Page 12 of Lady of Charade
She raised her hands, sighing in exasperation.
“Do you have a valet? A trusted servant?”
“I have a valet and servant in one, but I cannot say he is trusted — except by my father,” David said, aware that Hampton would immediately send word to his father about his latest deeds. “If you would be so kind as to summon a hack, I will find myself room at an inn until I am recovered enough to return to my own rooms so that I am not questioned by anyone.”
“Absolutely not!” she exclaimed, and he shrank back ever so slightly, stunned at how much conviction she held within her tone. “I cannot allow you to be alone like this. Your head injury needs to be observed, and your wound addressed. As it is, I am fearful that it might not heal as it should. I do not currently have what I need to treat it properly, so I made do with what I have.”
“Can you find what you are searching for?”
“I would have to ask around, as I am sure it is available somewhere within London, however it can be mighty expensive, and I haven’t the means to purchase it.”
Once again, David was intrigued by who she was and just how a woman who attended all matter of social events with every level of the nobility could be living in such a place with apparently so little funds at her disposal.
Suddenly the fact that she was sitting there, judging him, when he knew nothing about her or what had brought her to her current place in life, rankled him. He was tired of others thinking him less than worthy simply because he enjoyed life — what else was he supposed to do? He had nothing but time on his hands with no real purpose to fill it.
“Find what you need and I’ll pay for it,” he said, a bit more harshly than he meant to. “You believe I deserved this.”
She sat up straighter at that. “I make no judgments,” she said with a shake of her head. “People come to me requiring various treatments, and I only ask for the circumstances in order to ascertain how to best treat their injuries. For example, in your case, I am now aware that you were injured with a blade that is likely quite unclean, which I believe cause greater concern.”
Sarah rose. “Well. I will dress and be off to find what you need. You must, however, promise not to try to escape again untreated. While you are more than welcome to leave at any time, of course, I would far prefer that you would do so accompanied by another who can ensure that you do not pass out in the middle of the street and find yourself back on my doorstep. It is already mid-day, so I should not be long.”
He saluted her as one would within the army, and he caught her attempt to hide her smile as she swept across the room, moving a privacy screen between them.
David swallowed. Was she going to dress within the same room as him, where he lay with half his body exposed? It was not as though he was modest, but despite his injuries, he was still a man, and she a woman to whom he couldn’t deny he was inexplicably attracted.
He watched her from the corner of his eye as she crossed beyond the screen, opened a wardrobe, and selected a practical muslin gown of a drab gray. Why did she own such a dress? It was more of what one might find on a woman of middle class. But then… here she apparently lived. She hurried behind the screen, and David couldn’t help but listen to her movements, identifying each rustle or slip of fabric with her current action — her wrapper removed, followed by her nightrail, both tossed over the top of the screen.
She must be standing there naked, he realized, and he felt his pulse quicken as he tried to keep the image from his mind, but he couldn’t help but picture what she must look like. He wondered if her soft, creamy skin was freckled anywhere besides her nose. She was compact, he thought, remembering their dance together. And despite the softness of her looks, he sensed she held strength within her, in both the physical sense as well as her own power.
He heard another rustle of fabric and pictured her clothing herself in her chemise and gown. Would she wear stays? His fingers itched as he imagined untying the laces as quickly as she did them up.
David cursed at his thoughts, attempting to dismiss them before she came out and found him in such a state. He sat up slowly and inched his way across the room to sit up against a wall. He had just finagled himself into a somewhat comfortable position when she emerged from the screen, her hair now pulled back behind her head in a loose chignon.
“You’ve been busy,” Sarah acknowledged. “Now then, let’s get you in bed, and then off I’ll go.”
Her words sent heat coursing through him once more, and all he could do was stare at her.
CHAPTER6
Sarah had nearly sighed aloud with exasperation when she emerged from behind the privacy screen. Mr. Redmond was sitting back against the wall, having obviously expended a great deal of effort to find his way there, when she was only going to help him into the bed anyway.
“What did you say?” he asked now, his eyes wide as though she had said something to completely shock him.
“I said, ‘Let’s get you into bed,’” she repeated, placing her nightrail and wrapper in the wardrobe before walking over to him, sitting behind him and lacing an arm around his back. He stilled at her action, and a tremor ran through her at the contact of their skin. She closed her eyes. She was a healer, and she was being ridiculous to think of anything besides this man’s health.
“Come,” she said, standing with him, and she could tell he was attempting to keep his weight from her as he reluctantly stood, and together they walked toward the bed.
“I’m fine,” he insisted, waving away her help. While Sarah didn’t believe him and was aware that it was likely primarily pride at stake here, she released him, and he nearly fell onto the bed. That head injury bothered her, but she was well aware there wasn’t much that could be done besides be grateful that, at the moment, he remained conscious.
“There’s a bottle beside the bed,” she said. “If you find yourself in too much pain, take a spoonful, but no more. I’ll return shortly, and will bring with me some sustenance for you as well.”
Satisfied that she had done all she could for now, she made for the door but stopped when she heard him speak behind her.
“You know, if you wanted me in your bed…” he said, causing Sarah to whirl around.
“I did not—” she began, ready to defend herself, but then she saw the grin on his face and knew he was teasing her. So here was the charm she had been warned about. She was pleased to see it emerge, for it meant his head would likely be fine.
“From what I have heard, Mr. Redmond,” she quipped, “It would take hardly any effort at all.”
