The glare fromthe sun hitting the window stung Malcolm’s eyes as he peeled them open. He scowled at the men occupying his bedchambers, but mainly at Captain Wilkes. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded.
The soldiers aimed their wide-eyed gazes at Camilla, seemingly perplexed and at a loss for words. Malcolm glanced over his shoulder at his wife. He sucked in a breath. In the light, she created an alluring silhouette. Although her face was scarlet, she looked absolutely breathtaking. Her light brown hair wildly framed her head. Her modest white nightgown made her appear as pure as newly fallen snow. How could she look that way when she was exactly the opposite?
But at the moment, it didn’t matter. He was stunned. He forced away the inappropriate thoughts creeping into his head and concentrated on the uninvited men in his room. “Excuse me, sirs, but have you no decency? Bursting into a man’s private chambers while he and his wife are still under the covers is very ill-mannered.”
“Umm, well…” Captain Wilkes’s cheeks flushed red. “You see, Mr. Worthington, we came to ask you a few questions about last night.”
“And this couldn’t wait until I was out of bed and dressed?” Scowling, he leaned over and pulled the quilt up, bundlingit around Camilla, who, thankfully, had the decorum to look embarrassed. He was almost proud of her acting ability.
Broderick stepped forward. “Mr. Worthington, the captain thought it imperative to speak to you right away. Trouble occurred at Mr. Clarkston’s office last night, and a witness thought they saw you as part of the group of men.”
Malcolm inhaled sharply. “I fear you are mistaken, Captain Wilkes. I was home last night, reading stories to my children and enjoying the, er… company of my wife.”
Broderick cleared his throat as his gaze moved to Camilla. A blush crept up his neck. “I have already told them as much, Mr. Worthington.”
Malcolm turned his attention back to Captain Wilkes. “Explain to me, captain, why the royal soldiers are involved with this matter anyway? Shouldn’t this be something for the constable to investigate?”
Captain Wilkes arched an eyebrow. “Have you forgotten that one of Mr. Clarkston’s sons is a soldier?” He puffed out his chest. “We take care of our own.”
Malcolm rolled his eyes. “Well, captain? As you can see, I wasn’t part of that group. What have you to say now when the proof is right before you?” He nodded toward Camilla.
The captain stepped forward and removed his hat then clutched it against his chest. He looked directly at Camilla. “Mrs. Worthington? Can you confirm your husband has been here in the house with you all night?”
She snuggled closer to Malcolm, and he wrapped his arm around her. He still couldn’t understand why she had offered to help, but at the moment he was grateful she had. Yet could this be a trap? Awaiting her answer, he held his breath.
“Yes, captain. My husband was with me the entire night.”
Malcolm exhaled a deep sigh.
“My deepest apologies, Mr. and Mrs. Worthington.” The captain nodded, then stepped away, as did the other soldiers. A few moments later, the thudding of their boots on the stairs echoed their descent.
Broderick winked and nodded at Camilla. “I shall leave you two alone now.” Then he closed the door behind him.
Silence ensued for a few awkward minutes. Malcolm prolonged the moment, savoring the feel of her soft body nestled against him. But then reality struck, and he pulled away and tried to think of something intelligent to say. Her kindness of late—mixed with her beauty—had created an unexplained numbness in his brain. When he glanced at her, a timid smile touched her heart-shaped mouth.
“I suppose I can say a pleasant morning to you now,” she said.
He sat up fully, keeping the covers protectively around his lower half as he pulled up his knees and rested his arms across them. “Well, considering the way I was awakened, I don’t think it has been very pleasant so far.” He cocked a brow and ran his focus over her tousled figure. “Of course, I must amend that. The way I was awakened was quite pleasurable, but once I awoke, reality intruded. Tell me, how was your night? Did you sleep well?”
A blush tinted her cheeks, and she looked adorable. “Yes.”
He chuckled. “I want to thank you for what you did, but—” He blew out a gust of air and ran his fingers through his hair. “Why did you crawl into bed with me, knowing the soldiers were on their way up?”
Her eyes avoided his. She appeared to study his back, and then her gaze slowly wandered over his chest. That simple look caused the inner demon of desire to ignite his body, and he finally admitted he enjoyed the way she studied him, as ifshe had never seen anything so pleasing in her life. That was something she had never done before.
Her cheeks darkened and she cleared her throat, then pulled herself into a sitting position beside him. “Considering I haven’t led an exemplary life since I married you, I realized the soldiers wouldn’t believe my story unless they saw me in your bed. I didn’t want you accused of a crime you didn’t commit, and this was the only way for me to prove them wrong.”
Could he believe her sincerity? She appeared so innocent, so honest. Yet her past made him cautious. He wasn’t about to tell her the real reason he and Broderick were at the tavern last night. She would run to her precious Captain Wilkes and give the information to him.
Malcolm nodded. “Thank you for your quick thinking, then.”
She turned to slide out of bed, but he reached out and placed his hand on her leg, stopping her. Her brilliant eyes stared at him, bringing back feelings he didn’t want to have, but this time he rather enjoyed the way his body burned. “I don’t know why you did it, but I thank you. You saved my backside.”
Her gaze dipped to his buttocks. A blush flamed her cheeks. “And such a perfect backside to save.” She smiled before climbing out of bed and slipping the robe around her.
He watched her leave his room, growing more uncomfortable by the second, mainly because he didn’t know if this was a trick or not. Letting out another big sigh, he lay back in bed. It was getting harder and harder to resist her. Strange, because he’d been so immune before she’d left to go help her sister. What could be different now? Was it possible she really had changed?
*
