Page 63 of His Highland Duchess
He exhaled sharply. “Yes, well… best to be safe.”
There was an awkward tension between them, unfelt now for weeks, as they had lately existed in a state of comfort and companionship that was easy and natural. This new tension was all to do with Lysander, too; of that he had no doubt. It was as if she could sense his confusion and worry, trying to puzzle it out while careful not to say the wrong thing.
“The doctor says that you will be fine,” he said finally. “Bed rest, however. For the rest of the day at least.”
“Aye, he told me.”
“And it will be best if you take it easy the next few days,” he continued, feeling the urge to say something. “I will instruct the staff to accommodate you in this.” On instinct, he rested a hand on her leg, above the covers, however. Squeezing it, he looked at her and offered a tight smile, wanting to look as if there was nothing harrowing on his mind, while knowing how easilyMargaret could read him. “Another week and all this will be is a bad memory.”
“I still cannae believe it,” she sighed. “I was certain that Spotty was locked indoors. What are the chances?”
“It was an unfortunate accident,” he agreed. “But let us not worry about it. That you are fine is what we should focus on.” Another smile, just as awkward.
She returned it, and in her eyes he saw hope. Clearly, she could tell that something was the matter, but she was trying to look past it. Fluttering her eyelashes. Shifting a little closer down the bed. As this accident had forced Lysander to question everything he thought he knew, for Margaret, he wondered if it had only confirmed things that she might not have been certain of.
I know what she wishes of me. Before she fell, it felt as if she was about to ask the same question that had been on my mind for over a week. Funny that if she had asked, I would have given an answer that she wanted to hear. But now…
“Lysander…” Margaret’s voice was soft and unsure. “There’s something we need to talk about.”
Lysander swallowed, knowing what it was. He nodded his head and forced himself to look at her, his mind racing as he tried to find the bravery he knew he needed.This is just me overthinking things. That is all. I know what I want. I know what I need to say…
“Before the accident, I was going to…” She shook her head and laughed at herself. “There is something I have been meaning to say for a while now. That I have wished to, but I hesitated over it because…” She sighed and smiled. “I do not ken why, honestly. But considering the circumstances, I think now is as good a time as any.”
“Wh-what do you wish to speak of?” he asked, his voice cracking with nerves.
“You and I,” she said. “I think we need to –”
“Margaret!” A high-pitched screech ripped through the room.
“Margaret!” another followed.
They both looked over just in time to see Aurelia and Lorena charging for them. Behind stood Mr. Jeffries with an apologetic look on his face. “I tried to keep them back as long as I could, Your Grace, but they were a handful.”
“It is fine,” Lysander said, meaning it, as he had just been saved, and he knew it.
“Girls!” Margaret braced herself as the two girls threw themselves on her.
“Girls!” Lysander echoed. “Careful.”
“What happened?” Aurelia asked immediately, her arms now wrapped around Margaret’s neck.
“Is Spotty hurt?” Lorena asked.
Margaret laughed. “We are both fine…” She frowned and looked at Lysander for confirmation. He nodded his assurance, even if he was not certain. The truth was, he had not seen the puppy since the incident. But in that, he had an idea.
“Perhaps I should go and check on him.” He rose from the bed. “That will give the three of you a chance to catch up.”
“Oh…” Margaret looked after him.
“We will talk later,” he assured her quickly. As he did, he stepped toward her, leaned in, and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “I promise.”
She did not look happy about the delay, but the girls were all over her, and there was little she could do. Besides, this was a conversation best saved for when they were alone. And they both knew it.
“Tell us what happened,” Aurelia demanded.
“Tell us!” Lorena joined in.
Margaret laughed at their eagerness, happy to entertain, even happier to be the center of their attention.
