Page 29 of The Cordial Bride

“Love?” Ian shot his gaze over to Calan. The boy was back to blushing with adorable embarrassment, a wonderful difference than his pale-faced worry of a moment before. And as much as Ian enjoyed his wife’s pretty pink face, he understood that the boy had been through an ordeal, thanks to him, however inadvertently. He smiled as much as his tiredness permitted. “Well, that’s good to know…seeing as I love him, too.”

Chapter Ten

Calan fussed with tucking Ian in after his sponge bath. “There you go. It must feel good to be clean.”

It embarrassed Ian to realize just how true that was. Not since early childhood had he felt such pleasure in something as simple as having the sweat wiped off his body and having fresh sheets to lie on. And he’d never been so incapacitated since those few times in his life when sickness had claimed him with the same force as it had other children. It was annoyingly disconcerting that his dick had laid limp, despite his wife’s touch. He was used to being vigorous in all ways. Being an invalid didn’t suit him. But I’m still alive, and that’s what matters.

“You are the best nursemaid I’ve ever had. Thank you.”

Calan puttered around, folding the wet cloth and putting the bowl of dirty water by the door for someone to pick up later. “You’re welcome, but you needn’t keep saying things you think I want to hear. I’m your wife, and catering to you is my pleasure.”

Ian understood that the boy wasn’t referring to his thanks. Since that day when he’d come around fully and had confessed his love for his wife, Calan had refused to speak of that declaration head on. The silly boy seemed to believe that Ian had spoken merely out of gratitude. Nothing could be further from the truth, and while it would have been preferable for an occasion other than near death to get him to say the words, now that he had, he wasn’t going to retreat from them.

“I love you, wife…even if my sorry excuse of a cock is unable to demonstrate it.”

Calan rolled his eyes. “Only you would think that an inability to become aroused after a near-death illness is something to apologize for.”

Ian tried to look abashed. “It’s true that a significant amount of my pride resides between my legs. You are a magnificent temptation, even in my weakened state—in my mind, at least. I look forward to my speedy recovery if only so that I can show you how much I love you and not merely say the words.”

“Do you feel up to trying something more solid than broth?”

Hmm, such a stubborn boy. “Yes, actually.” His stomach grumbled with hunger for the first time since he’d woken.

That cheered his wife. “Good. I’ll ask Isabeau to put some chicken in the soup and see how well you hold that down. She’s making all your food herself, you know, with ingredients she gathers herself, too. And guards surround her at all times. There is no chance of any more poison getting into you or of her being at risk.”

Ian was both surprised and not at the news. “My sister has always been one to take an active role in her homes and not merely leaving everything to servants, but as a supervisor. I had no idea she could cook.”

“You shouldn’t be surprised. I bet she’s much like you when it comes to staying busy and being useful.”

Ian frowned. “Yes, I suppose so. And as she’s always teased me about being like a laborer, this means I get to give her some grief back, knowing that she is competent in the kitchen. And you keep changing the subject whenever I bring love up,” he added, because he wasn’t going to allow his wife to distract him.

Calan pursed his lips and twisted his fingers in front of him. “You don’t need to keep professing your love to me just because Isabeau let out how I feel and you’re grateful for my care.”

Now Ian was a bit affronted. “Really, wife, do you not know me better than that? I’m not one to say anything I don’t mean, and while I appreciate your saving my life, there are other ways of showing my gratitude than telling a lie.”

Calan gazed down at his hands. “I didn’t mean to imply that you were lying… Not really. It’s only that I’ve been with recovering patients before, and it’s an emotional time. Words can be said and feelings confessed that are confused with gratitude.”

His wife’s obvious discomfort caused Ian to change tack. “Do you love me, Calan?”

The boy’s gaze flew up. “Of course, I do! Isabeau wasn’t simply telling you something she thought you wanted to hear.”

Calan’s earnest expression and the sincerity in his eyes helped give Ian strength more than any concoction or food ever could. “That makes me ecstatically happy, darling. And I believe you mean it and aren’t just saying those words because I almost died.”

Calan frowned. “You’re throwing my words back in my face.”

“Of course, I am.”

“I don’t like that.”

“I didn’t expect that you would.” Ian grinned. “I will let this topic lie for the moment, wife, if only because I’m starving all of a sudden. But we will come back to it—pretty much every day for the rest of our lives. Eventually, you’ll believe me.”

Calan threw up his hands. “Oh, you’re an impossibly smug man.”

Ian deepened his grin. “Yes, I really am. But you love me, nevertheless, and I…” He let his gaze finish his thought.

His wife didn’t take the bait. “I’ll get your food.” He stomped out in high dungeon.

Ian sighed and let his weakness take over him. He really was the luckiest of men, the poisoning notwithstanding. And although he hated how slowly his recovery was taking, it did give him time to ponder what to do about Celia. The woman was a menace, and while he wasn’t worried about her reaching him again, he feared that she would find a way to turn her ire on Calan. It was the next logical step in her mad plan—and it was insane. He hoped Calan realized that and wouldn’t be tempted to trust the woman with his own safety. Ian wasn’t going to let her hurt his wife. If Shadow Valley couldn’t bring itself to mete out the punishment she deserved, he would see to it himself. Calan might never forgive him, no matter what the woman had done, but Ian would worry about that later. Nothing mattered more than his wife’s safety.

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