Page 17 of Lady of Charade
“Clean hands?”
“Yes,” she said with a nod. “My mother always told me it helps in recovery. I have no idea why.”
“Interesting,” he murmured. “Well, fortunately I will return here and you can see to me yourself later on, to ensure that I have followed your instructions accordingly.”
“You do not need to return,” she said. “I have lived here on my own in perfect safety for quite some time now. Nothing has changed.”
“On that, you are wrong,” he returned, holding up a finger. “For what has changed is that I now know you are here alone, and I could not sleep well at night knowing that you were here in danger.”
“I’m not in any dang—” she tried to protest, but he cut her off.
“I will be back,” he promised, and she warily watched him leave, wondering if he would be true to his word — and whether or not she wanted him to be.
CHAPTER8
When David pushed open the door to his lodgings, Hampton was sitting upon a chair, darning a sock. He looked up and then rose as David entered, nodding to him with only the words, “Good morning, Mr. Redmond.”
“Good morning?” David said with some shock. “That is all you have to say?”
“Is there another matter to which I must attend?” Hampton asked as David practically stumbled into the room.
“Ah, if you could go pay the hack I hired to convey me here, I would most appreciate it.”
Hampton nodded, finding the petty cash David kept nearby and leaving to pay the man.
David could hardly believe it. He had been gone a few days now, and his one servant did not seem to think it a noteworthy event? Sure, there had been times in days gone by where he had spent most of his nights with a mistress of one sort of another, but never had he simply been gone for both days and nights without warning.
Hampton returned and resumed his duties as David stared down at him.
“Did my parents inquire about me?”
“I am sorry, Mr. Redmond, but in what regard?”
“About my whereabouts,” David said, attempting to hold onto his patience. “You do realize I have not been home now for two nights?”
“Ah, yes, Mr. Redmond,” Hampton said, then looked up at him conspiratorially. “I assumed you were… with company. But to answer your question, no, your parents have not inquired about you.”
“Has… anyone else?”
“No, Mr. Redmond.”
David sat heavily upon the chair next to Hampton, who hurriedly collected his work and moved into his own sitting area. David rubbed at his temple. Not one person had worried about where he might have been. It made him feel slightly sick to his stomach.
Was there really no one who cared enough about him to wonder as to his whereabouts? Or was it simply that his own usual habits were so careless that no one questioned the fact he had been out of touch for more than a couple of days?
The fact was, no matter the reason, he had no one close enough in his life to take any notice. It shouldn’t bother him. This was how he wanted to live, was it not? Unencumbered, without having to answer to anyone? And yet… somehow it left him feeling altogether alone.
He reflected on the two days and nights he had spent with Miss Jones, though much of it had been rather a blur, and the first night abbreviated. She had been concerned for him, taking note of his continued whereabouts, ensuring that he recovered. While clearly, she was doing so because he was a man in need of medical care, at the same time, he could admit that it was… comforting, in a way, to have someone there looking after him. He sighed. His injury was causing him to go soft in the head.
David knew he did have some manner of wits about him, however, for another thought that wouldn’t leave his mind was the feeling of Miss Sarah Jones’ lips upon his. He couldn’t pinpoint just what it was about her that called to him. She did not seem to have any feminine wiles, no powers of seduction, practiced ploys, or artful methods of making herself up in order to catch the eye of a gentleman. Those were the women he typically pursued, for then he had far less fear of them asking for anything in return from him.
Miss Jones was the type of woman he avoided — one who would only provide attention to a man she was interested in for more than a moment in time. She would be looking for commitment, for attachment.
Her soft vulnerability, however, combined with that surprising touch of inner strength, was more enticing than he cared to admit.
Then there was her story — so mysterious, and yet he had appreciated the fact that she had been honest with him. She was a lady of charade with her attempts to mask her true upbringing. If others within thetonfound out she was actually the illegitimate daughter of a man within their set… there would be uproar, he was sure. He wondered what Lady Alexander had to gain from all of this. He reminded himself to ask Clarence what he thought of the fact that the woman had agreed to assist Miss Jones, and yet not completely support her nor look out for her best interests.
For how could one leave a woman like Miss Jones to fend for herself in the middle of London? It was unheard of — and now left him with the responsibility to ensure she was safe. For he couldn’t very well leave her to her own defenses now that he knew that truth of her situation, could he? She had likely saved his life. At the very least, he could protect her.
