“I can see by the cautious way you move that you have a lot. Might need to remove your shirt.”
Since he was no untried boy, Simeon had to wonder why her saying he should take his shirt off would make him blush. That thought left his head when she pressed a hand against his back and the pain of it stabbed through him. Grudgingly he took off his shirt and allowed her to tend to the scrapes and bruises he had collected while fighting his aunt’s men. The moment she finished, he put his shirt back on, acknowledging that the salve helped, but only to himself.
“You were lucky to get away,” she said as she pocketed the small pot of salve. “So stay here and I will let you know when it is safe for you to go to your uncle and his man.”
Before he could ask how she knew so much she was gone and he was shut in. He did not even catch her name yet she knew all about the trouble he was in and whom he was trying to get to. Sitting down to eat the aromatic stew she had set out for him, he hoped she was just what she seemed to be. A young woman who saw things and acted upon them, one who would not just turn him over to his aunt. He had to keep surviving, not only for the sake of the name and title of which he was the last in line, but for his sister. They could not let Aunt Augusta win.
Chapter Ten
Bened was still uncertain about seeking help from his family even as he rode up to his cousin Sir Argus’s new country house. Since the man had married the Duke of Sundunmoor’s daughter he had become quite domesticated. If the number of children running about was any indication, the Duke was visiting, perhaps even others of his family had gathered. They might even know he was in trouble.
“Oh my, your cousin is having a house party,” said Primrose, feeling uneasy about intruding.
His cousin’s country home was massive, not at all what she had anticipated. There was money there and she began to wonder why Bened would think himself below her. One who came from such a group, had relations with such money, and even a duke as a cousin was not considered lesser gentry. His blood was probably a lot richer than hers no matter what his direct family did for a living.
Suddenly the hairs on her arm stood up and she frowned at them. “How odd.”
Bened saw his cousin standing in the doorway of his manor looking every inch the powerful man he was. “Cousin Argus has that effect on a lot of people. He is a very powerful man but do not let him scare you.”
“Would he try to?”
“Sometimes he does not even have to try.” He saw a small woman with red-brown hair hurry out to stand next to Argus. “Ah, now I understand why there are so many of the young ones about. Penelope is here.” He looked at Primrose. “Another cousin. She takes in any of the wee ones bred by some of the more roguish members of the clan. I fear most of them are tossed out by their mothers because of what they can do and despite the nice stipends given to them for the care of the child.”
He laughed as she began to look confused. “Do not worry. The sheer number of them can be confusing but they are good people.”
“And all gifted as you are?”
“With different gifts but I will not weigh you down with what they all are at this time. If any of them display one that alarms, you just let me know. I can explain most of them.”
“Do you know if any here now have a gift that will tell me if my brother is alive and safe?”
“I believe there might be one.”
Bened dismounted after they halted in front of the manor, handed his reins to a stable hand, and then helped Primrose down. He held her hand as he walked up and introduced her to Penelope and Argus. “Is someone in trouble?” he asked.
“According to the letter we got from Chloe that someone is you and your companion,” said Argus. “Penelope brought my boys up for a visit and the duke is here to see his grandchildren. He brought the brood,” Argus said as they started into the house, “including the devil twins.”
“Argus, do not speak so about my brothers,” called out a pretty woman with dark red hair as she hurried up to them and was quickly introduced.
“I will say what I like when it was your father who stole our nanny away by making her a duchess. I know he did it because I took you and he had no one left who could keep those two from destroying the world.” Argus looked back at Bened. “So how bad is this trouble you are in?”
Lady Lorelei sighed, grabbed her husband by the arm, and dragged him into a large front parlor. “At least let them have some drink and perhaps some light refreshments before you badger them.”