“How exciting. I simplycannot wait.”
She fought to dismiss the tenderfeeling he evoked in her as she tidied away the bandage and salvein a box. “You used to accuse me of being short tempered. I believeI’ve much to learn from you.”
Harry raked his chestnut hair with hisgood hand. “I apologize for cursing, Erina. I have become asorehead. I shall be meek and mild for the rest of the day and willallow you to win at cards this evening.”
“Decent of you,” she said.“I believe the score is sixty-forty.”
“In my favor,” he addedsilkily.
“I shall even that uptonight without any assistance from you. I’m learning to be craftyfrom one of the best.”
“Brave words!” He gesturedto the letter on the table that she’d brought in with her. “Aletter has come? Who is it from? Do you plan to read it tome?”
“Not my father.” Herfather’s reply to her letter stated crisply how the lack of amother’s guidance had caused her to be less prudent and circumspectthan a lady of her birth and breeding should be. There followed afearful silence. “It’s another from Cathleen.”
“Good. I enjoyed her lastletter. How are the piglets?”
“They are all thriving, andnow that things have settled down at the farm, the hens are layingagain.” She turned the page over. “Mr. Leahy has written. He’scoming to Naas to see her.” She grinned at Harry. “Isn’t that thebest news?”
“Indeed, it is.” His gazegrew thoughtful.
She glanced at him. Her guilt atcausing him to be shot lying heavy in her chest. “I do hope so. Itwould make this foolish trip of mine worthwhile.”
“It already isworthwhile.”
Her heart fluttered. “Why?”
“I’ve enjoyed it. Well,some of it.”
She stared at his face forconfirmation that he wasn’t being his usual droll self. “I’msurprised to hear you say it.”
“I’m somewhat surprisedmyself. Dash it.” The knot had unraveled on the sling supportinghis right arm.
“Here, let me.” Erina bentover him on the bed and tugged on the bandage.
He gazed up at her, his face close tohers. “There I go cursing again. Forgive me?”
A knock sounded on thedoor.
“Enter,” Harrycalled.
Two elderly men stepped into theroom.
“Well!” Erina’s father’sshocked eyes observed Erina’s hand where it rested on Harry’schest.
“What do we have here, eh,Crispin?” Sir Ambrose asked her father as he hurriedforward.
Chapter Sixteen
Once Ashley had dressed, Jack escortedher downstairs. Much as he wanted her to come again, he didn’t tryto persuade her. He was determined not to allow his love and needfor her damage her in any way. Instead, he told her all thattranspired since they’d last met and gently quizzed her aboutCaindale—what sort of man was he? While not suggesting he might bemore involved than he led them to believe. “Mama is very fond ofhim,” Ashley said. “He seemed very distressed at the funeral. Theviolence of my father’s death appears to have affected himgreatly.”
“Your father and he wereclose?”
“As close as abrother-in-law’s can be,” she said thoughtfully. “They had littlein common. I was surprised when he came to Paris. We were allpleased to see him. We’d been without family for almost a year.Mama held a soiree in his honor. She very much depends on him now,of course, having no other male relatives.”
Jack saw Ashley to her carriage andreturned to the house. It seemed empty, his footsteps echoing as hemade his way to the library.
Tonight, he would join Miles and Timat Whites’, to dine and play a game or two of hazard. Grant had toattend Almack’s. A duke was expected to dance with this Season’sdebutantes. Harry, would be greatly missed. Jack wondered uneasilywhy he hadn’t received word from him.
