“Why do you laugh?” she asked not certain what to think of his reaction, and some of her insecurities began to emerge.
“I was thinking that I would not mind waking in this same manner every morning.”
Neither would she.
“But I am afraid that I must leave you, though I do not wish to.”
The parting that she knew would eventually arrive was upon them.
“There are patients I must see, and likely people injured last night. I also need to call on Westbrook House,” he explained as he pulled himself from the bed and began dressing. “I need to check the lad’s arm.”
“The one that was fractured?” she asked.
“Yes, and there were a few who were showing signs of illness. I need to make certain that they have not worsened and hope that nobody else became ill. If they were sequestered from the others, then all should be well.” He pulled the shirt over his head, hiding the sculpted and flat chest and abdomen that she had no idea was hidden beneath his clothing until last night.
This moment was also reminiscent of their time in Brussels. Often, he would explain as he left what else he needed to do, as if she fit into only a small portion of a full life he led elsewhere and began to fear that he would not return.
Was this to explain his future absence?
They had said everything that they needed last night. He now knew why she had left, and she knew why he had never called on her, both had been mistaken and misunderstood and all because a letter was not received.
And, they had been intimate, something that she had wanted for longer than she should have. But now that everything had been settled, would he return?
Blythe hated that her heart began to pound with fear that this was all she would have of Orlando. One night and morning.
It wasn’t that she wanted a permanent arrangement because she intended to keep her independence, but she also wanted more.
He leaned forward and kissed her lips gently. “I hope that you will allow me to return tonight.”
Was he suffering the same uncertainty as her? He should not.
“Of course.” She smiled.
“Good.” He grinned and then with a nod, exited her room, wearing the clothing he had borrowed from a footman.
She wasn’t certain if he would wear those to his home or not, nor did she care if anyone saw him leave Athena’s Salon dressed as he was, carrying waterlogged boots.
In fact, she was happy, for the first time in a long time, truly happy and satisfied and she hoped that she could hold onto these emotions for a very long time.
Sinclair looked Orlando over from head to toe and smirked. And, yes, his toes were exposed because his boots were ruined.
“I am certain there is an explanation for why you are wearing clothing too large for your frame and carrying what I believe is what you wore out of here last evening.”
“There is,” Orlando answered, not that he was going to share the specific. “I was caught in the storm and pity was taken upon me.”
Sinclair arched an eyebrow. “By your smile, I suspect it was more than simple pity.”
Orlando grinned but said nothing further as he headed up the stairs to his set of rooms to change and prepare for the day.
Last night had been perfect. Beyond his imagination. He had thought about being with Blythe many times, but he did not believe that such passion truly existed or an all-consuming desire until he touched her and had to fight for control for fear that it would engulf him.
He hated that she had felt the need to leave Brussels and her reasons, but he also now understood. Had the letter been given to him when he returned to the inn, he would have understood much sooner and gone after her as soon as he had been free from treating the wounded. He may have even hastened his return to London.
Blythe had needed to be away from him, and her past. She needed to find her own future, and perhaps herself, and he admired who she had become. He desired and wanted her, just as much if not more than he had in Brussels.
After he had completed his toilet and returned downstairs, Orlando partook of a simple breakfast of oatmeal then began the long day of treating patients and as he had predicted, some had been injured in the fierce storm before finding shelter. He had then gone to Westbrook House and was please to find that the children who had been ill had recovered and nobody else contracted their symptoms. The lad’s arm also appeared to be healing without difficulty, other than discomfort, which was to be expected.
He had asked after Lady Victoria and his brother, but as neither had arrived that day, he assumed all was well or he would have been told.
