laugh. âMy sweet cousin there has dealt with more corpses than youâve ever seen, and no, she isnât a mortician.â
Hamish shot her a look and brought out a needle and silk thread from his bag. âJust a few stitches, sir. Iâll be quick as I can.â
âYouâre finished,â Lord Richard announced decisively. His blue eyes regained their icy focus for a moment. âApply pressure until the bleeding stops.â
âThat wonât do, sir. Now lie still. I can give you some laudanum orââ
âMrs. Woodwake, discourage this fellow from proceeding.â
Alex did not expect Woodwake to stand and draw a gun from her coat pocket, but thatâs what happened. She had a revolver and a determined expression.
âGood God,â said Hamish. âNo fainting and quite mad. I like your relatives, James.â
âJust one of them is a relation. Iâve no idea who the other two are. Alex does consort with some shady customers.â
Alex was horrified. âLord Richard, stop this! Weâre trying to help you!â
James snorted. âThereâs gratitude for you. Madam, Iâll ask you to put away your pistol. I donât want holes in Hamish. He is my guest, after all. Hamish, put away your darning needle. Youâre outclassed for this bout.â
Young Dr. Hamish was reluctant to give up, and addressed Richard in a reasonable tone. âSir, a wounded man is like a child. You may not like the nasty medicine, but it is for your own good.â
âTaught you that at Nemley?â Richard asked.
âActually, my motherâs responsibleââ
Alex put her hand on Hamishâs shoulder. âDoctor, if the patient is so reluctant then let him have his way. If he should pass out, you may reassess the situation.â
âYou put forth a charming argument. Very well.â
Woodwake, at a nod from Richard, shoved her revolver into her coat pocket. Alex began breathing again.
Dr. Hamish checked Lord Richardâs wound. âNot wise, sir. Not wise. Youâre still bleeding too much.â He gathered sheeting strips and made a pad, pressing it to the damage. âYou should have something for the pain.â
Richard closed his eyes. âIâve work to do. Miss Pendlebury, are the horses and coach in a condition to return us to our starting point?â
âSir, you are in no condition toââ
âYes or no?â
She couldnât believe his folly, but answered in the affirmative. âIt is bound to be too dangerous, sir.â
âI expect those who fired on us are gone by now, and my place is there sorting out the mess. We may require medical help if others were shot. Dr. Hamish, are you sober enough to come along?â
Hamishâs face went red.
âYes or no?â
âWho the devil are you, sir, to ask such things?â
James chuckled. âHamish keeps a bull pup and bad manners brings it out. Youâre both well matched. Alex didnât introduce us, but I like you two. Refreshingly direct. Mrs. Woodwake? Iâm James Fonteyn, how do you do? Welcome to my home, at least until Iâm thrown out of it. When the landlord sees the parlor floor heâll bounce me quick enough. Alex, youâll have to do the honors for the big fellow.â
Alex felt her face going as red as Hamishâs. Coming here no longer seemed such a good idea. Even the more stable Fonteynsâand James was in that numberâwere subject to raving lunacy when the mood was on them. She resorted to chill formality for her employerâs sake, well aware that it would only amuse her cousin. âLord Richard Desmond, may I present my cousin on my motherâs side, James Fonteyn, and his friend, Dr. Hamish.â
âHow do, your lordship?â James was unfazed, but then he never opened a newspaper unless it was a sporting journal.
Hamishâs eyes went wide. He clearly recognized the name.