Free The Greatest Lover in All England by Christina Dodd Page A

yelled again.
    â€œI’m here, Master. What’s yer pleasure?”
    Tony never even glanced up as he disengaged the fingers of her good arm from their grip on his ruff. “One of the actors broke his arm, and I need you to hold him down while I set it.”
    A silence followed, a silence so long Tony turned to the doorway where Hal stood. “Come on, man, he’s suffering.”
    â€œAn actor?” Rosencrantz had pulled the blankets over her face, but Hal stared at the bed and snarled, “Don’t dirty yer hands wi’ him. I’ll put him in th’ kitchen an’ th’ other servants’ll take care o’ it there.”
    Tony dismissed the suggestion as if he’d not thought it himself a few moments ago. “I’ll do it here.”
    â€œI’ll get th’ barber-surgeon t’ do it.” If Tony didn’t know better, he would have said Hal was frightened.
    Arranging a pillow to support her arm, Tony answered, “I’ll do it myself.”
    â€œI’ll get th’ barber-surgeon t’ help ye, then.” Hal extended his hands, splints and bandages spilling from them. “I’m only a clumsy ol’ ostler, an’ I’ll—”
    â€œThen you’ve seen plenty of broken bones, and I want you .” Amazement made Tony sharper than he should have been, but he’d never seen Hal dither. Strict, surly, yet devoted, Hal did what he was told when he was told, never avoiding work and never questioning orders. His tenure predated Tony’s arrival at Odyssey Manor, but fanatical devotion to the estate and to Tony had earned Hal the highest position any common man ever obtained on the estate. Tony knew he could depend on Hal for anything, even to keep a secret. And Hal could very easily discover Rosencrantz’s secret when they set the bone.
    â€œIs it that actor they call Rosencrantz?” Hal’s usual gravelly voice sounded almost breathless.
    â€œFor God’s sake, Hal!” The crying from the bed had become whimpers, and those whimpers wrung the last drop of patience from Tony. “Bring those splints over here and let’s begin.”
    Shuffling forward, Hal laid the supplies on the table beside the bed and muttered, “’Tis God’s vengeance on me fer me sins.”
    â€œI’ll give you vengeance to fear if you don’t—” Tony took a breath. “I’ll care for the broken limb, and you restrain the rest.”
    Hal stood and looked at Rosencrantz helplessly, as if he didn’t know how to start.
    â€œGet on the bed and sit on him,” Tony instructed.
    With first one knee on the mattress, then the other, Hal inched onto the bed. None of Tony’s admonitions could hurry him. His hands hovered over her legs for long moments, moving up and down their length like birds unsure where to light.
    â€œHere!” Tony took Hal’s wrists and placed them on her knees.
    As if it were a signal, Rosencrantz threw back the covers. Her blotchy cheeks were swollen from crying. She took one look at Hal’s face and shrieked. Chills ran up Tony’s spine when she cried, “He won’t stay, Dada. Don’t leave me alone.”
    A fit? Tony stared at her. What madness was this?
    Transfixed by her fury, Hal didn’t move, and she struck at him with her uninjured arm. “Get away from me, bad man. Bad man, go away!”
    Hal sprang at her. Tony roared and jumped forward, but Hal didn’t accost her. Instead he placed his palms across her mouth and said, “I’m goin’ t’ help ye now. Understand? I’ll harm ye not.” Her wide eyes watched Hal with suspicion, and he repeated, “I vow I’m goin’ t’ help ye.”
    Slowly, he lowered his hands, waiting for an outburst. The print of his hands shone white on her reddened skin, and she took deep breaths, like someone deprived of air. Yet she tilted her head regally and