Page 106 of The Moonstone Pirate
They invited the constable to dine with them, but he politely declined, since his wife would have a meal waiting for him and he was eager to get back to his family. “Then I shall not delay you,” Uncle Cormac said.
Draco did not return to the table. “Parrot must be hungry and exhausted. He also smells a bit…ripe. Who knows where he finally found Walter? I had better get him home and bathed.”
“Let us take care of it here,” Imogen suggested. “Cook will have scraps for him, and I can wash him right after we finish our supper.”
He laughed. “You, Imogen?”
She nodded. “Yes, why not?”
Melrose cleared his throat. “Might I suggest I tend to it? Parrot is quite used to me.”
Deandra clapped her hands. “Thank you, Melrose. It is no wonder everyone adores you. May we finish our supper now?”
Imogen was not surprised when Draco went along with Melrose, but he soon returned to the dining table in good spirits. “Burness, your staff is treating Parrot like a prince,” he said with a jovial chuckle. “I cannot thank you enough.”
“It is nothing to what you have done for us. Imogen is our sweetheart, and you protected her.”
Draco smiled at her.
Imogen could not wait for his assignment to be over. He claimed to love her to the depths of his soul. Her heart had yet to stop fluttering.
But there was still business to accomplish. They had not had a chance to review the books of horse sketches and London scenes she had brought down. Imogen had brought them back up to her bedchamber before supper, but resolved to look them over tonight and let Draco know if she found anything of interest.
When the meal was over, everyone retired to the parlor. Imogen tried to stifle her yawns, but she was exhausted, and it was obvious to everyone. Draco seemed to be holding up better, but it was not long before he bade everyone a good evening and left with Parrot on his heels.
Albert retired to the library to read. Imogen could not keep her eyes open and excused herself, too.
Deandra went upstairs with her. “You poor thing. I slept away the afternoon, but you kept busy and have yet to recover from your ordeal.”
The only ordeal for Imogen was worrying about Draco. That had taken so much out of her that she forgot about her own wrist sprain, which really was nothing and did not hurt at all. She could have taken off the bandage around her wrist at any point in the day and not felt any discomfort. Draco, however, had anugly row of stitches along the upper part of his arm that had to be sore and throbbing. She knew he was too stubborn to take the laudanum he had been prescribed.
She washed up, changed out of her gown, and donned her nightclothes. A book of horse sketches was on her bed, so she scampered under the covers, intending to peruse this book.
Deandra was chattering away, happy that Walter had been captured. Imogen merely nodded and gave an occasional grunt while looking through her sketches. She must have been more tired than she realized, because the next thing she knew, the sun was shining in her face and all her books were on the floor.
Deandra plunked herself down on Imogen’s bed. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” she crooned in a merry singsong that made Imogen roll over and bury her head under her pillow.
“Ugh, how can you be so cheerful? What time is it, Deandra?”
“Almost ten o’clock. Phoebe said I ought to let you sleep, but I wanted to make certain you were all right.”
Imogen sat up in alarm and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “You should have awakened me earlier. Has Draco come by yet?”
Deandra pursed her lips. “Is he expected?”
“No.” Imogen sighed and fell back against her pillow. “I just wondered if he would.”
“Perhaps he will stop by later this afternoon. What shall we do today? Your uncle said we are not to leave Westgate Hall. I suppose he just wants to be sure that horrible Walter is still locked up and not able to cause more mischief. But I do feel bad for the injured soldiers who are expecting us to visit them. They’ll be terribly disappointed.”
Imogen patted Deandra’s hand. “We will make it up to them tomorrow. I’m feeling a bit lazy today, anyway.” She was not going to mention Draco’s meeting with the Irishman, but it was on her mind, and she would not stop worrying until he stoppedby to see her afterward. “Deandra, I think I am going to lie abed a while longer. I’ll ring for Betty to bring me up a cup of tea.”
“Your aunt is taking her boys over to Chloe’s. They’ll probably have a picnic on her beach. Would you mind if I joined them? Moonstone Cottage is such a lovely place. No wonder Chloe and Fionn love it there. And how convenient that it is just next door to Westgate Hall.”
“That is a lovely idea. Enjoy the day.” That would leave Imogen free to review her sketches. “Aunt Phoebe and Chloe will love your company. Where is my uncle?”
“I think he rode to St. Austell Grange again today to meet with the Duke of Malvern and his estate manager, Mr. Weston. But he was most insistent that we were to stay close to home. Oh, should I stay with you?”
“No,” Imogen said. “Chloe’s place counts as staying close to home. He only meant we weren’t to take a trip into Moonstone Landing.”
