Page 26 of His Unforgettable Bride
Was he being genuine and respectable, or the opposite? Not once had a slick-talking man ever caught her eye. They usually proved to be insincere and self-important.
She narrowed her gaze to him. Was he a womanizer? She’d give up two pence to know the truth.
He helped himself to a spoonful of soup, then another. “This nourishment is delicious, and I am feeling somewhat better.”
“I was going to ask but figured you might be weary of the question.”
“The sisters indeed fuss over me, although they mean well.” He took another taste of the soup. “My head still aches, though less intensely, and my memory continues to elude me, unfortunately.”
“I wish I knew how to prod your recollections, but sadly, I don’t.”
His brow arched. “Are you telling me you are not an expert on amnesia?”
“I’ve never heard the word until you arrived.” She tilted her head a notch. “With such a condition, how will you determine who you truly are?”
He wiped his mouth with the linen napkin. “I cannot stop thinking about that very question. For one thing, I shall confer with the constable at my earliest opportunity. Perhaps someone has reported a missing person.”
Why involve the law? Was there another way to learn the answers he sought? Maybe not. “You’ll go to him instead of him coming here, right?”
“Does it matter?”
Probably not. After all, she hadn’t done anything wrong at the Firths’. But Ruby had been so intent on regaining the stolen jewels, especially the Queen’s brooch. What if Ruby had alerted the law and persisted in accusing her? Would the crime eventually catch up to her here in Everly?
She could only pray it wouldn’t. After all, Ruby didn’t know where she’d moved.
Regardless, Juliet didn’t want a run-in with the local constable. Could she convince their patient to put it off? “The sisters said their nephew committed a crime. Are you sure you’re ready to meet with a lawman? Why not give it some time? Your memory might return before you know it.”
“What if it does not? I demand answers and must investigate the matter posthaste. Or whenever I am free of this bed.”
Juliet swallowed her additional protest and nodded. “Of course.”
How could she deny this poor man any leads that might help him discover his identity? She couldn’t. Doing so would be selfish. In fact, she understood better than most people what it was like to lose a family and be alone. He deserved her sympathy more than anything. And she intended to deliver it.
Eight
She must prepare herself, by habits of diligence
and economy, to become a poor man’s wife.
“Isense you have an aversion to constables.” An easy deduction as he sipped his soup.
Juliet gazed out the window at the sun starting to set. The view of her profile emphasized her sharp features—the point of her chin, the straightness of her nose, and the arch of her cheekbones. As she stretched, her black dress molded around her curves. Did she realize how beautiful she was?
“It’s a long, tedious story.”
He finished the last bite of the savory meal and placed the spoon back on the tray. “Believe it or not, I have a clear agenda to hear your tale.”
The hint of a smile reached her lips, yet she said nothing. She had intrigued him from the beginning, standing barefoot in her nightgown. She had warmed his room, tucked his covering into place, and brought him a drink to quench his thirst.
Most importantly, she had diminished his loneliness.
Was he a man who genuinely valued others, no matter their station? Was he fair? Considerate? Had he adequately thanked Juliet for her assistance, even once? Most likely not. “If I neglected to mention the fact earlier, I have appreciated your aid.”
When she turned and fully smiled, his breath hitched. Why such a strong reaction to a woman he barely knew? Of course, Juliet had shown him nothing but goodness, but his physical response to her was extreme. Was it not?
Had beautiful women always turned his head? What kind of man had he been, particularly regarding how he treated women?
Why did You choose this path for me, God?His hand roamed to his bandages, and he tentatively touched the most tender spot at his temple. Had his faith been strong or lazy in the past? Perhaps the latter since he failed to sense the answer?
