And just to prove what a hopeless ninny-hammer he was, his cock came to high alert at the thought of being taken down by a flame-haired warrior woman.
There was a polite cough behind him followed by, “Lieutenant Bourne?”
“Yes?” He continued staring out the window, not yet ready to turn around and reveal his predicament.
“There is a gentleman to see you, a Captain Bellingham.”
He whirled around in shock and stepped behind a chair, leaning in for support. “How long has he been waiting?”
“Not long. When you weren’t in the duke’s chambers, I came here…”
“Which sitting room?”
The footman grinned. “Follow me.”
When Richard joined his captain, Bellingham turned with one eyebrow raised in either curiosity or annoyance. He hoped it was the former.
“I had to see for myself what sort of injury has taken you down for days.”
“Sorry, Sir. I’m sure I can…”
A conspiratorial smile touched his commanding officer’s lips. “I think I understand the gravity of your position. Young Lord Blandford introduced me to the ferocious beast that took you down.”
Too late, Richard noticed a trail of drool across Captain Bellingham’s otherwise immaculate uniform jacket.
“And the young man also filled me in on how much his mother has enjoyed nursing your wounds the last several days.”
“Sir, I…”
“Now that I see you’ve suffered nothing more than a knock on the head — surely the hardest part of your body — I feel more confident in leaving you in the capable hands of Lady Blandford and her servants.” Clearly, Bourne’s commanding officer was enjoying his discomfort. A hot flush moving fast from his neck to his cheeks caught him unawares.
“Captain Neville was concerned about your health as well but is busy with the new recruits. Dawson has been like a man afire ever since your, ah, accident. We’ve taken on nearly two-thirds of the quota we need to return to the squadron.”
“I can assure you I’ll be good as new in no time at all. I’ll return to the ship tonight if you like.”
His captain and old comrade-in-arms gave him a long, assessing look. “No, I think a bit of domesticity and rest will do you a world of good before we set back out to sea.” He walked to the doorway and peered up and down the hallway before closing the door behind him and returning. “Besides, Lady Blandford’s young lad seems to need a bit of male companionship. He looks up to you, couldn’t stop jabbering about you. You haven’t had a proper leave in a long time. Take some time off. Neville can spare you awhile.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And Bourne,” He lowered his voice. “Lady Blandford is not like one of those Spanish ladies you’ve loved and abandoned.”
“No. Sir.”
“Good. I’m glad we have an understanding.”
With that, Captain Bellingham left for the hired hack awaiting him in the lodge’s circular drive.
4
The Madeira with which Harriet had liberally dosed her tea made the drafty passageway to her chambers seem actually pleasant for a change. The tenseness in her neck had abated, and for the first time since the accursed Royal Marine had invaded her predictable existence, she was not worried about what would happen to Nicholas, or what the neighbors or servants would think.
During her tea with Nana, she could have sworn every time she’d turned away to speak to the cook or housekeeper, her grandmother had had a guilty look on her face. The Madeira bottle had looked as though way more of the amber liquid was gone than should have been from Harriet’s own judicious sips.
“Lady Blandford?”
When she whirled at the sound of her name, there, with his shoulders nearly filling the narrow lodge passageway, was Lieutenant Bourne.
The heat already raging beneath her breastbone ratcheted up another notch. “Why are you not resting in bed?”
