"I gaze at you and I can say no other." He stepped backward and inclined his head in deference. "I leave you to your unpacking and your rest. I return in a few minutes. Go nowhere without me."
His orders thrilled her. As long ago on that enchanted night, he was the epitome of her perfect man. She would refuse him nothing.
"I promise you I won't."
* * *
Outside Fiona's door,Thomas waited to show Charlton to his own room.
"If there is anything more I might get for you, my lord, do ring."
"I will, Thomas. Neither Lord Bridges nor I have brought valets with us, so we appreciate your attentions. As soon as my trunks are brought up, I will unpack myself. Thank you."
The man made for the door, but another footman arrived bearing the bottle of brandy that Fiona had asked for them.
"Shall I pour for you, my lord?"
"No. That will be all."
He deposited the bottle and four small glasses on a tall table. As he left, two more footmen arrived with his luggage.
Bridges knocked at the door.
"Come in!" Charlton waved to him to enter. "Do sit, if you wish."
His friend took a chair near the fire while Charlton began to pour. “Will you join me?”
But Bridges refused the glass. "None for me, thank you. Got Lady Fiona settled, did you?"
“I put her to a comfortable chair and propped her up with cushions.” He was in a quandary, disturbed at his own actions. Gruff with her at first, it was no surprise she wouldn’t remember him straight away. Still he was drawn to her strength and her pluck. She was as he remembered her...but somehow sadder. He wished to learn why. He smiled at his friend. “I warned her not to move until I returned. I also asked for sturdier bandages with which to rewrap her ankle. I'll go back in a minute to do that. Luckily for her, her injury is minor. Ankle's sore now, but it will heal quickly if she's careful."
"Your efforts are appreciated, I'm certain," Bridges said with a wry grin.
"Hmm. By many. But for this lady?" Charlton winced as he took the opposite chair and a quick sip of his brandy. Why had she been so irritable toward him at first? Women liked him, usually upon sight. "I'd wager not in this decade."
"The battlefield teaches so many lessons."
"Charm is not among them." Charlton pursed his lips and nodded toward the two footmen. He disliked servants who gossiped and he gave them little information to spread wide.
"Glad to hear she is not badly injured."
"I hope not too." Charlton leaned toward him. "I was a bit of a prig, wasn't I?"
Bridges arched both brows. "Do you think?"
"No need to beard the goat. I was. And I did offer her an apology."
"Did you? Good of you. Did she accept?"
"She did. And you?" Charlton sat back, a grin on his face as he tipped his head. "You know Lady Mary well?"
"I did once."
"And wish to again."
Bridges smiled. "Obvious, is it?"
He lifted his glass toward his friend. "Like minds are not often discovered by accident in the middle of an abandoned road."
