Page 45 of Molly Boys

The enormous man held something in his arms. It took a second for Archie to realise it was Lord Stanley. The giant’s arms wrapped around him as he held a cloth over his mouth.

“STOP! POLICE!” Archie didn’t think, didn’t stop, his frantic mind unable to comprehend that a man that size could’ve crushed Archie’s head without effort. He rushed at the two men.

The giant glared and shoved Lord Stanley’s unconscious form at him, leaving Archie no choice but to catch his limp body. Archie’s feet slid out from under him, sending them both to the ground in the mouth of the alley. He twisted as they fell, breaking their fall with a grunt. Sucking in a heavy breath, he cradled Lord Stanley carefully in his arms.

He looked up to find the assailant gone. Archie grasped Lord Stanley’s face with shaky fingers and leaned forward, grazing his cheek against the limp man’s lips. A gust of breath fluttered against his skin and Archie’s grip tightened in relief; at least Lord Stanley was still breathing.

A flicker of movement caught his eye and as he bent toward it, he found a scrap of cloth rather like the one discovered underneath Charles Wakefield’s body. He lifted it tentatively. Trying not to get too close, he gave a sniff and was immediately assaulted with the sharp and dizzying scent of chloroform.

The sudden clatter of hooves and wheels startled Archie, and he gave the alley one last wary look, knowing that if the giant of a man decided to double back and take Lord Stanley after all, Archie wouldn’t be able to stop him. Not on his own, not a man of that size.

The cloth shoved into his coat pocket and working quickly, he climbed to his feet so he could heave Lord Stanley over his shoulder before he headed toward the sound of the carriage.

A couple had just dismounted from a hackney and were heading toward The Lotus Flower. Archie praised whatever luck seemed to be smiling down on him and walked toward the cab.

“Bedford Square, Bloomsbury,” Archie told the driver as he opened the door and hauled Lord Stanley inside.

“‘E alright?” The man leaned down to ask.

“I hope so,” Archie muttered as he climbed in and closed the door behind him with a resounding clunk.

13

Archie thumped on the door with Lord Stanley’s unmoving form draped over his shoulder. Shifting his weight slightly, he was about to raise his hand again when the door opened and a sleep-rumpled man holding a small oil lamp appeared. He opened his mouth to say something when his gaze fell on the limp body hanging over Archie’s shoulder.

“Lord Stanley?” The man gasped as he reached for him. “What have you done to him, you brute?”

“Me?” Archie huffed, shifting his weight again. “Nothing, but can you step aside? He’s heavier than he looks.”

The man moved to let Archie over the threshold.

“Who are you?” he demanded.

“Detective Inspector Franklin.” Archie turned to the man as the door closed, seeing his eyes widen in recognition of his name. “Lord Stanley was attacked.”

“Attacked?” The servant breathed in shock, reaching once more for the unconscious man. “Is he hurt?”

“I don’t know yet.” Archie shook his head. “Where’s his bedroom?”

“Follow me.” The man headed for the stairs, the small light from his lamp lighting the way.

“My name’s Henry,” he said as they climbed. “I’m his lordship’s valet.”

Once they reached the second floor, Henry led him to the end of the corridor and opened the door into a large room dominated by a huge canopied bed. The lamps in the room burned low and the fire crackled in the hearth, well tended and filling the room with warmth. It was clear Henry had prepared his employer’s room before seeking his own bed for the night.

Henry set his own lamp down on a nearby dresser as Archie carefully laid the lord on his bed.

“Help me get his coat and jacket off,” Henry instructed. “I won’t be able to do it on my own while he’s a dead weight.”

Archie reached under his arms and gently pulled Stanley into a sitting position so his head lolled forward and rested against Archie’s chest while Henry reached behind him and managed to get his coat and jacket over his shoulders before freeing his arms. Henry managed this quickly and efficiently, making Archie wonder just how often he took care of his employer in an inebriated state.

Now with the man only in his shirt and trousers, Archie lifted Lord Stanley and moved him further up the bed to rest his head on the pillows.

Henry made quick work of unlacing Stanley’s boots and removing them.

“What happened?” Henry frowned. “Can you see any injuries? I don’t see any blood, does he have a head wound?”

Archie shook his head, trusting Henry’s discretion when it came to his employer.