Harry stood at attention and offered him a military salute. “Your trust is well placed, Commander.”
“I hope so.” Ethan gave David a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Don’t let Harry do anything wild.”
“Wild?” David twisted the hem of his jacket with restless fingers.
Harry draped an arm around his shoulders. “Don’t worry, David. I have everything under control.”
Heaven help them. Ethan exited through the second door opening to a side hallway detached from the main corridor. He went up the service stairs and knocked on Cora’s door.
“Come in.” Just hearing her voice started the usual butterfly-wing sensation in his belly.
As he stepped inside, he couldn’t help but study her with a clinical eye. The healthy colour of her skin pleased him, but she winced as she stood up from the bed.
“Why are you standing up?” He took her elbow. “Don’t stand up on my accounts.”
“I need to do some activity. My arm is growing lazy, and I’ve been in this bed for ten days.” She leant against him, and an unexpected rush of energy went through him.
“Your arm isn’t lazy. It needs time to recover.” He helped her to the chair. “I’m speaking as your physician.”
She adjusted her blouse. Her gown belonged to Mrs. Parker and didn’t fit Cora’s body. The fabric hung in places and stretched on others.
“How’s David?” she asked.
“I left him with Harry in the parlour. Harry is a nice boy. I’m sure they’ll become friends.” He sat next to her. “May I check your pulse?”
She gave him her arm and hitched a breath when he pulled the sleeve up and pressed two fingers to her kicking vein. Nice and steady. Good. They hadn’t kissed again, and he missed their intimacy. He missed kissing her. Too much. He couldn’t deny anymore that what he felt for her was more than a desire to protect her.
“No fever. Excellent.” He held her hand, and she gripped his fingers. “What is it?”
“I’m a little scared,” she whispered.
When he dipped his head to meet her gaze, he nearly shivered with the darkness in it. “I would be surprised if you weren’t.” He closed his hand around hers. “I’m here for you. You aren’t alone. I’m very fond of you and David.” He rubbed her cold knuckles.
“So you like children after all.” She didn’t withdraw her hand.
“Children are mostly a nuisance, but David is different.”
“And what about me? You’re risking the support of your peers by hiding me here. And Lady Kingsley might disapprove of what you’re doing for me. You need her help.” She laced her fingers through his, and he acknowledged the quickening of his pulse.
“Yes, it’s in my interest that Roxbury is removed from his current position as one of the centre’s owners. I wouldn’t have to deal with him any longer. But I want to help you because I hate what you’ve been through. The bastard shot you.” The idea of killing Roxbury never lost its appeal. “Unforgivable. I’ve always known he doesn’t have honour, but I didn’t understand the depths of his depravity. He doesn’t deserve his title and status. He doesn’t deserve you and David.”
“And you don’t like injustice.”
“No, I don’t.” He brought her hand up and kissed it, glad to find her temperature normal. “You and David deserve better.”
“Every day that passes and he doesn’t do anything makes me nervous. I feel this urge to flee. I just want to escape from him.”
“Forgive me, but leaving now would be reckless. Your desire to leave comes from your exhaustion because the life you led with him drained you. But we need a good plan. A plan that will help you build a future for you and David. You can always leave if the situation doesn’t improve. I’ll help you.” Letting her go would hurt him though.
She rubbed her forehead with a nervous gesture. “You’re right. I’m just worried, and the pain doesn’t help.”
“First, you must recover. Whatever you decide to do, you need to be strong.” He kept stroking her knuckles.
She blushed, looking adorable. “I’ve missed you in the past few days.”
“I missed you too.”
“I like it when…” She didn’t complete the sentence but moved closer and kissed him without warning or without restraint.
