Page 81 of A Wicked Game

She wantedallof him, or nothing at all.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Harriet had little opportunity to wonder what Morgan planned to do to “prove his love.” Mrs. Jennings bustled in only a short while later and the two of them busied themselves getting the house ready for her father’s return.

Knowing it would be difficult for him to navigate the stairs with bandages covering the top half of his head, Harriet borrowed a folding campaign bed from Jem Cooper and set it up in the back room next to father’s armchair so he could move easily between the two. She arranged a small tilt-top table next to the chair so he would have somewhere to put his food, and ensured his favorite lap rug was ready and waiting.

He arrived home as she was finishing her lunch. Doctor Saunders escorted him down from the carriage, and the two of them guided him slowly into the shop.

It was a little alarming to see Father so helpless, and her heart gave an odd twist at the short gray stubble that covered his chin and cheeks—she’d never seen him anything other than clean-shaven, and the tiny lapse seemed to underscore how frail and vulnerable he was.

“Father, it’s so good to see you!” She stroked his hand and spoke a little louder than usual so he could hear her through the layers of bandages over his ears.

His mouth turned up in a smile. “I wish I could say the same, Harry my girl! Can’t see a thing with this blasted mushroom on m’head.”

His jovial response reassured her no end. “Don’t worry that his speech is a little slurred,” Doctor Saunders said quietly as they lowered him to lie on the bed. “It’s a common side effect of the laudanum he’s been given.”

He pulled a piece of paper from his coat along with a small blue glass bottle. “Here, I’ve written precise instructions on how to care for him, and when to readminister the laudanum. His dose will gradually decrease over the next few days to ensure he’s in the least amount of discomfort.”

Harriet nodded, pleased to see that Father had already started to doze.

“Don’t let him remove the bandages for at least two days. Many patients report being able to see almost immediately after surgery, but I prefer to keep the eyes covered for a little while to prevent infection.” He sent her a friendly nod. “I’ll come back to check up on him in a couple of days if that suits you, Miss Montgomery?”

“That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

The doctor tipped his hat. “Glad to help a friend of Captain Davies.”

Harriet’s stomach flipped at the mention of Morgan, but she managed a serene smile. “Well, I wouldn’t exactly call Captain Davies afriend, exactly. More of an acquaintance.” Her conscience gave her a guilty little stab for that patent falsehood. “His brother married my cousin Madeline. And his sister married myothercousin, Tristan.”

The doctor raised his brows and chuckled. “My, what a tangled web! It sounds as if you and Captain Davies are inextricably linked—whether you wish to be or not.”

She tried not to wince at the terrible accuracy of thatstatement. Fate had certainly conspired to bring them into each other’s orbit. Whether there was any way toescapewas another matter entirely.

After the doctor had left, she spent the rest of the day caring for her father, even though he spent a great deal of the time asleep. Still, making endless cups of tea was a welcome distraction that prevented her from dwelling on Morgan and the wonderful, sinful things they’d done.

The following day passed uneventfully, apart from a brief visit from Maddie to check on Father’s progress.

“Morgan arrived just as I was leaving,” she said blithely. “And Rhys had already invited himself over for breakfast, so I probably had a lucky escape. All three Davies brothers in the same room is playing with fire. One never knows quite how things will progress. They’re just as likely to throw punches at one another as they are to have a sensible conversation.” She gave a wicked chuckle. “Sometimes they’re completely uncivilized.”

Harriet felt her cheeks heat with betraying color and Maddie raised her brows in avid fascination. She took a demure sip of tea, but Harriet’s heart began to pound at the speculative twinkle in her cousin’s eye. Maddie had always been fiendishly good at ferreting out her secrets.

“Gryff let slip that Morgan came to guard you the other night while Uncle Henry was away.”

Harriet took a desperate gulp of her own tea, but it was too hot and she began to cough. Maddie put down her cup and gave her a helpful whack between the shoulder blades.

“Thank you,” Harriet wheezed, mopping the front of her dress with a napkin. “I wasn’t expecting it to be so hot.”

“Morgan’s visit, or the tea?” Maddie lifted her brows.

Harriet choked again. “Maddie!”

“Harriet!” Maddie countered, laughing. “Don’t youdare try to tell me that nothing happened between the two of you because I shan’t believe it.”

“Nothing happened,” Harriet said desperately. “He came, he slept on the chaise in the drawing room, and he left in the morning satisfied that no mad Frenchmen or mapmakers with a grudge had tried to kill me in the night.”

Maddie gave a disbelieving snort. “I bet that wasn’t the only reason he leftsatisfied. You seem to be forgetting that I’mmarriedto one of those devilish Davieses, Harry. I know precisely how irresistible they can be.Ibet he came, he saw, and he conquered. Just like Julius Caesar.”

“I resisted!”

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