“That should be easy to do.”
He frowned at her, but she didn’t elaborate. She wasn’t about to discuss her past husband. Instead, she watched him slip off her walking shoe, his touch very light. He scanned the room before taking a pillow from an arm chair and placing it under her foot. “Should you close your shirt then?”
He looked down as if he’d forgotten she’d unbuttoned it. Quickly, he refastened it. “I don’t imagine my butler saw that since I had you in my arms.”
Footsteps in the corridor had her looking to him for instruction. He’d always been so good at navigating sudden changes, but coming up with this story so quickly had her admiring his intellect even more.
He caught her gaze and lowered his voice. “Just close your eyes and when I touch your ankle, grimace.”
She immediately closed her eyes, anticipating his touch. Instead of being wary, she found herself curious.
“Sir, I’ve brought the items.” Gibson strode into the room.
She heard him until he stopped, which meant he wasn’t very close as the rug beneath the bed covered half the room.
“Thank you.” Marcus’ voice was so much deeper. She’d always enjoyed listening to him.
“Should I send for a physician, my lord?”
She could imagine Marcus frowning, which made her want to smile, so she bit down on her lips in case Gibson was looking at her.
“No. A twisted ankle needs no physician. I tended many of them during the war. Our surgeons were too busy pulling bullets from the lads.”
“Of course, sir. Here you are, then.”
Neither spoke for a moment, then she felt a cold weight on her ankle. Forgetting it was coming, she hissed and grimaced.
“I’m sorry, Lady Beaumont. This will help the swelling go down. Once it’s down, I will wrap your ankle and you can be on your way.”
She nodded, but didn’t speak.
The pressure on the cold cloth lessened before Marcus spoke again. “Is my mother home?”
“No, sir. She’s still about shopping.”
Marcus sighed heavily. “Very well. We will need to allow Lady Beaumont complete rest. Please ensure no servants are in the rooms in this wing and that they don’t come up here until after Lady Beaumont has left. I don’t want her to wake or the swelling will take much longer to go down and I must return her home before long. Can I trust you in this?”
As he’d spoken, she could hear both men’s footsteps moving away.
“Absolutely, sir. You can depend upon me.”
Marcus didn’t say anything else as Gibson’s footsteps retreated. She opened one eye to peek at the doorway. Marcus stood just outside looking farther down the corridor. Footsteps approached that were much lighter than Gibson’s and she shut her eyes again. More steps sounded before Gibson spoke. “No one else is in this wing.”
“Good man. I will send for my coach after Lady Beaumont wakes up. That will be all.”
Once she heard Gibson leave, she opened her eyes and sat up. Marcus remained by the doorway, then left.
Confused, she pulled her foot from under the cold hunk of ice and swung her legs over the bed, intending to follow him, but suddenly he was there in the doorway, his own shoes in his hand. “I didn’t wish Gibson to know I would be staying here.”
His prideful grin had her chuckling. “Have you ever thought to go on stage? I’m sure you would be quite successful.”
He strolled in, dropping his shoes on the rug before kneeling before her. He laid one hand on his chest. “My lady fair, art thou ready to undress and may I be of assistance?”
She put her hand under her chin as if giving it serious thought. “I suppose if you must.” She dropped her hand and looked askance at him. “But I would expect to be able to aid you as well.”
Instead of agreeing, he ducked his head and took her foot in his hand, easily slipping off her shoe. When he dropped it next to the other, she expected him to rise, but he remained where he was, finally meeting her gaze. “Do you know that touch can be as important as kissing?”
She swallowed, images fromThe Pleasures of Seductionfloating through her mind proved his words. Silently, she nodded, both fearful and curious about whathistouch would feel like.
