be all right,” she said. Mortified, her voice hitched, and she had to blink back tears. “He had so many layers on, it protected him.”

“Yes, and he has a thick skin,” Brett said.

Julia’s eyes lifted to his, and seeing his shrewd blue gaze regarding her as if he could read her thoughts, she looked away. For he could not. She didn’t know them herself. Was not ready to study them. “Yes, well, let us be grateful for that.”

“And also for the good doctor’s arrival,” Petie proclaimed loudly.

At her words, Julia swept to her feet and turned to see Doctor Malley bustle in.

“What have we here? So late at night.” He frowned, pushing his spectacles up his nose, his bushy eyebrows furrowed beneath his shock of ginger-colored hair. “Looks like I am redundant. Fine job, Lady Julia. Why don’t I take a closer look, while you see to that gash on his face.”

“Yes, of course.” Julia took Brett’s place, accepting the clean towel from Petie, and ignoring her censorious look. The woman was worse than her mother. Julia was too old to care. Another benefit she fully enjoyed at the housekeeper’s prudish expense. Julia cursed her unsteady hand as she pressed the cloth to Daniel’s cheek.