She felt an unexpected tingle of warmth and blush of delight at the words. Only a few short hours ago, she had been facing the prospect of being all alone and lonely while her friends were all away. Now she had the most remarkable man staying with her, sharing her home with her like...
Like a husband.
She tried to quash the thought again. Like a friend. Her brother's friend, she told herself firmly.
"Come this way, Sir."
He held out his arm. "You'll need to guide me."
She took his hand in her own once more, and white hot sparks flew up and down her arm.
Another shocked look at his handsome face was enough to give her the elusive clue she had been missing all along whenever she thought of her poor friend Jane Eltham, who had once been engaged to her brother Jonathan, but had eloped with a most unsuitable man instead. She thought she could understand her actions now. For surely this had to be romantic attraction. Desire. She touched his hand, and all her limbs trembled, while molten pools of heat flooded her belly.
Desire. Strong enough to make a woman throw all caution to the winds for the pleasures it could confer, the dreams dangling just out of reach, but near enough if she chose to reach out to grasp them.
His fingers interlaced with hers, notching up her heartbeat, catching her breath. Good Lord, it was worse than a hunger for food!
She snapped out of her sensual spell with a jolt. "This way. You must be famished."
"Just glad to be with you safe and sound," he replied.
He was perfectly polite, not the least bit flirtatious, but Sarah shivered at his nearness all the same. If she wasn't mistaken, the tight grip on her fingers hinted that he too might be starving for a completely different banquet of delights as well.
Chapter Two
Sarah led her mysterious companion to the dining room by the arm. She said a devout prayer over the food, then put his hands on the table so he could find his cutlery and glass.
"More beer, or wine?" she offered the handsome stranger.
"Wine, please, and some water as well. I find I'm very thirsty."
"I'm sure. With all that dust on the road, you must be parched."
"Not much dust now, more like mud," he remarked, listening to the steady thrumming of the rain upon the roof.
"Yes, I can't think what would have happened to you out in that storm." She poured out the two beverages and took the hand closest to her to show him where they were.
He drank the water eagerly and asked if she would fill his glass again. He only took a sip of the wine.
Not a toper then, she commented inwardly, relieved.
Caleb brought in the heaped plates of food, set them down, and withdrew. She helped the blind stranger to bread and vegetables, and took his hand once more. She pressed the fork into his hand to use as a pointer as she worked her way around the plate.
"Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, boiled ones, cabbage, peas."
"Thank you, you're too kind." He stroked the back of her hand lightly with his thumb, wondering at his nerve as he did so. He wondered even more when she did not recoil from the intimate contact.
How old was she? Maiden or wife, or mistress? Why was she not more shy and reserved? Or at least reluctant to have a complete stranger in her home?
But he was too tired to try to probe, and too hungry. For once, he didn't want to have to think, plan, worry about what on earth he was going to do next. He was safe for the moment, and was going to enjoy the peace for as long as it lasted.
After the first mouthful, he sighed. "I'm in heaven. This is delicious."
"Eat and enjoy it. You don't have to talk to me. You must be so weary."
"Thank you. It's very understanding of you. I'm sure there's much you'd like to ask me, but I'm in no fit state to discuss serious matters. I've been on the road for days, and am just about all in."
She nodded, then patted his elbow. "I can well believe it judging from the state of your clothes. Do please enjoy your food. Here's more water, and bread."
"Thank you. You're too kind, Miss."
Sarah let him eat in peace for the most part, making only an occasional comment about the teeming storm, or inquiring as to whether he wanted more of anything.
She watched the stranger carefully, intervening if he was about to knock something over or dump gravy on his lap instead of the meal.
Sarah smiled to herself. She was behaving like a broody mother hen watching over a particularly large and unfortunate chick. She only hoped he did not prove to be a cuckoo in the nest.
She observed that he had a deft economy of movement and a surprising grace for someone who was adjusting to blindness, rather than having had to cope with it from birth. And for such a huge man, she commented to herself, taking in his broad shoulders, massive chest and enormous hands the size of dinner plates, yet still elegant and refined, with long, tapering fingers.
She did not want to seem too bossy, nor patronizing. She knew that as much as she wanted to help, he was going to have to adjust to his condition. Mollycoddling him would not be doing him any favors in the long run. On the other hand, there was no need to allow him to feel embarrassed, or fling everything around the table.
They ate in relative silence, she continuing to ply him with more of everything, though his appetite was nowhere near as enormous as her brother's despite the fact that the stranger was a slightly larger man.
Finally he put his knife and fork down and shook his head. "I'm sorry I can't do this meal the justice it deserves. I'm not accustomed to such fine food, and my stomach has shrunk quite a bit."
"I do see you're very thin. Don't apologize. It's not your fault you were ill. Or wounded," she added, looking at his scar, which oddly enhanced rather than detracted from his otherwise perfect visage.
"Yes, both."
"I see. More wine?"
He shook his head. "No, that's fine, thank you. One glass is more than enough. Just more water, thank you."
She poured for him, and he drank thirstily once more.
"Would you like dessert? It's apple crumble."
"I would, and a bit more of that superb cheese, if you don't mind."
"Certainly."
Caleb came to clear the plates away, and returned shortly with the items the stranger had requested.
He chewed slowly, and at length he sat back with a sigh. "That was wonderful. Please compliment Cook for me, and tell her it was the best meal I can ever remember. And made even better by the company."
Sarah laughed. "There's no need to try so hard to flatter us. You're very welcome. And my helpers are Jenny and Caleb."
"'Tis not flattery. It was wonderful. You've been very good to a man you don't even know."
"Yes, about that-"
He pressed his hand to his head, and stifled a groan. She put her hand on his forearm whilst he suffered the paroxysm, unsure what to do, but willing to show that she was there if he needed her.
At length he calmed, slumping against the back of his chair. He sighed heavily and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I get blinding headaches from time to time."
He rubbed his forehead hard, until she feared that he would hurt himself and tugged his wrist away.
"I'll fetch you something for it if you like."
"It's all right. It's easing now," he said through tautened white lips.
"Are you fit to have your bath? It might calm the pain."
He smiled at her wanly. "I think it might help."
"Very well, Caleb will assist you."
"No, really. There's no need. I wouldn't want to put him and the other servants out, not at this time of evening."
"It's no trouble at all, actually. Besides, you'll need to learn how to work the plumbing system. It's a wonderful convenience, but I wouldn't wish you to burn yourself."
"How very modern to have indoor plumbing and running water."
"It was the first thing the Duke of Ellesmere insisted upon when we moved into this vicarage."
"You've been very lucky in your patron." Lover?
"Yes, he and my brother are great friends, and the Duke s wife Charlotte is very kind too."
He tried not to grin in relief at the news that the Duke was married. "So you live here alone with your brother."
"That's right. He's the vicar of Brimley and Eltham and he's just been married to one of the local women of good family, Pamela. They are on their honeymoon at the present time, but everyone in the parish will be lending a hand to keep things running smoothly," she added quickly so that the stranger did not think she was on her own an unattended in her brother's absence.
He did not seem to take the news of her being relatively unprotected in the house with any degree of note, and merely said, "I'm all ready. Please lead the way."
Sarah took him by the elbow and escorted him to the bathing chamber. She gave him a tour with his hands, making him start by walking into the room and staying close to the left-hand wall.
"Commode, sink, tub. Spigot. It pivots, do you see?"
"I understand. It can reach over to fill all three."
"Yes. Heater. The rubber bung is attached by a cord, and is just below this wall. And under the sink are drying cloths and soap, and various other items for your toilette which you should feel free to help yourself to. I'll show you in a minute. First let's get this tub filled."
She closed the plug hole, opened the spigot, and filled the tub about half full with warm but not scalding water.
As the water bubbled up she got out a toothbrush, toothpowder, soap, a flannel, and a shaving brush and soap in its small porcelain container. She stropped the razor and tested it.
She indicated to him each of the items she had laid out on the little shelf over the sink by placing his hand on each.
"But you have to promise me you won't try to shave yourself again. You look like you've been attacked by a gang of inefficient cutthroats."
He laughed mildly at that. "I can't abide a beard. So itchy."
"I understand. And why would you want to disguise perfection." She blushed as the words came tumbling out of her mouth before she even realized she had thought them.
He looked stunned but pleased. "Why, thank you, Miss. No one's ever said that to me before, though I know you're only being kind."
"I wasn't flattering you. You really do look most splendid, for all your careworn expression and dusty, ragged garments."
"Ragged indeed. Dusty and odiferous as well. I'll be dashed lucky if I haven't got vermin into the bargain. You will please ask your manservant to check? I hate to have to burden him like this, but I would never forgive myself if I repaid your kindness with fleas and lice."
"I should think you wouldn't be the only one," she said with a wry laugh. "But I'm sure we have some flea powder and lice solution here for when I go visiting in the local villages."
She searched at the back and fished the items out of the cabinet as well.
"Thank you. You really are a most extraordinary woman," he said gratefully. "Very kind and, well, reassuring. Do you mind if I ask how old you are?"
She cleared her throat. "Twenty-two."
He trembled a bit. It sounded so young to him, though he had no idea of his own age. "You seem far older, so capable. You must be a real blessing to your family and the villagers you're kind enough to help."
"I try to be. I'm only sorry my family and friends aren't all here to see you. I'm afraid you must find me rather dull company."
"Not at all. As I said, I wanted to eat dinner quietly. I'm so tired."
Her face fell. "Oh dear, and here I am standing here wittering on, when all you want is to get clean and lie down in a nice soft bed." She moved toward the door.
"No, wait," he said, reached out for her, and brushing her petal-soft cheek by accident. He let his hand drop to her shoulder. "The bath would be pleasant. But I like your company as well. It's been anything but dull. I'm afraid I've not got much to say for myself these days. I'll do my best to be entertaining in return for your hospitality."
"Don't worry about that. How's your headache?"
"Easing a bit."
"Good. Let me know if you want some medicine."
"I shall, I promise."
When the water in the tub looked a reasonable level, she added some cold, and helped her companion unfasten his stock and the front of his shirt.
He didn't exactly fumble over the chores, but she thought being sighted was a distinct advantage when it came to the various buttons and fastenings.
Again, Sarah was shocked at how bold she was being with a stranger. It was almost as though something were compelling her to touch him, help him, be near him.
In all fairness to the man, he was certainly not doing anything which could be construed as taking advantage even in such confined quarters as the bathing chamber. It would be all to easy to do in such a tight space, but he seemed simply to accept her help as he would any other nurse's, male or female.
"Can you manage the rest yourself?"
"Oh, yes. Thank you. I shouldn't trouble you in such a manner. I do hope no one here is inconvenienced by me more than they have to be," he said tightly, the contact stirring parts of him which he had thought incapable of revival.
"Oh, not at all. Caleb will be happy to help you with the rest," she said quickly. "And we shall give these to Jenny to try to clean. But they really are fairly shabby. It's nothing to be ashamed of, though, so you needn't blush so furiously. Please, take whatever you need from my brother's wardrobe. He's almost your size."
"You're too kind, and have helped me enough," he said in crisp tones.
She realized she had shamed him inadvertently, and stepped away. "It's the least I can do. I'll leave you to your bath before I embarrass you further."
She tried to get a peep at the bare flesh of his chest to see if he had a telltale tattoo such as the other Rakehells had worn. But short of tugging his shirt right open to look, she would just have to content herself with asking Caleb.
Caleb was standing outside waiting, a look of mild concern on his face.
"Just giving him a tour of the bathroom. It helps if you put his hands on things to show him where they are."
The old man's brows lifted, but he said nothing, though Sarah acknowledged with a blush that her words could be interpreted in a rather risque manner.
"It will be good to help him try to become more self-sufficient and not suffocate him with attention if he doesn't wish for it."
"Blind, is he?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"I'm sure the hospitals he's been in have left him very much on his own," Caleb said with a shake of his head. "So many injured young men. Dreadful, so it is."
"I know, Caleb. But we have a chance to help one of them now, eh?"
"Aye, Miss. That we do."
He didn't sound too pleased about it, however, and she wondered if she was perhaps letting her kind heart completely overrule her common sense. After all, what did she really know about the man?
She had allowed a stranger into her home, and partially undressed him within scarcely an hour of meeting him. And they were unchaperoned apart from the servants, who would be going home as soon as they completed their chores. She was about to be left alone to spend the night with a person who had appeared on her doorstep with nothing more than the clothes on his back and a silly joke upon his lips about being Jonathan Deveril.
She stared at the shut door pensively, reasoning out her predicament as logically as she could. He was injured, blind. She had a lock on her bedroom door, and they would be sleeping at opposite ends of the corridor. He was gentlemanly, with good manners and a refined accent, sober, intelligent.
He had had ample opportunity in the confined space of the bathing chamber to touch her, especially when she had been helping him disrobe. Many men would have taken advantage of her touches. They would have held her hand, attempted a kiss, cupped her rump, or bosom. He had kept his hands to himself.
Many men wo
uld also have taken advantage of her holding his hand as a prelude to something more. Taken liberties, made suggestive remarks at the very least. He had done none of these things.
She wasn't sure whether to be relieved, or disappointed. She gave a small smile at the latter thought. She was pretty enough, quite beautiful when she took the trouble, or so she had been told. That didn't signify with a blind man. She should be relieved that he was so well-mannered if he was going to be staying the night, yet an odd ache in her heart made her wonder why no man seemed to find her attractive the same way they had always swarmed around Charlotte or Pamela before they were wed, or Elizabeth Eltham now that she had come out.
The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2 Page 3
