“I’m perfectly capable,” Julian said as he levered himself out of the seat. “A change of clothes and a short nap will cure all my ills.”
He staggered slightly as his booted feet hit the cobbled street, and Carenza and the butler rushed to steady him. His frosty glare persuaded the butler to stand back, but Carenza wasn’t deterred.
“Lean on me, sir.” She glanced over at the butler. “Can you direct me to Mr. Laurent’s bedchamber? I will make sure he is settled and relay the physician’s instructions to you.”
“Yes, my lady.” The butler hovered behind them as they went up the stairs. “I’ll go and find Mr. Proctor, sir.”
Carenza went into Julian’s bedchamber and found it just as elegant as she’d imagined. She steered him toward a chair beside the marble fireplace, made sure he was seated, and stood back.
“I wish you could undress me and put me to bed,” he murmured as he looked up at her.
“And scandalize your staff?” She raised her eyebrows. “I thought we were all about discretion.”
“You could kiss everything better.”
Carenza snorted. “In your current state you are of no use to me at all, Mr. Laurent.”
He sighed. “I fear you are right.”
She glanced around before bending to kiss him very carefully on the mouth. “I do want you.”
“Don’t say that.”
“But it’s the truth.” She smiled at him. “I’ll have to find another way to satisfy my … needs.”
He scowled at her and then winced. “Don’t you dare.”
“I wasn’t thinking of taking another lover,” she said. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“Carenza … you are driving me mad.”
“Good.” She kissed him again. “And now I must go before I scandalize your entire street by leaving my carriage outside your door. Let me know when you have recovered sufficiently to be visited.”
He caught hold of her hand. “You don’t seriously believe I behaved badly with Miss Cartwright, do you?”
“Of course not. My annoyance at your injury is purely selfish.”
A tall, thin man in a black coat came into the room and drew a sharp breath. “Mr. Laurent! Your cravat and shirt are ruined.”
“I’m glad to see you getting your priorities in order, Proctor.” Julian looked at Carenza. “Note how he doesn’t bemoan my horrific injuries first.”
“The bandage Mrs. Mountjoy put on you masks your wounds,” Carenza said. “And you’re still upright and talking.” She smiled at the valet. “May I suggest you get Mr. Laurent into bed as soon as possible, give him some laudanum, and let him sleep until he feels more the thing?”
“Yes, my lady.” Proctor bowed. “I’ll keep an eye on him, don’t you worry.”
Carenza left the room, her anxiety for Julian assuaged by the obvious competency of his staff. She paused in the hall to reissue Mrs. Mountjoy’s instructions to the butler as to when to call his physician if things got worse, and then returned to her carriage.
Carenza sat back and blew out her breath. Her day had not proceeded quite as she had anticipated, and now she would have to wait until Julian was well enough to continue their liaison. A smile curved her lips. Who would’ve imagined that the process of acquiring a lover—and actually managing to have sex—would be so complicated?
CHAPTER14
“How did you get a black eye?” Aragon asked as he followed Julian into their box at the theater. “I thought you were considered a competent boxer.”
“I am.”
Julian took a moment to look around the growing audience and hoped his appearance wouldn’t cause as much comment as he feared. His guests hadn’t yet arrived. As expected, his mother had declined his invitation to attend, insisting that she preferred to rent her own box when necessary.
“Then what happened?”
