Marcus jolted upright so quickly his knee banged against the nightstand. Good lord, that hurt, and what the hell had he just been thinking? That he might kiss her and she’d promptly tell him her heart would forever be his?
He was an imbecile if he believed any such thing after what he’d just heard her say. She loved Nigel. The end. Whatever had made him think otherwise was obviously built on wishful thinking and an overactive imagination.
Deciding it was time to get a firm grip on himself, Marcus turned to Hannah who, much to his relief, didn’t look like she’d noticed his intentions toward her mistress. Thank Christ. “We were just about to learn if your mistress’s operation has been successful, after which we plan to take a turn of the garden. Lady Louise will require a bonnet.”
“I’ll get one ready,” Hannah said.
Marcus held himself still for a moment, then turned back to face his patient. “Your vision may be blurry for a while as your eyes adjust. This should improve within a couple of days.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Then you may need thicker lenses for your spectacles, which I can help you procure once we return to London.”
A look of alarm assailed her features. “I’d quite forgotten I’d have to go back now. I’m not sure I’m ready to face Papa once I get home.”
Grasmere’s continued absence surprised Marcus since he’d expected the earl to show up by now. Relieved that he hadn’t, he said, “I’ve every confidence you’ll do so with the same degree of bravery with which you underwent the surgery.”
She tilted her head and frowned. “I was terrified.”
“Exactly.”
Her mystified expression both humbled and amused him. Instead of explaining, he said, “Cover your left eye. Can you tell me how many fingers I’m holding up?”
“Zwei,” she told him with a beguiling smirk.
Heaven above, she was adorable and alluring. He answered with a stiff nod. “Das ist richtig.” That is correct. “Und nun?” And now?
“Vier.”
Marcus lowered the four fingers he held up and nodded once more. “Perfect. If you could please cover your right eye now so I may check on your left?”
She did as he asked and he held up two fingers. “How many do you see?”
Lady Louise stared at his hand. She blinked a few times and eventually shook her head. “I’m not sure. I can see that you’re holding your fingers up but I cannot distinguish between them. There could be one, two, or three for all I know. At least I’m able to see something though, like fuzzy bits of color. After what you said, I feared I’d be utterly blind in this eye.”
He’d feared the same while hoping and praying her left eye would be just as good as her right. Disheartened by the idea of her not regaining her sight in it properly, he struggled to sound optimistic. “We’ll test it again later,” he said and turned away to hide the concern before she took notice. Now was not the right time to be furious with himself for being less than perfect. After Lady Louise had spent four weeks confined to one room, lying in bed for the most part, he could not permit himself to wallow. On the contrary, he had to ignore the urge to berate himself, and help her celebrate having at least one eye restored.
So he waited for her maid to help her put on her bonnet and drape the veil over the brim in order to shield her eyes from the light, then offered his arm. “Ready?”
“I’ve never been more so, Mr. Berkly.” Her voice conveyed her eagerness, for which he could not blame her. It would be lovely for her to finally move about and get a glimpse of the world.
She settled her hand in the crook of his arm and allowed him to escort her from the room while Hannah trailed behind. The Winterlys, who must have heard them on the stairs, came to await their descent.
“How are you faring, my dear?” Mrs. Winterly asked once they reached the foyer. “Can you see better than before?”
“It’s too soon to know,” Lady Louise replied with a hint of amusement. “Apparently time will tell, but I’m not blind. I can see you’re wearing a blue gown Mrs. Winterly, though I do believe this veil is dimming the color. Thank you for lending it to me.”
“Oh, it’s my absolute pleasure,” Mrs. Winterly said with a smile so wide it made Marcus grin with pride.
He might not know if Lady Louise would regain proper vision in both eyes, but he had met with success on her right. Perhaps he should not be so hard on himself.
They reached the foot of the stairs and exchanged a few more pleasantries with their hosts before heading to the conservatory.
“I believe they like you a great deal,” Lady Louise remarked once she and Marcus were alone again with Hannah trailing so far behind she’d have to be superhuman to overhear their conversation.
“I’m flattered,” Marcus told her honestly. “The Winterlys’ acceptance of me in spite of who I am has made my stay here remarkably easy.”
“I’m sorry no one else bothers to judge you on your own merit,” she said as he opened the French doors to the garden and led her outside. “No one deserves to be condemned for another man’s crime. It’s completely unjust.”
