“Much better. Tired, weak, but better. Things are foggy, like I’ve had the strangest dream.”
“Of what?”
He swallowed, his eyes becoming glassy. “Mother, father. Do you remember the time I broke the window in the church? I dreamed of it. Only they were both there, lecturing me about it.” He smiled. “I’d never felt happier.”
Amelia broke and a sob slipped out. She pressed her forehead to Alston’s hand. Alston looked to Graham for help.
“Has she been like this the whole time?”
“We all have,” Graham said.
“You’ve been crying at my bedside? In your evening attire?” Alston teased.
Amelia lifted her head and glared at him. “You have no idea what we’ve been through, you hornet’s arse.”
Alston started to chuckle and winced again. “Tell me. I’m wide awake, now that I’ve slept so long.”
Graham and Amelia shared a heavy glance. Alston sluggishly looked between them.
“What is it? What have you done?”
Petrov took that as his moment to leave.
Alston frowned. “Just tell me.”
“We kept your injury a secret from Aunt Ruth, Nelson, and everyone else. They think you’ve gone to Stirling for sick sheep.”
“Sick sheep?”
“We didn’t know what else to say,” Graham said. “Amelia was certain if your aunt knew you were so injured she’d take over the household.”
“And try to marry her to Nelson,” Alston said. “I think I recall this discussion.”
“So we lied; we’ve been lying.” She pinned Graham with her gaze while Alston stared at his bowl of soup in thought.
She shook her head slightly, just for him to see. She didn’t want her brother to know about the engagement. And Graham understood why—Alston would never let it go. And if he knew the way Graham felt and the way he’d kissed Amelia and hungered for her, he’d make them marry for sure.
Graham cleared his throat, but the thick wedge of guilt remained. They wouldn’t be able to keep it a secret forever. Too many people knew. “I’ve been playing escort.”
“We’ve done the usual events, keeping up the lie so you could recover in peace,” Amelia added.
Alston nodded. “My thanks to both of you. Nelson might have tried to murder me if he’d known I was so weak and defenseless.”
Amelia nodded. Graham had to rip his gaze from her. Alston would see everything, otherwise. He would notice not only their usual tension and bitterness, but also the attraction, the friction.
“What do you need now?” Graham asked.
“I’ll summon Dr. Bradley to look me over again in the morning. He’ll shite himself.”
Graham chuckled. “He deserves it for the way he gave you up for lost.”
“I’m sure he’s had my coffin built,” Alston quipped.
“Stop it,” Amelia said. “Don’t joke about such things. Not yet.”
Alston smiled at her. “You look older than I remember. You look like her.”
“Who?”
