Page 17
With the floral cotton chintz coverlet pulled up to her chin, she appeared small and fragile.
“I hurt too much to sleep.” The thick rope of her plaited sable hair lay across her good shoulder, and she searched his face with her big sapphire blue eyes. “What did the doctor say?”
Just like Georgine—honest and direct.
“He said that you have a slight infection, and that you must rest and eat and drink everything he prescribed so you get well quickly. He also wants your bandage changed frequently and a fresh poultice applied each time, but I suspect that is exactly what he told you.”
She didn’t deny it, but instead wrinkled her nose. “I shall never be able to abide honey or garlic after this.”
He chuckled as his gaze fell on a blue-gray book on the nightstand.
“Shall I read to you?”
She followed his gaze.
“Matilda brought it this afternoon. It is the first volume of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. I hadn’t started reading it yet.”
Though Georgine would bite off her tongue before admitting it to Robyn, she probably didn’t have the strength to hold the book.
He had gifted the rare volume to Matilda last year, and it pleased him she would share the treasure with Georgine.
“Then allow me.” Robyn pulled an overstuffed chair forward and, after turning the lamp up a bit, sank onto the plush cushion. He glanced up to find Georgine watching him, an enigmatic expression on her face.
What was she thinking?
He hadn’t long to wait.
“You really should not be in my bedchamber without a chaperone, Robyn. As you well know, it is highly unseemly.”
She had a point, and he could have asked a maid to sit up with her, but the truth of it was, Robyn did not trust anyone but himself and Matilda to nurse Georgine.
Worry creased her forehead.
To lighten the mood, he waggled his eyebrows and jested, “I shan’t tell if you don’t.”
Even weak as a newborn kitten, she rolled her eyes at him. “As if I shall ever breathe a word of this scandalous arrangement.”
He glanced at the clock and made a mental note of the time. Her bandages would need to be changed in four hours, and to preserve her delicate sensibilities, he would have to wake Matilda to attend to the task. “How is your pain?”
“The doctor insisted I take a dose of laudanum. He said that by managing my pain, I shall heal more quickly.” Georgine curled her pretty mouth into a wry smile. “I detest the stuff, but it does make the pain bearable, and after he examined me, I needed a bit of relief.”
Robyn bet she had.
“Robyn?”
He searched her pale face, noting with concern the pain pinching the corners of her mouth and eyes. “Yes?”
“Please do not tell Regina, Roxina, or the others about the infection. Regina will work herself into a proper dither, Roxina will blame herself, and the others will only fret. Ask Matilda not to as well, please.” Despite her pain, Georgine summoned a fragile smile.
So like her to fuss about everyone else while she recovered.
“I would delay my sister’s coming, but I fear Regina and Claire would become suspicious that something was amiss.” Wincing the merest bit, Georgine tightened her mouth.
Throughout her ordeal, she had shown tremendous resilience and strength, never once complaining or dissolving into tears.
Robyn couldn’t help but admire her fortitude.
“Matilda can keep Regina entertained.” She would have to because having her sister flitting about would not help Georgine heal. “Can I get you anything before I start reading?”
