"The silly fool asked for it," Hugh said defiantly.
That's right, Hugh, make it worse, Augusta thought. Whatever you do, don't apologize. I want your uncle to stay angry with you.
However, Joseph's attention was torn between the boys and the woman, and his eyes kept switching to her naked body. Augusta felt a stab of jealousy.
That made her calmer. There was nothing much wrong with Edward. She began to think rapidly. How could she best exploit this situation? Hugh was totally vulnerable now: she could do anything to him. She thought immediately of her conversation with Micky Miranda. Hugh had to be silenced, for he knew too much about the death of Peter Middleton. Now was the moment to strike.
First she had to separate him from the girl.
Some servants had appeared in their nightclothes and were hovering in the doorway that led to the back stairs, looking aghast but fascinated by the scene on the landing. Augusta saw her butler, Hastead, in a yellow silk dressing gown that Joseph had discarded some years ago, and Williams, a footman, in a striped nightshirt. "Hastead and Williams, help Mr. Edward to his bed, will you?" The two men bustled forward and got Teddy to his feet.
Next Augusta spoke to her housekeeper. "Mrs. Merton, cover this girl with a sheet, or something, and take her to my room and get her dressed." Mrs. Merton took off her own dressing gown and draped it around the girl's shoulders. She pulled it closed over her nakedness but made no move to leave.
Augusta said: "Hugh, run to Dr. Humbold's house in Church Street: he'd better have a look at poor Edward's nose."
"I'm not leaving Maisie," Hugh said.
Augusta said sharply: "Since you've done the damage, it's the least you can do to fetch a doctor!"
Maisie said: "I'll be all right, Hugh. Fetch the doctor. I'll be here when you get back."
Still Hugh stood his ground.
Mrs. Merton said: "This way, please," and indicated the back stairs.
Maisie said: "Oh, I think we'll use the main staircase." Then, walking like a queen, she crossed the landing and went down the stairs. Mrs. Merton followed.
Augusta said: "Hugh?"
He was still reluctant to go, she could see, but on the other hand he could think of no good reason to refuse. After a moment he said: "I'll put my boots on."
Augusta concealed her relief. She had separated them. Now, if her luck held, she would be able to seal Hugh's fate. She turned to her husband. "Come. Let's go to your room and discuss this."
