Page 82 of Crash Landing
“We are betrothed. Where else should I be but by your side?”Florence insisted, looking a little green.
Her voice sounded thin and wobbly, and this concerned him. “Will you listen to yourself, Florence? You are making too much of a mere flesh wound. You really ought to leave. Not only because you cannot handle the sight of my blood. Need I remind you we are not married yet? It isn’t appropriate for you to be in here.”
“Was it appropriate that you were shot?” Her eyes began to tear again. “How can I think about propriety when your life is at stake?”
He sighed. “Sebastian, bring over that chair. Florence, sit down before you faint and the doctor has another patient on his hands.”
“I am not going to faint.” She kissed him on the cheek and sank into the chair as soon as Sebastian brought it over.
The doctor voiced no opinion about her presence. He must have dealt with this often enough whenever a patient’s loved ones were present.
Yes, Florence surely counted as a loved one. But Trajan had not expected her to be so overset.
And yet he ought to have realized she hid a lovely softness beneath her brash and confident exterior. She’d needed that hard shell to protect her from an unloving family.
Butgad. She was so soft inside. So filled with love that she was aching to give.
However, she was also racked with guilt and completely torn apart because she continued to blame herself for his injury.
“Florence,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze, “I want you to stay with me, but you must stop crying. I am not going to die.”
She sniffled and nodded. Then cried a little more.
In truth, it felt good to be needed. And so good to be loved.
Especially good because Florence was the one who needed him and loved him. That she trusted him enough to discard her mask and show her true self was a major step for her.
In truth, it was monumental, for she had worked so hard to proveshe could stand on her own, be independent and fierce.
She dried her tears on the sleeve of her gown and cast him an achingly sweet smile that almost broke him.
He liked this gentler side of Florence very much.
Not that he ever wanted her to be tearful or helplessly trembling. This was not really in her nature. Even when scared, she would find the courage to fight with all her heart. But he wanted to fight alongside her, not be held at arm’s length because she was afraid to let anyone close.
Well, she was letting him close now. There was something deep and wonderful developing between them.
Was this what people meant when they spoke of true love?
Chapter Fifteen
Trajan held Florence’shand while the doctor stitched his wound.
In truth, he did not know which one of them was offering comfort, because they both seemed to need each other and took heart in holding on to each other. But he thought perhaps Florence needed him more.
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly. “Be strong for me, love. All right?”
She nodded.
He liked this feeling of caring for someone more than he cared for himself. They were betrothed, and although it had come about for the purpose of protecting Florence from Frampton, it had felt right and good from the start.
“I am going to rub a cleansing astringent on the area of the wound, Your Grace. This might sting a little.”
“I’m ready.” Trajan was inclined to like this doctor, who seemed a practical fellow and not prone to judging others. Apparently, he was the one who had treated his granduncle, and the staff thought very highly of him.
“So am I,” Florence said, tipping her chin up with determination. “What do you need me to do?”
“Just hold His Grace’s hand and offer him comfort,” the doctor said, arching an eyebrow and grinning at Trajan. “As you are already doing.”
