Page 42 of In Want of a Wife
Of course. She realized that, but her body didn’t seem to understand.
Rafe bumped her chin up with his fist, drawing her eyes up to meet his. “My brother wishes for a wife who is kind,” he said softly, “who is loving, and who laughs. That is what he needs, to fall in love with living again.”
“How do you know?”
He stepped back and winced as he lifted his arm to scratch his temple, darting his glance away from hers. “Because I know.”
A sinking realization washed over her, and she couldn’t help but smile, watching him squirm as she asked, “And what do you seek in a wife, Rafe?”
“Haven’t thought about it.” He reached back for her hand and dragged her forward. “Come on, I see an inn down the street.”
After inquiring at two inns about vacancies, they were referred to another much smaller establishment on the edge of the village.
An older couple worked in the gardens in front of the home as Lily and Rafe approached.
“Hello,” Rafe called out, pushing open the gate at the front of the squat brown house. It leaned toward the road as if, after standing forenough years, it was ready to lie down and rest. Its few windows held thick, wavy glass that somehow held off the late afternoon sun.
“We were wondering if you had any rooms available?”
The older woman turned from weeding and gawked at Rafe, then slowly shuffled to her feet and adjusted her spectacles. “We have a room left. Busy with the festival. What happened to you?”
“Only a room?” Rafe turned to Lily, muttering under his breath. She reached for his hand and squeezed.
“We were robbed a few miles back. All our luggage was stolen, and my…” She looked up at him, taking a big swallow. “My husband is hurt. If we could have a room and a doctor, that would be a great help.”
The older man walked next to his wife and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Damn it. Archie and John are at it again. The constable will be none too happy to hear about it.”
The old woman clucked. “I’m sorry. If you cannot pay…”
“I can,” Lily said.
“It’s a small room,” the older woman continued, “and there’s only one bed.”
Lily instantly understood. “We will make do. We are newlyweds, and we just wish to stay for the evening before we can continue on to visit family tomorrow.”
“Very well, very well.” The older woman wiped her forehead, smearing dirt across her skin. She pointed to Rafe. “You look like you had a rough time of it. Those scoundrels.”
“I managed well enough.”
Lily stood in the garden, then glanced up to the cloudless sky. Why was it so hot today? This morning had started off so well, and now…
Well now, she was following Rafe inside as the innkeeper gestured wildly around, lecturing them on her rules, and all Lily wished for was some fresh water and a nap. And a doctor for Rafe, even if he insisted otherwise.
She shivered, remembering as fear possessed her the moment the men turned on Rafe, and her one thought that she would lose him.
Although Rafe had insistedagainst it, the village surgeon did examine him. He could hear Lily pacing outside the door of their shared room the entire time. And something about that made his heart do some funny trick that he thought wasn’t funny at all.
It was trouble.
This whole trip had been one giant mistake.
He hadn’t planned on liking Lily so much, and he thought he could handle the time they had left together. But after their run in with the highwaymen, it was clear he would ruin everything for everyone else until he made that wrong right.
But they had touched her, and he couldn’t fix that. He couldn’t erase that fear or pain.
He had failed her.
Just as he had failed his sister.
