It was several long moments before the breath returned to him enough for Elijah to sit up, ears still ringing and head still pounding. The footman, so far as the boy could tell, was gone. Good riddance.

With some difficulty, he rose to his feet, leaning on the back of the couch for support. It was then that he saw the critter, and his eyes widened in delight, a triumphant grin on his face now as he peered down at what he knew had been Davis the footman. All pain and wooziness forgotten, Elijah scurried around the couch to scoop up the unhappy hedgehog, bringing it up to eye level.

“Told you.”