Page 54 of The Society Catch
‘Could you send a footman to the Colonel please, Starling? He has woken up and says he is feeling much better.’
Starling hurried off and Joanna was about to go upstairs to see if Alex had any news when she glimpsed the fine array of walking canes in the hall stand. She selected one which looked long enough for Giles and went to find Alex.
To her relief he was at least sitting down and demolishing a pile of sandwiches and a tankard of ale. He gestured Joanna to a chair and pushed the plate towards her.
‘Is there anything to drink?’
In answer he poured ale into a spare tankard and Joanna cautiously tried it. It was surprisingly good and she found her appetite had returned. Goodness knows what Hebe would say if she saw her cousin sitting quaffing ale out of a tankard, elbows on table and ham sandwich in hand.
‘Is there any news yet?’
‘The doctor emerged about fifteen minutes ago, told me not to be such a damn fool and stop worrying and went back in again. How is Giles?’
‘He’s been sleeping and has woken up saying he feels better – which I am not sure I believe – and asking for a footman. I’ll go back in a while if there is nothing I can do here.’
Alex’s mouth twisted into a rueful smile. ‘Unmarried girls and husbands are apparently of no use whatsoever at a childbed, so I suggest you go back to Giles. I am sorry I shouted at you, Joanna. By the way, Moonstone is quite unharmed and Black Cat will be fine. Hickling sent to tell me a while back.’
‘I do not blame you for being angry,’ Joanna said. ‘You must have hated to leave Hebe and to find Giles like that.’
They sat in companionable silence for a while, then Joanna went back to her room, washed and changed. The clock was just striking five as she tapped on the panels of Giles’s chamber.
‘Come in.’
He was sitting up in bed looking so much better that she could hardly believe it. Her surprise must have shown on her face. ‘Shave, wash, clean shirt, ale and a sandwich.’
‘Me too, all except the shave of course.’
‘Ale?’
‘I know, Hebe would be shocked. I have been keeping Alex company for a while. I think everything is all right, he is just finding the waiting, and the fact that no-one will tell him anything, very trying.’ She recalled the walking stick and held itup. ‘See what I found for you.’
‘Thank you. Does this mean you are not going to cluck over me?’
‘Of course,’ Joanna said briskly. ‘If you were William I would be clucking like a flock of hens, but you are far too old to need that. Besides, you have been wounded enough to know exactly what rest you need and when you should exercise.’
Giles regarded her, a quizzical look in his eyes. ‘Tell me, this man you love…’
‘Yes?’ Joanna felt instantly defensive. Now what was he going to ask her?
‘Would you do whatever he told you to?’
‘Yes…no. No, I would not, only if I agreed with him.’
‘Good. Would you mind locking the door?’
Joanna looked at him, realised that her mouth had dropped unbecomingly open and shut it with a snap. To be in a man’s bedroom was shocking enough, though probably even her mama would approve of her being with Giles in view of his injury. But a locked door was enough to compromise her utterly.
She shrugged and turned the key. ‘Why?’
‘Because I need to talk to you and I do not want to be interrupted. You locked itbeforeasking why.’
Joanna ignored that observation and went towards her chair.
‘Would you mind moving this pillow for me?’ It seemed perfectly well-positioned to her, but she went to do as he asked, was caught neatly round the waist and swung onto the bed beside him.
‘Giles!’ She wriggled but found herself firmly held.
‘I want to talk to you, and I do not want you to interrupt.’
