Hope flared in her eyes. “Thank you. That would be so kind of you. I wouldn’t have asked it of you, but I’m glad you offered. I believe he does need more than we have here to provide.”
“I knew you’d probably turn Mr. Huddleston around and send him back for one.”
“I’m not sure I find it comforting that you know me so well after such a short time in my presence, but yes, I would have immediately sent him to fetch someone.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
She nodded. “There is an apothecary there. I believe he will come if you ask him. Our medicinal supplies are meager here, and Mrs. Huddleston can only do so much.”
“I’ll see that your horse is returned today and I’ll make arrangements for the mare to be returned to the innkeeper once she’s sound, but that may take longer.”
“There will be no hurry. Arnold will enjoy taking care of the horse until it can be returned.”
“You’ll tell your brother that I came to see him?”
A soft, short laugh parted her beautiful lips just enough to make him wish that he were kissing her again.
“Without delay, Your Grace. You may count on that. And the reason for your visit.”
He saw that unbendable determination in her expression and humor in her eyes. Both traits drew him. She wouldn’t waver from what she saw as her duty to counsel her brother on the ills of arranged marriages. That didn’t bother Hawk. It satisfied him. He liked a good fight. And he always expected to win.
“I never considered that you wouldn’t tell him,” Hawk assured her. “Add that I’ll be back next Thursday.” He paused. “I’ll expect him to be here waiting. And that you and he will keep everything about this visit and this proposal quiet and between only yourselves.”
She lifted her shoulders just enough to make her appear defiant. “The last thing I want is for anyone, least of all Paxton’s friends, to know of this proposition. They would be encouraging him to accept the offer posthaste. The lot of them would be thrilled to have a friend who was married to a duke’s sister, hoping that it would in some way benefit them, if only to give them something to crow about. It is my hope that no one other than the three of us ever hears about this, Your Grace.”
Hawk chuckled. When she was opposed to something, he wasn’t sure anything could daunt her spirit.
“I would hope your brother will listen to all you have to say but that in the end, he will make up his own mind about what will be best for him and not let you decide for him.”
She moistened her lips and swallowed. “Certainly. He will. He is his own man. However, there’s really no need for you to return to Mammoth House. I’m sure Paxton won’t mind traveling to London to see you. He seldom stays here for long stretches anyway.”
A grin lifted one corner of Hawk’s mouth. “If I didn’t know better, Miss Quick, I would think that you don’t want to see me again.”
She moved farther away from the bed and pulled her shawl tighter again. “I’m only trying to keep you from making the long and unnecessary journey back here.”
“No.” He walked over to stand close to her again. “You are trying to keep me from coming back to see you.”
He liked that she didn’t cower from his nearness but looked him straight in the eyes and said, “I do think that would be best.”
Her honesty gave Hawk another moment of conscience. Was she really the reason he wanted to return? Admittedly he was more than a little infatuated with her. And yes, hewanted to see her again, but to what end other than he desired her? He didn’t know. And wanting to find the answer to that was going to bring him back.
“I’ll want to check in and see how he’s doing.” Hawk quirked his head toward the boy again. “With the excellent care he is going to receive from you and Mrs. Huddleston, I expect he’ll be ready to travel by the time I return. I’ll see to it that he gets back to Grimsfield, or London, or wherever it is he came from.”
“What if he doesn’t want to go back where he came from?” Her expression turned worried once again. “I mean, whoever he was with didn’t take proper care of him. He could have been with someone who mistreated him. Perhaps he ran away to save himself and that is why he’s on his own.”
She wasn’t going to be easily placated concerning the boy, and Hawk knew that if it was already too late to save him, Miss Quick wouldn’t take the news well.
“Then I’ll take him wherever he wants to go.”
That seemed to satisfy her a little better. Her shoulders relaxed and her breathing settled to a calm rhythm. Hawk should have left his words at that, but he seldom knew when to leave well enough alone.
Without much forethought, he bent his head closer to hers and added, “Besides, Miss Quick, I think you want to see me again.”
She stiffened. “I believe you might be speaking for yourself and how you feel, Your Grace, but you are not speaking for me.”
“I am speaking for both of us and, whether you will admit it or not, you know I speak the truth. We have a battle going on, you and I. And it won’t surprise you to know that I never walk away from a fight. I don’t think you do, either.”
“Not if I believe it’s winnable, and I believe this one is.”
