Page 50 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
“I’m a friend helping a friend. Why can’t you accept anyone’s help? It doesn’t always have to be about pity or lust.”
“I’d prefer lust.”
But he let her help him toward the door.
“You know, Simon, you’ve walked so much at night that you know your way about.”
“And you got that from tonight?”
“Tonight was an aberration. But if you’d walk around even more—say, by day—you’d become more proficient at it.”
“I hate not knowing who’s in a room.”
“Then tell everyone that. When you enter a room, they should know to tell you they’re there. You’re not imposing on anyone that way. Everyone here cares about you. Look how much you pleased them by simply sharing your meals.”
For a silent moment, she regarded him, trying to find the emotions he hid behind his expressionless face.
“I’ll think about it,” he finally said.
But there was a quirk to his lips that made her think she had won this point.
She opened the door, checked the corridor to make sure it was empty, and then guided his hand to the doorframe. “Good night.”
~oOo~
The next day, while the ladies were just sitting down to luncheon, deep in conversation about their next London trip, Simon came into the dining room—alone.
Louisa understood the significance immediately, and her heart lifted with gladness. Simon let his fingers trail along the chairs as he walked toward his place at the head of the table. Louisa almost called out a warning, because Lady Wade’s chair was several inches farther out than the empty ones next to her.
But Simon’s cane tapped the leg of the chair, and with his fingers he found his way around it. Startled, Lady Wade frowned up at him, then understanding flooded her face, and her eyes moistened with tears. She stared hard at Georgie, who gaped at Simon, then put a finger to her lips.
Simon pulled out his chair, sat down, and gave them all a smile. “This silence among you three is rather obvious. No, Manvil did not accompany me. Yes, it’s a miracle. Can we eat?”
“Oh, Simon,” his grandmother said fondly. “I knew you could do it.”
“I’m trying, Grandmama. But you’ll have to promise that when I enter a room, someone tells me who’s there.”
“Oh, of course. And right now, it’s Georgie, Louisa and I.”
He grinned. “Thank you.”
Louisa took a chance. “You know, my lord, I have been thinking about the way to serve you food. I know you usually have only one item on your plate.”
“Makes things simpler,” he said dryly. “But do you plan to change that, too?”
Lady Wade and Georgie looked between them with obvious curiosity.
Louisa blushed. “What if we try four items, and tell you where they are? Like top, bottom, left, right.”
“I don’t wish to unduly burden the servants,” he said, putting his napkin in his lap.
Georgie flashed a worried look at Louisa.
But Louisa struggled on. “They’re already preparing several plates now. I don’t think it’s any more of a burden to place the food on one plate in a certain position.”
He sighed. “Don’t you feel you’re burdening the poor blind man with too many new things in one day?”
“Simon,” Lady Wade scolded. “I haven’t noticed any self-pity, so you can’t start now.”
