Chemistry of Magic: Unexpected Magic Book Five (Unexpected Magic #5)(45)
“If she’s old enough to lie with a man, she’d old enough to take responsibility for herself and her child.” Tess looked determined, then realizing she was speaking out of place, she ducked her head and began writing.
“Possibly,” Bridey agreed. “Except I’ve seen twelve-year olds who have been raped. They have no idea of what’s happening to them. At the very least, I need to know they have parents or somewhere to go once the babe is delivered.”
Tess gasped, gulped, and reached for her water glass. “That’s awful,” she finally muttered. “You should have a line asking for the name of the father so you can cut off his cock.”
Emilia exploded in laughter and Bridey sputtered. Tess began to look a little more fierce.
By mid-afternoon, it had been decided that Tess should stay at the abbey as Bridey’s secretary, where she wouldn’t have to carry heavy pots or scrub floors. Studying Tess’s soft hands had convinced Emilia that the maid hadn’t been born to service, but she still hadn’t pried her background from her.
“I’d like to leave the original draft of my pharmacopeia here, if I may,” Emilia said, nodding toward the metal box she’d brought with her. “This isn’t all of it. Bessie still has more to copy, but the main part is done. Dare has reminded me that it isn’t safe to keep both copies in one place.”
Bridey took the box with delight. “There are stone cubbyholes here that are practically fireproof. We’ll keep it as safe as possible. May I look at it?”
“Of course, that’s the whole point! Having another expert look at it would be wonderful.”
Before Emilia could say more, a dog’s howl echoed off the stone cloister walls, startling all of them into glancing toward the doorway. Many of the older parts of the building had crumbled, so the central garden was no longer completely enclosed—which meant anyone could enter.
“That’s Will’s hound,” Bridey said, setting the box on a shelf beneath a worn limestone counter built into the old wall. “He’s been working with Pascoe’s son on animal training, but I thought he’d gone out for the day.”
“I’m assuming you mean Will is working with the boy, not the hound,” Emilia said in amusement, relaxing. Dare’s warnings were starting to work on her nerves.
“Well, actually, both. I’ll explain later.” Bridey stepped to the doorway, and in a few seconds, a huge deerhound raced up, tail wagging. She scratched behind the dog’s ears and frowned. “Will, what have you been doing? Come over here and let me look. Where is Edward?”
A moment later a giant of a man loomed in the doorway. Emilia recognized him as an Ives immediately. She supposed she’d seen him at one time or another, but she didn’t remember being introduced. One of Pascoe’s bastard nephews, Will wasn’t one of the city gentleman with whom she was more familiar. He was a dog trainer, if she remembered rightly, one who traveled about the country.
At the moment, he looked as if he’d been in a brawl. He nodded respectfully in her direction, then turned to Bridey, who was already clucking over a cut near his temple. “I brought Edward back earlier. I need to talk to Pascoe.”
“You need that cut cleaned,” Bridey retorted. “Sit down.” She pointed at the stool she’d been using.
He hesitated. “It’s probably too late now anyway.” Under Bridey’s glare, the big man sat as told.
“Tess, will you pull that bell rope over there?” Bridey indicated a long cord near the door. “Pascoe’s been working on the bell system. It’s far from perfect, but someone will come.”
Tess fetched water from the pump while Emilia mixed balsam with alcohol and Bridey cleaned the wound. Pascoe arrived just as they were applying a bandage.
“Back to the good old days of terrorizing the neighborhood?” the baronet asked genially, not looking particularly concerned.
“Surveyors in the wheat field,” Will said curtly. “Had a minor altercation. They’re gone now.”
“Surveyors?” Pascoe suddenly came alert. “From the railroad?”
Will nodded, then winced as Bridey cleaned his battered fingers with alcohol.
“Bl. . .” Pascoe caught himself and bowed to the ladies. “Forgive me, but I’m off to write Sommersville. The duke may know who is behind these trespassers. They do not have permission to lay their track through my tenant’s field!”
Emilia watched him go with a frown of worry etched on her brow. “One of my staff mentioned they thought the railroad was going through my cottage. They can’t do that, can they?”
Fingers taped, Will grunted and stood up. “These fellows thought they could.”
Alarmed, Emilia gathered up her pelisse and bonnet. “I must talk to Dare. Perhaps we should all go to see the duke. I’m not losing my home just as I finally gained it!”
Chapter 14
Dare ground his teeth as his stubborn wife drove into the stable yard—alone. He would admire the way Emilia handled the reins, except her bonnet had fallen down her back, and she looked disheveled and upset and was that blood on her sleeve? Frightened and furious, he crossed the stones and hauled her from the gig the instant the groom grabbed the horses.
“I told you not to go out alone!” He wanted to hold her close and ascertain she was all right, but he was unaccustomed to dealing with irrational panic roiling his innards. It was safer if he set her down.