The Bareknuckle Groom - Holly Bush Page 0,46

the ring. His opponent did not look much better. MacAvoy hurried in front of their row of benches until he caught Chambliss by the arm. She could not hear what he was saying, but she sensed MacAvoy’s panic. She knew he would not be in such a state unless he was very worried for his friend’s health. She touched Mr. Pendergast’s arm.

“What is happening?”

“I think MacAvoy is trying to talk Chambliss into calling the fight a draw.”

“A draw?”

“No winner, but no loser either. He’s got to get James out of that ring.”

She looked back at the fighters as Chambliss made his way to the other corner. James was still swinging, barely on his feet, sweat dripping from his hair when he shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. She felt tears burn at the back of her eyes. She couldn’t take much more of this torture!

James swung his arm, barely touching Jackson’s chin but whirling the man in a circle as James’s knees buckled. Both men went down as Chambliss rang the bell and shouted, “Draw! All bets hold until the rematch!”

“A rematch?” Lucinda said but then focused on MacAvoy kneeling beside James, tapping his cheek and calling his name.

She stood then, shaking free of Mr. Pendergast’s hand on her elbow, pushing her way through the men crowding the ring. She bent down and stepped through the ropes, dragging her skirts behind her, nearly tripping on her petticoats. She dropped to her knees beside James.

MacAvoy was shaking his shoulders lightly and pressing a cloth to a long cut over his eye, trying to stem the flow of blood. James coughed and started to choke, but his eyes still did not open. MacAvoy reached into his mouth and pulled out a large bloody wad of fabric and then rolled him on his side.

“If he vomits, I don’t want him choking on it if he hasn’t woken up.”

“How long? How long until he wakes up?”

He shook his head. “Don’t know. I don’t know if he can hear me.”

“Perhaps he can hear me,” Lucinda said and looked down at him, so still and bloody. She leaned over his ear. “James. James, it’s Lucinda. You must wake up now. We must get your injuries tended, and we can’t do it here. James? Do you hear me?”

She grabbed his hand and realized his little finger was dangling unnaturally. She took a deep breath and gripped the rest of his hand in both of hers. “James. Won’t you please open your eyes?” She kissed his knuckles, dirty and bleeding, and realized she was trembling.

James coughed and then spit onto the floor. “Must be dreaming,” he mumbled.

MacAvoy heaved a breath and wiped his eyes. “Why’s that, you stubborn man?”

“Heard . . . Lucinda.”

“You did,” she cried and leaned over him. “You must never do anything this foolish ever again. Do you hear me? I will not stand for it.”

His eyes fluttered. “Must be dreaming.”

MacAvoy stood and motioned to Mr. Pendergast and his father. He looked at the son. “You and I are going to carry him out of here. I don’t think he can walk. We’re going to cross our hands and make a seat. Your father and your uncle are going to have to get him up and in our arms.”

Mr. Pendergast helped her to her feet and then turned to their task. James moaned as the elder Pendergasts pulled him up by his arms.

“Pettigrew!” MacAvoy shouted. “Where’s his coat?”

The man shrugged and hurried to the door. Lucinda pulled her cloak from her shoulders and wrapped it around James’s body. The two men picked him up under his arms and moved him back toward where Mr. Pendergast and MacAvoy knelt and crossed their hands.

The two men got to their feet with James between them and Mr. Pendergast’s father at James’s back, holding him in place. She turned when the other man, Mr. Pendergast’s uncle, put his hand on her elbow.

“Miss Vermeal, take my coat,” he said, working to shrug out of his.

“No. No, thank you,” she said, glancing at the men making slow progress out of the ring where Chambliss’s men had let loose the ropes.

“Then at least take my arm. How did you arrive?”

“I have a reliable man waiting for me with a carriage, Mr. Pendergast.”

“I was just getting ready to come inside for you, miss,” Michael said to Lucinda as she stepped out the door.

“I’m fine, Michael. Thank you so much for waiting for me. I don’t wish to go home