The maid turned. “My lady?”
Judith held out the cup. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Epworth took the cup, then gathered the tray, pausing at the door. “I will wait for you to ring, my lady.”
“Please do so.”
Epworth gave a slight curtsy and left, pulling the door firmly closed.
Mark began to untie his cravat. “Where do you hurt?”
Judith rolled her shoulders. “Pretty much all over. Mostly my back and hips. Where you would expect.” Judith studied him. “How much do you know about women’s ailments?”
He shrugged out of his coat and draped it over the chair near her dressing table. “Probably more than most men.”
“Another advantage of being a rakehell and rapscallion?”
He sat down on the bench at the end of her bed and pulled off his boots. “Most likely. I know some women struggle more than others. I know certain acts can prompt an early arrival. I know some teas help, but I also know some potions can more effective.”
“Thus the laudanum.”
“Stella and the other actresses used it frequently, especially when they had to perform.”
Judith felt suddenly weak. “Women who cannot take to their beds, like I have?”
Mark stood and unbuttoned the fall of his britches, slipping them off. “Some months were harder, even for her, than others. And I know a certain duchess, one of the strongest people I know, who cannot hold down food for the first two days.” He folded his britches and laid them on the bench, smoothing out the wrinkles. Still wearing his small clothes and shirt, he wentto the other side of the bed and peeled back the covers, then stopped. “Let me help.”
After a moment, Judith nodded, watching as he slid in beside her. She scooted down in the bed to lie flat again, then winced as the cramps moved through her again.
“Turn on your side, away from me.”
She did, a groan escaping from her unbidden as she drew her knees up again.
“I am going to position you.”
Judith nodded, biting her lip as he pulled her backwards toward his body, lifting her shoulders, plumping pillows, and settling her into a nest of covers.
“Are you all right?”
“More or less.”
Mark moved over her so that most of his body rested against her, his knees pulled up to parallel hers. He wrapped an arm around her, his broad hand pressing against her stomach. Judith tucked her hand beneath her face, her breath slowing as the warmth of his body eked into her, the heat spreading through her like a hot bath. He held her, silent for a few moments, as the tension in her muscles, the aches that had crippled her, flowed away.
Mark kissed her temple, his calming voice a bare whisper. “The laudanum takes about a half hour. You may fall asleep after that.”
“I have not slept in two days.” The gravel in her own voice surprised Judith, and she swallowed.
“I am not surprised. Pain is not conducive to slumber.”
“Speaking from experience?”
“Quite recently, as a matter of fact.”
Judith coughed a laugh, then groaned.
“Ah, that, unfortunately, sounds familiar. Laughing is not recommended.”
She almost laughed again but choked it back. “Stop.”
