Page 73 of Unmasking the Earl

“I concur,” said a weak voice from the opposite corner.

“Stay out of this, Carnforth,” Ned said ominously. “This matter is private, and I’ll have your balls for a bellpull if you speak of it to anyone.”

“I say, you don’t have to threaten. Just asking can be equally effective.”

Ned sank his head into his hands. Had he ever been in a more insufferable situation than this one? Trapped with not just one enemy, but two? And utterly unable to extract himself.

Trying to temper his tone, he told Wycherley, “I feel somewhat differently now I know the truth. But I shall still demand an apology from you, since it was your rash behavior, your cowardly unwillingness to ask my permission to court her in the accepted manner, that has brought about this whole sorry business.”

Wycherley suddenly glanced up and strode to the chamber door. “Well, sir,” he said, “you’re going to have to decide damn fast. I can hear Georgiana outside, chatting to the constable.”

Ned looked up, eager to see his sister.

“This should be interesting,” averred Carnforth from his side of the room.

“A bellpull, Carnforth,” Ned reminded him.

As soon as Georgiana was admitted, Wycherley caught her in his embrace and kissed her soundly. “My darling!” he exclaimed. “How I’ve missed you!”

“Hush, love, not in front of my brother, please,” she said, pushing him gently away. “Goodness, how pale you look, Ned!”

She hovered uncertainly between him and the captain, then knelt by Ned’s side and took his hand between hers.

He attempted a smile. “It’s very kind of you to come. I know you have no desire to go out in public.”

“I’ve taken Miss Blythe’s advice and styled my hair to cover the worst of the burns, and have donned a deep bonnet. I may take up hat design to amuse myself while I complete my recovery.”

“You look wonderful, Georgiana,” he said. “And it’s good to see you in such good spirits.”

“I wish I could say the same of you,” she responded with a grimace. “But I understand the other gentleman, Mr. Carnforth, is in an even worse state. I assume that’s him on the other side, apparently asleep?”

“I never touched him,” Ned responded, running a hand lightly over the side of his head. “Even so, your gallant Captain Wycherley struck me down.”

“Forgive me,” said Wycherley. “I misunderstood the situation.”

“Evidently.”

Georgiana squeezed Ned’s hand. “I’m sorry it happened, but you’ll mend, darling. You always do.”

“How on earth did you hear of the altercation?” Ned suddenly wondered.

“Cassie ran out to the cottage to tell me. She said you were struck twice on the head. I’m very pleased to see you’re still rational.”

Was he? He was starting to doubt it. None of this was making any sense.

“Miss Blythe went all that way to fetch you?” he asked.

“She knew I’d be worried when you didn’t return. And of course, I was dying to see Francis, whom she told me was here. Is there anything I can do for you, anything you want?”

“The constable’s head on a platter?” Ned suggested with menace. “Preferably with lots of sharp things sticking into it.” At her gasp of reproach, he waved a hand and said, “Thank you, no. I’ll endeavor to survive the night.”

She smiled bleakly and started to rise. “Very well. Then I’ll see—”

He gently grasped her arm. “But what am I going to do about you and the miscreant standing behind you?”

“Oh, please don’t be angry with Francis,” Georgiana pleaded. “Everything was as much my fault as his.”

“It is his fault,” Ned said with a scowl. “He is a man of the world, and you were an innocent. He should have courted you properly.”