“I suppose it would be entirely indecent of you to show me that one.”
“I suppose so,” he said with a sigh. “Pity.”
She lifted her chin in the air. “It’s bad of you to even mention it. Especially knowing I fancy you a bit.”
The hint of a smile tugged at Daffin’s bottom lip. “Only a bit?”
Regina laughed. This time she boldly glanced down his chest and back up again. She met his eyes, and her breath caught in her throat. “That’s right.”
“I thought we weren’t going to talk about that.” Daffin set the brandy bottle on the floor next to them.
“I promised not to talk about my indecent proposal.” Regina dipped the cloth back in the bowl of hot water and wrung it out. The water in the bowl turned pink. “I never said I promised to stop thinking you’re handsome.”
He leaned back against the settee pillows, his eyes half closed. “So you admit you think I’m handsome?”
“Even more so without your shirt on, I’m afraid.” She shook her head. “But I’m quite through feeding your vanity when I’m supposed to be seeing to your shoulder, and as to that, the good news is it looks as if you’ve only been grazed.”
***
Daffin turned his head sharply to the side to look at his shoulder. “I’m fortunate.” He grabbed the brandy bottle again.
“I’ll have to sew it, but first… this.” Regina pulled the brandy bottle from his hand, placed a fresh rag over the lip of the bottle, and turned it upside down to apply the liquid to the rag. Daffin braced himself as she touched the alcohol-laden rag to his shoulder.
The sting made him wince, but just as quickly he forgot about the pain as Regina’s hand clamped his inner thigh. She squeezed the area just above his knee. He’d never felt anything so erotic. His gaze met hers as she drew the cloth away. “That should do it,” she breathed.
Give me a cockstand? Yes.
By God, she’d done it to distract him from the pain. “Thank you,” he whispered, his lips inches from hers.
“Now for the sewing part,” she replied. She grabbed up the needle and thread Louise had provided and held the needle over the nearest candle for a few moments.
He took another long swig of brandy. “Are you good at sewing?”
“Better than Nicole,” she replied with a smile.
Sweat beaded on his brow and he kept his jaw tightly clenched as Regina made quick work of her task. She sewed the jagged flesh with four quick stitches and used the shears to clip off the end. “There, that should do it.”
“Thank you.” Daffin poured more brandy down his throat.
She moved away from him and gathered the rags and shears. “You’ll be right as rain in no time.”
“I never saw that chap coming.” He shook his head.
Regina lifted the bowl of water in her arms. “Don’t blame yourself. It was a crowded street. None of us saw him.”
He clenched his fist. “Until I catch this man, it’s not safe for you to be in crowds.”
She nodded. “I suppose it’s clear that he’s after me now, isn’t it?”
“I’m afraid so,” Daffin replied.
Regina straightened and met his gaze. “Whoever it is knows when we leave the house. That frightens me.”
“Yes.” His gaze drifted to the window, while his thoughts chased themselves in circles. “He is watching.”
Balancing the water basin on one hip, Regina handed Daffin a blanket from a nearby basket. He draped it over his shoulders to cover himself.
He captured her hand. “Thank you for your tender ministrations, my lady,” he said. “I am in your debt.”
