“It would die down in time,especially when another scandal came to replace it.”
He rolled out of bed. “No, itwouldn’t.” Jack reached for his trousers and pulled them on. “Myfather’s wife has some vocal relatives. They jump on everything Ido with absolute glee. They have done all my life, and now myfather has gone, and there’s no hope of a bequest, they’ll be evenworse.”
“They’d attackme?”
“No. Me. But by inferenceyou. You will never enjoy another Season.”
“Then we will spend ourtime in the country. I would like that.”
Jack threw his shirt over his head. Hediscovered his cravat on the floor which was in a sorry state. “Yousay that now, but when you have little option, it will not seem soattractive.” He came to sit on the bed. “And you may not be quiteso pleased to have married me.”
She cuffed him lightly over the ear.“You think I’m that shallow?”
He grinned and grabbed her wristfeeling her rapid pulse beneath the soft skin. He’d upset her. “Nota bit of it, Ashley, you are a fascinating, intelligent woman. AndI’m aware how brave and strong you are.” He stopped beforedeclaring he loved her. There would be no coming back from that.“Shakespeare wrote of ‘star-cross lovers’ and while I don’t believeour lives could be blighted like Romeo and Juliet, I don’t think wecan hope to find happiness in marriage. Not unless the king decidesto bestow a title on me.”
Ashley huffed. She climbed out of bedand reached for her clothes. “Then we shall continue to belovers.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Shallwe?”
“If it’s what you want,Jack.”
“I want just to be withyou. As long as my presence doesn’t harm you.”
“How can it?”
“What if you have a child,Ashley,” he asked gently.
Her eyes clouded. “I doubt I can. Ihad a miscarriage early in my marriage. The doctor said it wasunlikely.”
Jack gathered her to him and held herclose. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He kissed her hair.
She drew away. He suspected there weretears in her eyes, but she lowered her head over her petticoat.“I’d best go. I won’t come here again.”
~~~
Relieved to find no sign of infection,Erina treated Harry’s wound in the manner the doctor hadinstructed. She had stopped using alcohol before it caused drynessand itchiness and now swabbed the wound with vinegar mixed withboiled water and a little honey.
“Am I ready for the ovenyet?”
She smiled. “I’ll begin using thesalve tomorrow.”
Harry lay back as she bent her headover his chest, attaching a fresh bandage. Then she tied on thesling to support his right arm. While caring for him, she’d becomefamiliar with his musky masculine smell and how smooth his skin wasbeneath her fingers, but even so, his closeness made her strangelyshort of breath. She remembered Cathleen’s words; how Mr. Leahy hadmade her feel. Dismissing the disturbing thought, she moved awayfrom the bed. “You’re healing nicely.”
“Down to wholesome living.”Harry watched her as she rolled the remaining bandage. “You havecapable hands, Erina.”
“Can you envision mesitting by the fire embroidering while my husband reads thebroadsheets?” she asked sweetly.
Harry grinned. “You could sit on mylap and we’ll read the newspaper together.”
Her heart leaped, but one glance athis expression and she knew he was teasing her again. “You must bedelirious.” She leaned forward and placed a hand on his forehead.Cool. “No. Bored then, most likely.”
He sighed heavily. “I am bored rigid.Is it any wonder? I’ve been confined to bed for almost a sennight.Your company my only pleasure. And you pamper me as if I’d beenshot in the head instead of the shoulder, and incapable of anintelligent decision concerning my own welfare. You select myfood—and I refuse to look at another egg custard or milk pudding!The worst indignity is when you send a man servant to shave me andwash me like a baby.”
“Difficult to shaveyourself with your left hand.” She smiled, relieved that he wasbecoming more like his old self. “You’re gettingbetter.”
Harry fell back on the pillow andlaughed weakly. “I dashed well hope so.”
“Tomorrow, you can sit inthat chair by the window in the sun.”
