Page 24 of A Dream of Redemption
The memory of the kiss heated her blood. Maybe not so indifferent.
She waited to hear more but there was only silence. She took a couple of steps back and then with some noise entered the room. Blake looked at her with interest.
Helen spied the whiskey. “I see the patient is feeling better. Are there any signs of fever?” she asked.
Blake shook his head. “He’s declined more opiates but I’m simply telling him he’s not to get up.”
“Well, that is good news.” She looked at Clary and then said, “I think I shall organize a carriage to take me home tomorrow morning. It’s not that I wish to go, but if I am away from home any longer, gossip may start.”
“You don’t have to explain to me. I’m surprised you’ve stayed this long.” Clary shared a glance with Blake, and a flash of relief crossed his handsome features.
She could feel her face flush with heat. “I feel responsible for your condition. You pushed me out of the way and got hurt protecting me.”
“You were with him? I can’t believe he took you out on the streets,” Blake said incredulously.
“He didn’t. I went out with Boon to warn him Glover’s men were setting a trap for him.”
Blake’s mouth firmed. “No wonder he wants you to go home. This is not a game, Lady Helen. Glover and his ilk are dangerous. They are men who will do anything for money.”
“There is no need to scold me, Mr. Blake. I am fully aware of my foolishness, and my responsibility for Mr. Homeward’s injury.”
“Is that why you have stayed so long—the guilt?” Clary’s words drew her up short. What could she say,No, it’s because I care for you?
Like the coward she was, she quickly nodded.
“Well, there is no need to feel guilt, my lady. Clary may have come off worse if he’d been oblivious to Glover’s attack. The men were more interested in what was under your skirts than killing him.”
“Blake, that is quite enough,” Clary scolded.
Helen’s face heated further. “I’m just pleased Mr. Homeward’s injury was not worse.”
“As long as he doesn’t try to go after Glover until those stitches have started to bind, Clary should be fine. Mrs. Thorn will watch after him. She’ll call me at any sign of infection.”
“You can see me? I am here? There is no need to talk about me as if I’m a fool.”
They both ignored him. “I expect you’ll be looking forward to going home in the morning. It looks as if he’s going to be grumpy tonight. Maybe I should give him more opiates?” Blake laughed.
“Another whiskey would not go astray right now,” Clary said with a wince.
He sat up and she drank in his wide, strong shoulders. The muscles in his arms flexed as he held out a glass toward Blake to refill. Most of his torso was covered in bandages as the cut ran all the way down his right side, but she could see a sprinkling of black hair curl over the top of the linen. She really did try not to look but what woman would not take the opportunity to drink her fill of such beauty. “Perhaps you should have that whiskey with a bit of food in your stomach. Shall I send one of the boys to the kitchen?”
“Don’t bother. I’ll send for some food on my way out,” Blake said as he took his leave. At the door he gave a grin. “And you behave. I don’t want to find those stitches torn in the morning.” On a wink he shut the door behind him.
There was an awkward silence before Helen said, “Shall I read to you? You slept through my reading last night so I assume it will help you fall asleep.”
“I suppose you’d report me if I tried to stand up and find Richard.”
“Absolutely. Please, for me, do as Blake says. I couldn’t bear it if you tore those stitches. It was bad enough knowing you were in pain the first time. And don’t look at me like that. I’m going home tomorrow so then you can do as you please. I won’t be around to hear you cry out in pain if you do something stupid like go after Glover in this condition.”
His reply was simply to hold out his glass for her to refill it. Once she’d done so, she took a deep breath and asked, “Are we going to talk about the kiss?”
“I thought you were going to read to me.”
“It was my first ever kiss so I wanted to ask a few questions.”
Clary’s eyes darkened and flared with heat but his mouth firmed. “It should never have happened.”
“I thought it was rather clever. You kissed me so that Glover couldn’t see who we were. I did wonder why the kiss went on for so long though. I’m pretty sure Glover had moved off, but you still continued with the kiss.” At the time she’d never wanted the kiss to end. Her body had almost burst into flames, and it wasn’t fear that had made her heart pound.
