The Rake's Redemption by Anne Millar Page B

demand to be told more.
    “Thank you for that kindness, Major.” No doubt the infuriating Major Stainford wanted her to ask her question again. Instead Judith set herself to assert her authority. “If you will return downstairs, Bridges will arrange refreshments. I will come down as soon as I’ve seen to my brother.” Instructions issued, she turned her back until she heard the door close behind him.
    “John, what happened?” John Hampton looked truly awful, both eyes swollen shut and the whole of his face a mass of bloodied and pulpy flesh. Unsurprisingly no answer was forthcoming, and Judith turned her eyes in mute appeal to Mrs Rogers.
    “He’ll be all right, Miss. It’s bad, but not so he’ll die. It’ll be a while before he’s up again though. And best t’doctor sees him too. You’ve sent for him?” The housekeeper gave the impression that the only thing preventing her tending to John Hampton was his sister, and Judith took the hint.
    “I’ll be in the drawing room, Mrs Rogers. Will you come and tell me how he is?”
    “Aye, Miss. Best you go now. The Major should not be left unreceived. And we’ll need to undress Master John to see how he ails.” The giggle from Sally Forcett at those words marked her down for a reprimand from both mistress and housekeeper.
    Mrs Rogers was correct of course, though Judith couldn’t imagine where her aunt and father had gone. Another secret confab in the library no doubt, too important to be interrupted. Thomas’ man was waiting in the hall when she came down stairs, and showed no hesitation in speaking to her. “It’s Wright, Miss. Do you remember me? How is your brother, Miss? He took a rare pasting before the Major arrived.”
    “Mrs Rogers thinks he’ll be alright in time. Why did this happen?” She knew it was a foolish question before she’d finished speaking. How could she expect Thomas’ servant to know why this had happened.
    “I don’t rightly know, Miss. They were right determined to mark him. And they didn’t run when we arrived either. Most thieves would have. But not these. One of them took a shot at the Major.” Judith felt a thud in her chest at the words. There had been no sign of a fresh wound on Thomas, and she hadn’t given him a thought, but now it seemed he might have been killed. Her thoughts must have been too transparent for Wright went on quickly. “The Major’s fine, Miss. The fellow missed. But the Major didn’t. He was out of the landau and chopped the pistol from his hand before I could stop the horses. Cut another one too, and then they ran.” His pride was obvious, and Judith felt a temptation to share in his satisfaction. Which she sternly repressed.
    “Thank you, Wright. And well done. I’m very grateful to you and Major Stainford for rescuing my brother. Bridges here will see to your comfort. Bridges, please.” The butler had stopped shaking and looked a little put out at being asked to attend to a servant’s comfort, but he made no protest at his mistress’s command. Judith could hear voices from the drawing room and raised an eyebrow at Bridges.
    “Her ladyship and the Major are in the drawing room, Miss.” No word of her father’s whereabouts, and by the sound of chatter from the drawing room her aunt had not been too put out. Thomas rose to greet her when she opened the door and Matilde smiled a welcome. “How is John, my dear? The Major thinks he has suffered no serious hurt though he will show the effects of his beating for a while. Such a terrible thing.”
    “He looks dreadful, but Mrs Rodgers is attending to him and I have sent for Doctor Bradley.” To Judith’s immense irritation Aunt Matilde and Thomas seemed to be getting on famously. “I must thank you, Major for saving my brother. I cannot think why footpads should pick on a young officer. It seems peculiar.”
    “Most. The men behaved oddly, and seem to have made no attempt to rob John.” Thomas Stainford looked at his ease, and apart