Swinton ushered her into the entryway and closed the door. “What have you brought?”
“Ingredients.” She lifted the lid to allow him a peek. “Mr. T adores chestnut soup and pupton of apples. He should have it as a reward for dogged perseverance.”
“You could have provided us with a menu and saved yourself time and money,” Swinton chided her as he accepted the basket.
She could have, yes, but Virginia had enjoyed shopping for Theodore’s favorite foods. Spending her pin money on ingredients was a distant second to hand-preparing a home-cooked meal, but for a moment it allowed her to believe she could offer something special.
Swinton bowed. “I’ll take this to the kitchen.”
Virginia crossed to the corridor and paused. Swinton had not mentioned where to find her patient. Theodore could be in the front parlor, in his private drawing room, anywhere at all.
Self-consciously, she tiptoed into the primary drawing room.
She hoped Swinton would warn her if the Duke of Azureford were also at home, but all the same, it was best not to go barging about like a herd of elephants.
After having determined that Theodore was not at the front of the cottage, she headed toward the rear.
Near the guest quarters, voices spilled from an open door. She froze just out of view. Did Theodore have company? Should she leave, rather than intrude?
“I would not have dreamed it, sir,” came a male voice she did not recognize. “I’d come to think of you and that chair as nigh inseparable.”
“That’s because you’ve feathers for brains,” came the warm, familiar growl that heated Virginia to her toes. “Miss Underwood never doubted. You could learn a thing or two from someone as wise as her.”
Virginia’s breath caught. He thought her wise?
“Am I to join you on her visits?” the young male voice asked.
“You are not,” came Theodore’s laconic reply. “Mind yourself. And watch out for the—”
“Is that devil-cat hiding right behind me?” The words tumbled forth in a rush. “Is Duke going to—”
A loud hiss rent the air.
Virginia grinned.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the lad babbled. “You said never to say ‘duke’ and now I’ve gone and said ‘duke’ and—”
Another hiss from her clever cat.
Virginia’s smile wobbled. Perhaps she was the only one who understood Duke’s charms. Perhaps Theodore would rather—
“Don’t apologize,” came his voice. “If that abhorrent creature hadn’t infiltrated the cottage, I wouldn’t have Miss Underwood.”
Her heart melted. She owed Duke a lifetime of treats for that trick.
“But, sir, you said you didn’t wish to talk to anyone at all.”
“I don’t want to talk to anyone but her,” came the terse reply. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
Eek! Virginia backed away double-time. She made a point of letting her feet fall in heavy steps as she neared the open door once more.
“She’s here!” came the lad’s excited whisper.
“I have ears,” Theodore replied.
Virginia stepped into the doorway as if she’d overheard nothing. “Good afternoon! I’ve—”
Her jaw fell open. Theodore was on his crutches!
