Edward nodded and exited the room.
The doctor finished his examination and rose, gathering his bag with him. “She will be fit as ever in a few days. See that she gets plenty of rest in the meantime. The wound wasn’t very deep and doesn’t require stitching, just keep it bandaged up and washed to prevent infection.”
Justin thanked him and saw him to the door then returned to Jillian who was regaining some of the color in her cheeks. “Would you like for me to take you up to bed, or are you more comfortable here?”
“Here, please,” she said, giving him a tired smile.
“Don’t move, then,” he said, kissing her on top of the head.
He returned a few moments later with several pillows and a blanket and set about making her as comfortable as possible. Cook brought in tea, and Justin added laudanum to Jillian’s cup before handing it to her. Then he settled onto the sofa beside her and gathered her into his arms, taking care not to move her injured arm.
“Justin?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
She turned her dark head up and focused fear-clouded eyes on him. “Who is doing this? Why does someone want me...dead?” She shuddered in his arms and he tightened his grip around her.
“I don’t know, but we will find out.” He stroked her hair soothingly. “Get some rest. I will be right here. We will talk about it when you awaken.”
She snuggled further into his embrace and rested her head trustingly on his chest. A few moments later, she drifted off.
Justin stared down at her closed eyes and berated himself for allowing this to happen to her. He had been a fool to be so lax in attention. He had dropped his guard once they were out of London, thinking Whittington was impervious to danger. His mistake had very nearly cost Jillian her life.
It was time to take a more active stance in ferreting out who was responsible for the multiple attempts on Jillian’s life. He had to come up with a planandconvince Jillian to marry him.
The idea came to him, partly born of necessity and partly from the desire to bind Jillian to him permanently. They would travel back to London. Now that her pursuer knew of her whereabouts, he was uneasy remaining in such an isolated place. The city was flush with people, witnesses. Whoever wanted Jillian dead would have to be more cautious in such a populous location.
And then he must also convince Jillian to agree to an engagement. Perhaps Granger and whoever had hired him would be more reluctant to continue their attacks against the future Duchess of Whittington.
He would wait until she had awakened from her drug-induced slumber and then carefully broach the subject.
###
She awoke slowly, her cheek nestled against his broad chest. She sighed in contentment, feeling his arms around her, a barrier between her and the intrusive outside world.
“Feeling any better?” he asked as he brushed the hair from her face.
“Mmmmm.”
He chuckled. “I take that as a yes.” He kissed her gently. “We need to decide on a course of action. You are no longer safe here.”
She blinked in surprise. The thought of having to leave Whittington had not occurred to her. She wasn’t ready to emerge from the sheltered cocoon of Justin’s arms—not yet. Pushing away from him slightly, she looked into his eyes.
“What do I do then?”
“Whatwedo is return to London where we will announce our engagement.”
She stared at him in shock. “Justin—”
He placed a finger over her lips, cutting off her protest. “Hear me out. You cannot return to London alone. It’s out of the question. You and I will return together. By announcing our engagement, it will give us the excuse to be together in public. And I am hoping the Whittington name will be a deterrent to whoever is trying to...harm you.
“London is a big city. I cannot imagine this person being able to move about without someone seeing him. We also have more resources at our disposal there and more manpower if we need it. I don’t intend to leave your side until we’ve discovered who is behind the plot to harm you.”
“And what happens when we do?”
“By then I will have convinced you to make our engagement a reality, and, if not, I will disappear if you wish it. I am going to prove to you, however, that you can trust me.”
“But, I do—”
