“Don’t argue with your sister,” King said.
Georgie’s arms dropped, and he bowed his head. “Yes, sir.” A moment later he disappeared behind the blanket.
King moved closer to the bed then looked about, aware the room was too silent. Miss Baker and Joshua were both staring at him with mouths open.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Miss Baker shook her head and closed her mouth. “Not a thing. I’ve just never seen Georgie agree to anything so quickly.”
“Or saysir,” Joshua said.
“How was Mr. Garrett injured?” King asked.
“’E was ’it in the ’ead at a brawl at the tavern,” Mrs. Garrett said. “Some young scamps caused a riot, and I don’t know for sure, but I think one of them ’it ’im with a bottle.”
King’s gaze flew to Archie again. No wonder the man looked familiar. He’d been the publican at the Silver Unicorn that night. King felt his cheeks heat as he remembered trying to order champagne from the man.Idiot,he thought, looking back on his behavior that night. He’d thought he was the funniest man in the world, and all this man was doing was trying to support his wife and two children.
“Has he seen a doctor?” he asked.
Mrs. Garrett snorted. “Ye must not be from ’ere. Even if a doctor would come ’ere, I ’aven’t any coin.”
“Mamma?” came a small voice. King glanced at the hanging blanket and saw a red-haired girl looking out. She was smaller than Georgie and had large brown eyes like her mother.
“Polly, go play now.”
“’Ungry, Mamma.”
“I’ll make you something soon. Here is Susan.” Mrs. Garrett picked up the rag with the painted face from the floor. “Play with her.”
King didn’t like the feeling churning in his belly. He didn’t like the way his chest clenched or his throat closed up.Thousands of children made do with rags for toys. Men were injured all the time. King had always told himself there was nothing he could do. Even if he helped one beggar or orphan, there were a thousand right behind that one with a hand out.
But he felt somewhat responsible for this situation. He and his friends had been enjoying themselves, but they’d also been very drunk, and King had been spoiling for a fight. He’d needed some way to release the tension building since his father was accused of treason. What if he had started the brawl? What if he had thrown a bottle? Even if his bottle hadn’t hit this man, someone else might have taken a cue from him and thrown another bottle.
King clenched his fists. Was Miss Sunshine right all along that he owed her for the damage to the tavern?
He could acknowledge now that perhaps she was, but his situation wasn’t what it had been that night he’d visited her tavern. Truth be told, now his situation was far worse than hers.
And yet he couldn’t leave that little girl to go hungry, because it was patently obvious that Mrs. Garrett had no food nor coin.
“I wanted to give you this,” Miss Baker said, holding out a small piece of cloth tied with a knot on top. King heard the coins clink inside.
“I can’t take that from ye,” Miss Garrett argued.
“Yes, you can. It’s not nearly enough considering what a good friend Archie has been. I’ll try to bring more.”
Mrs. Garrett looked like she might refuse again, and King said, “Take it.” Then he did something he couldn’t explain, something he told himself not to do. But his body seemed to be working independently of his mind, and he was powerless to stop himself from removing his coat. “Take this too.”
“Oh, no, sir. I can’t take yer fine coat. It wouldn’t fit my Archie anyway.”
No, it wouldn’t. He could put the coat back on now.
But instead, King watched as his arm reached out, and he took the woman’s hand and pressed the coat into it. “Sell it. It’s worth a pound or two, at least.”
The woman was shaking her head, but she didn’t release the coat.
“And I’ll send Joshua to fetch a surgeon I know. He’s stitched me up a few times, and he owes me a favor.”
“Thank ye, sir.”
