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down next to her. Facing Aryanna, she gently pulled the thin material up to the girl’s waist and then drew her close into a motherly embrace. Aryanna clung to the gentle woman as the two men exposed and surveyed her damaged privates.
    “This woman is a barbarian. She was close to needing sewing here,” Gerard exclaimed, gently applying a thin layer of salve over an open cut. “Ryan, I will take your mother to the school in a week or two, and will deal with this affront. We feel it best for you to remain here.”
    “Father, it is my responsibility to follow through with my promise if that woman refuses to depart,” Ryan snapped, covering Aryanna with a blanket as his mother continued to soothe her.
    “I am more than capable of representing your wishes, Ryan,” Gerard said sternly, frowning with disapproval.
    “I beg your pardon, sir. I meant no disrespect.”
    “Like hell you didn’t. You must trust me, boy. Plus this child should not be left unattended. I understand she is terrified of Martha.”
    “I’m terrified of Martha,” Brigit commented, her hands soothing Aryanna’s hair as the girl curled against her. “I agree that Ryan would do much better without her presence. She would be a good assistant to you while I am gone.”
    “The two of you are going to be my death. And stop petting the child. She is not a house pet, nor is she an infant who needs swaddling.” Gerard feigned annoyance as his wife and son stroked the lovely girl to calmness. With a grunt, he joined them on the bed and placed his hand on Aryanna’s slim ankle. “I promise this will not happen to you again, little miss. And I’m not the big, bad wolf of this family, so don’t you be worrying about me.”
    “Wolf?” Aryanna snuffled, confused. She found she liked the gruffness of Ryan’s papa and instinctively knew he would protect her as Lord Ryan did. The Lady Brigit clearly was happy with the older man, so he could not have been a bad sort. But wolf? It made no sense to her.
    “An expression, lovey. Nothing more,” the Lord Remington smiled, patting the top of her head and brushing her hair back away from her face.
    “How old is the child?” Lady Brigit asked, as she moved to get up. “She really is quite comely.”
    “She is eighteen years old, though she looks a bit younger.”
    “You really should have tried for a daughter, Father,” Ryan commented, as Gerard coaxed a giggle out of the girl by making silly faces at her, distracting her from her pain and her fear.
    “Maybe one day I will get a daughter-in-law and granddaughters,” Gerard quipped back. He held his arms out for the girl and hugged her tightly as she threw herself into him. “Good girl, Aryanna. Papa will help take care of you.”
    “Papa is good. Mama is good. Lord Ryan…” she eyed the handsome young man, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “is incorrigible.”
    Gerard broke forth with a loud roar of laughter, clapping his pouting son on the shoulder. “She will be fine, my boy. She has a sense of humor. Much like your mother’s, it seems.”
    “Then, much like Mother, she will find her bottom end being frequently warmed,” Ryan scoffed.
    Brigit leaned over to hug the young woman closely, kissing both cheeks, “Be a good girl, my darling. I will come back to see you shortly. Good day.”
    “Good day, Mama,” Aryanna smiled, earning an extra squeeze for the term of endearment.
    Gerard kissed her forehead. “We’ll take care of everything, little miss. You heal up, yes?”
    “Yes, Papa.”
    Aryanna touched Ryan’s leg shyly, her eyes big and bright. “Lord Ryan is good reformer. Thank to you. From heart,” she said, touching her chest.
    “You’re welcome, dove. Stay here,” Ryan said, standing and reaching his hand to assist his mother off the bed. He escorted his parents back down to the sitting room and accepting the tea brought in by Martha. “Well? I’m certain the two of you have some sort of comment to deliver to my