“No,” she said in a barely-there whisper. She gave her head a violent shake.
Deciding she’d probably be all right for the next few minutes, Brody decided to let the matter rest as he went to rinse the washcloth. Selecting a clean one, he soaked it, wrung it, and placed it on her brow.
She sighed as though with welcome relief. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He considered the untouched teacup that sat on the bedside table and decided to fill it. Once this was done, he swept one arm under Harriet’s back.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you sit so you can drink.”
“I said no.”
“Don’t be so bloody stubborn and let me care for you, will you?”
She tried to twist away. “Have you forgotten how much you hate me?”
He stilled before lowering into a crouch and pulling her into his arms so he could embrace her. “I could never hate you, Harriet. Not in a million years.”
“How is that possible?”
“We’ll discuss it once you’re better. For now, I’d suggest some tea.”
She sent the teacup a hesitant look as she withdrew from Brody’s arms. “I don’t think I can.”
“Please try.”
Moving slowly, with hesitant movements, she set the cup to her lips and drank. When she returned the cup to the bedside table, Brody was glad to see it was more than half empty.
“Well done.” He stood and tucked the blankets around her. “How do you feel?”
She eyed him with an are-you-seriously-asking-me-that kind of look. “Awful. As though the slightest movement will see that tea end up in the bucket.”
“Maybe I should send for the doctor.” He glanced at the floor. “Have you made use of the chamber pot too?”
“What do you think?” she asked, her tone grumpy.
He nodded. “I’ll have one of the maids come and fetch it.”
“I’d rather see to it myself.”
“You’re in no position to do so and well you know it.” When her only response to this was a sullen look, he said, “It’s a good thing you managed to put on that dressing gown prior to Betsy’s arrival. As far as I know, she still believes you to be Mr. Michaels instead of Miss Michaels.”
“Sorry. My head hurts…Your Grace. I can’t follow your logic.”
“I know what I said when we argued, but can we please go back to being informal?” When she gave a small nod he told her, “The shirt you wore when you came to my study last night was more revealing than you probably realized. Anyone who saw you like that would have known you’re a woman. It was…obvious.”
Harriet stared at him a moment and then her lips parted on a small gasp as she squeezed her eyes shut. “Just when I though it couldn’t get worse.”
“Do you think you can keep up the act?”
“Of course. I’ve been living as Harry for over two years.”
“Good. Because having an unmarried gentlewoman staying beneath the same roof as two bachelors would make for quite the scandal.”
“I…” She tuned on her side and proceeded to cast up her tea.
Brody swallowed a curse and sat down beside her, doing whatever he could to add a small bit of comfort.
