“Yes, she’s been through quite the ordeal. The lady’s maid that was supposed to accompany her stole her money. She rode the overnight mail coach alone. Luckily, there was a matron on board who took her under her wing and made sure Miss Blakewood made it here safely.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Blakewood are still traveling? Do they know about your marriage?”
Amelia shrugged. “Graham sent a message, but we haven’t had a reply.”
“Miss Blakewood must have been frightened. Is she all right?” Sam asked.
“She’s recuperating.”
“When she is feeling better, bring her here. I’d like to reacquaint myself.” Sam tried to think back. Had it really been two years since he’d last seen or spoken with Blakewood’s sister? It couldn’t have been that long, and yet that was the last memory he had of her. Sitting at a table with her parents, too shy to speak to him. He couldn’t recall her exact age, though.
Amelia frowned. “I don’t want her to disturb you.”
“Disturb me? How?”
“She sniffled a little when I showed her to her room. It might be best she stay away from you if she catches ill.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “She won’t kill me with her sniffles.”
Amelia glared at him. “I won’t risk it.”
Sam tried to push himself up to a sitting position, cursing the pain, but damn it, he needed to show her he was fine—or would be fine, given enough time.
“Sam, don’t.” She leaped up and set her hands on his shoulders. “You shouldn’t move.”
Sam groaned. His arse ached from laying here so long. “I’m not made of glass, Amelia. I have survived against all odds. Clearly, I’m not going to perish. But if you won’t let me out of this bed, you may as well finish me off yourself. I’ll go mad.”
“You’re still healing. Dr. Sloan said it will take time. And I’d think you’d want to take as much time as possible to delay your wedding.”
Sam huffed as he lay back. “Don’t remind me. I try to think of it as little as possible.”
She smoothed the coverlet and avoided his stare. “Yes, well... you needn’t worry about it right now. Just rest. Please, for my sanity, don’t push yourself too hard. We just got you back and I won’t risk losing you again. If Miss Blakewood does notbecome ill, I’ll have her come to distract you when Graham and I can’t sit with you.”
It was a reasonable compromise, he had to admit. And something Amelia had said sparked another idea as well. The longer it took him to recover, the more time he’d have to find a way out of the contract. As long as heappearedinfirm, Mrs. Dove-Lyon would leave him alone. Meanwhile, in secret Sam would work on rebuilding his strength.
“Promise me,” she pleaded. Her eyes filled with tears. “Promise you’ll just rest.”
“I promise,” he said, biting his cheek as guilt stabbed at him for lying to her.
She wiped her cheek. “I’ll leave you now. Petrov should be back soon. Shall I send for Miss Smith?”
“No need. She’ll be here shortly with the laudanum.”
“Good.” Amelia slipped out, closing his door softly.
Petrov should be the one to help Sam get stronger secretly, except he’d taken Amelia’s side in treating Sam like a suckling infant. Everyone insisted it was for his own good, except Dr. Sloan, though the doctor wasn’t always much help. Dr. Sloan mostly placated Amelia because she’d apparently once threatened to kick him out of the house, and in Dr. Sloan’s words, the food was excellent. But he was still a man of science and Sam his experiment. Sam wondered if there was a point where the man would put his foot down.
Sam winced as he rolled to his side, his damn rib searing him from the inside. He pushed up, from his right side, and found the pain wasn’t as bad. Now he was sitting up, and the pain eased to a dull ache. He half smiled to himself, even though the room spun and specks dotted his vision. He was still proud he’d done it on his own.
When Petrov returned with his meal, followed but Miss Smith, he scowled at Sam. “Did you move yourself?” Petrov asked.
“What will you do if I say yes? Box my ears?”
Petrov grumbled in Russian, and he set the tray over Sam’s legs.
“Aren’t you going to chew my food for me, too?” Sam teased as he took a bite of a chicken leg.
Petrov shook his head admonishingly at Sam.
