The coachman deftly slid the hay from one side of his mouth to the other. “You let me know if you need any assistance, your lordship.”
“I do. I have half a dozen more questions for you, and I need to question the stable hands. Send them up to the house later and—”
“Mr. Shepherd! Mr. Shepherd!” A hefty young man in groom’s clothing hurled himself at the coachman, a small bundle wrapped in a gray horse’s blanket in his arms.
Shepherd moved swiftly to meet the youth, and Ethan followed. “What is it, Nat? What have you got there?”
“An injured rabbit, sir.” The boy was red-faced and huffing from exertion. “I was out walking and heard her screams. Got herself caught in a poacher’s trap and wasn’t dead. I got her out, but her leg’s mangled.”
“Let me see.”
Ethan stepped closer and peered over the coachman's shoulder as the boy opened the bundle to reveal a large brown rabbit. The animal trembled, obviously in shock. Its rear leg was an ugly mass of raw, mangled flesh, the exposed pink and red muscles barely resembling a limb. Ethan knew what came next. The poor youth would be heartbroken, but at least the animal’s suffering would end.
It might even make a good stew.
Ethan moved discreetly aside and waited for Shepherd’s dire pronouncement.
“Go fetch Miss Dashing.” Shepherd took the rabbit from the boy, who darted into the stable.
Ethan frowned, the coachman’s words failing to sink in. “You don’t intend to show this poor creature to Miss Dashing, do you?”
The hay lifted as the coachman frowned. “Of course, your lordship. She’d have my head if I didn’t.”
Before Ethan could object further, Francesca rushed toward them, her puppy in her arms and two grooms close on her heels.
Without a word, she deposited the white ball of fur in Ethan’s arms and ran to examine the bundle. Ethan waited for her to gasp or turn away, but she did neither. Peering inside the blanket, she stroked the paralyzed rabbit. She and Shepherd exchanged a look.
“Take her to my hospital, Nat, and put her on the table.” Her voice was calm and steady.
The boy who had found the rabbit took the bundle and arrowed for the hospital. She then turned to the red-haired boy beside her, whom Ethan recognized as the under footman who’d served the tea yesterday.
“Peter, tell Cook we need hot boiling water. Bring it to me as soon as you can.”
She started for the white-washed building, and Shepherd called after her, “Miss, is there anything Joe or I can do to help?”
“Thank you, but not right now,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ll send for you if I need you.”
A moment later she disappeared inside the hospital and Ethan, Shepherd, and the remaining groom were left standing in her dust.
“Damn poachers,” Shepherd groused. “I’ll have a word with Lord Brigham this evening. He won’t like this, especially after what happened to Miss Dashing last night.”
Poachers. That was a new avenue. He’d have to consider it.
“If anyone can save that rabbit, she can,” the groom remarked.
Ethan looked from Shepherd to the groom and finally found his voice. “Are you saying she will try to heal that rabbit?”
Both Shepherd and the stable hand gave him curious glances. “She won’t try, my lord,” Shepherd answered. “She will.”
“Why not just take it to the kitchen? The cook can make short work of it.”
The groom’s eyes widened. “Oh, Miss Dashing wouldn’t like that, your lordship. If we find an injured animal on the property, we’re to bring it to her.”
“To heal?” Ethan asked again.
“See for yourself.” Shepherd gestured to the hospital.
He would have rather retreated to the house, but hewassupposed to be her shadow. Something squirmed in his arms, and he glanced down. The ball of white fuzz licked his hand.
