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just young and very spoiled, as was typical for an earl’s daughter. “As for payment, I’m sure you can discuss the details with my father.”
    He nodded and was about to respond when he saw the angel’s eyes on Alex. Her expression was troubled.
    “Miss Wilson?”
    “I was thinking perhaps that we should call for a doctor.” She smiled gently at Alex, and Kit found himself feeling oddly jealous of the boy. “I know the blood was mostly the earl’s but perhaps, just to be safe—”
    “No doctor is needed,” he interrupted, more harshly than intended. “Some simple food and rest on land would do us a world of good.”
    “As you wish,” the angel said as she nodded slowly, her eyes lowered. She looked appropriately demure, but Kit could tell there was a wealth of thought behind her quiet facade.
    “Miss Wilson,” he began, but again the blonde spoke and everyone had to wait in silence for her to finish.
    “Was I to understand, Mr. Frazier, that you were captured by pirates? Barbary pirates? I thought that’s what the servant said, but I couldn’t be sure, you understand. Such a fantastical tale! And you escaped, no less! Oh please, you must tell us how you did it! And were you, Mr. Morgan, equally enslaved? My goodness, how horrible!”
    “It was, Lady Rose. It was quite horrible,” he responded, his tone flat and discouraging. But the lady was not one to take such a hint.
    “Of course it was!” she exclaimed. “But however did you escape? Was it very dangerous? We are going to a musicale tonight, perhaps you could join us? Oh, possibly not, not attired as you are. But perhaps tomorrow?” She babbled on with her questions. Thankfully, they arrived at their location long before he was obliged to answer any of them.
     
     
    Maddy breathed a sigh of relief the moment she shut the door on the gentlemen. She had installed them in the housekeeper’s room. The bedroom was tiny, but the bed was large enough for two as it was designed for a husband and wife. Plus, there was a salon out front, one Maddy usually used to balance accounts and plan meals. This would afford them some privacy if they wished to remain apart from the rest of the family. That was safer for all around, for the family if the boy turned violent again, and for them as an escape from Rose’s incessant questions.
    Mr. Frazier had handled them well enough. Unlike the boy, he was slow to anger and supremely tolerant. And yet something about him set her belly quivering and her chest tightening. Not quite in fear, and yet not in pleasure either. He was everything that was polite—soft spoken and direct with his words—and yet his eyes seemed to watch her, study her, and see much too clearly into her heart. It bothered her, and yet she was the one who insisted that he come home with them.
    “What are they doing?” asked Rose from the door to the salon. She was surrounded by nearly their entire staff come to gape.
    “Really,” Maddy snapped at the crowd. “I would think you all have better things to do right now. But if not, I’m sure I can find something for you.”
    The threat worked wonders on everyone but Rose. While the family’s three servants disappeared in an instant, Rose simply tried to sidle past Maddy to the bedroom door.
    “Are they sleeping? Don’t they want a bath or a valet or something? I really don’t think Father will like this, but if he can pay, then I suppose it would be all right. It is rather romantic though, don’t you think? Mr. Morgan collapsing and all after he saw my beauty. That’s what he said, remember? You are very beautiful.”
    “Yes, of course I remember,” Maddy said as she took a firm grip on Rose’s elbow and steered her toward the hallway. “Though I don’t think he collapsed quite because of you, sweeting. I fear he’s suffered a great loss—”
    “Yes, yes! And for the older one, imagine being captured by pirates and coming home to realize your fiancée has married another! Poor man!