"I'm sure I'm no hero," he said bitterly.
"True, not everyone who fights is, but if you are anything like my brother and his friends, you went for the principle of the thing. To save Europe from oppression, not just go after plunder. What the French did in the countries they captured is scandalous. Why, in the end their army wasn't even welcome in their own towns and villages, they behaved so disgracefully, whilst Wellington and his troops were welcomed with open arms."
"Thank God it's all over. France hasn't had peace since 1789."
She looked at him in surprise. "Er, yes, that's true. You remember. Indeed, all of Europe has suffered since then. But come, you must be weary. Let's tuck these hot water bottles around you once again. And do you need more bedclothes, or another set of blankets?"
"No, I'm very snug."
"I'll throw more wood on the fire and put the screen over it so you'll have a nice warm room in the morning," she said, moving over to the hearth.
"Miss Deveril--"
"Sarah, please. After all, we are cousins now."
"Very well. Sarah." He blushed. "I just want to say how much I appreciate everything you've done for me. Not everyone would be so kind."
"Please, Alexander, if you're family, and we're going to be spending a great deal of time together helping you to find your way, so to speak, you must stop thanking me. It's my pleasure."
"But how do you know--" He sighed, and his face closed up against her.
"How do I know what?" she prompted gently.
"How do you know I'm not some horrible, dangerous man with a vile past?"
She poked the logs in the hearth vigorously. "The truth is I don't. But I'm willing to take it on trust. You haven't done or said anything that would cause me the slightest bit of unease.
"And as for taking things on faith alone, after all, you've had to do the same, haven't you? How did you know that I wouldn't rob you as soon as you stepped into the house? How do you know I won't take the money you so foolishly told me was sewn into your clothes?"
He gave a small smile. "I see what you mean. I've taken a lot on trust as well. But, I could tell from the sound of your voice. The way you were so concerned in getting me in out of the storm. The way you haven't asked too many difficult questions, but have concentrated on my resting and regaining my strength. And Caleb and Jenny seem very kind. I'm sure they wouldn't work for anyone dishonest or cruel."
Sarah gave a wry laugh. "I find people will work for anyone if they're desperate enough. But here at the vicarage, we try to do good for everyone who comes to us, no matter how lost." She rose from the hearth, and put the fire screen over the front of the hearth. She dusted off her hands and turned to face the spectacularly handsome half-naked man in the bed.
"You, Alexander, are very lost at the minute. In pain, and frightened too. I'll do what I can to help you and get you well. Finding out who you are is going to take time and patience. I can't guarantee that we'll find your home, your family. I certainly can't promise that all the answers will be pleasant ones. But I'll be with you every step of the way for as long as you need me." She adjusted the fire screen to be sure no embers could cast onto the carpet, and stepped back over to the bed.
"Jonathan and Pamela will help too, I'm sure. As soon as they find out what's happened, they'll be glad to come to your aid. And the Rakehells can always be counted on, if need be. The Duke of Ellesmere is a good man. If anyone can help uncover your past, it will be him or Jonathan."
Alexander reached for her hand and pressed it warmly. "Thank you so much. It's a great burden off my mind, Sarah. Just knowing you believe in me, trust me is a gift from God." He moved down into the bed and laid his head on the snowy pillow at last. "My head feels much better now. I think I can fall asleep."
"Good. If you're sure."
"I'll be fine."
"Very well. I'll trust you on your own in that case."
"I'm not in that much despair," he protested.
His manner was so agitated, she could see her words had touched a sore point. It made her all the more worried about watching him, though he wouldn't like it if he knew.
"No, I didn't mean I thought you would do anything foolish," she said hastily. "You have far too much strength of character and courage for that. I meant that I don't want you tossing and turning all night fretting yourself over things that are beyond your control."
"You're right. I'm sorry. I overreacted."
"Not at all," she replied softly. "Many men would be tempted simply to put an end to such suffering. But I have faith in you, Alexander, and you must have faith in the Lord."
He nodded. "I do try."
"All right, then, have faith in me," she urged, taking his right hand in both her own. "It will all be well, I promise. I shall see you in the morning. The bell pull is just by the bedpost. Ring when you want hot water and breakfast."
"Thank you. You're too kind."
"Nonsense, Cousin," she said in a light, bantering tone. "This is your home now, Alexander, for as long as you need it. There's no need to thank me. Good night."
She extinguished the candle, planted a soft kiss on his brow, and shut the door with a sigh.
She lingered on the landing for a time, until she heard deep, steady, even breathing, and was assured that he truly had fallen asleep.
Then she crept along the landing, and down the stairs. Once on the ground floor, she made her nightly rounds, checking that all of the candles were out and the fireguards set in front of each hearth. She looked in the bathroom, and made certain the boiler was extinguished. She looked at it longingly. She had had such high hopes for a bath before he had arrived. Well, there was always tomorrow morning.
She filled an ewer of hot water to bring upstairs with her, and headed for the hall. She returned to the small table at the foot of the stairs and took up the candle she had left there.
Once she had ascended to her own room, she placed it and the ewer on the bedside table, and undressed. She washed her face, hands and neck with the hot water, and dried herself carefully with a soft towel.
Then she sat down at her dressing table, and began to unbind her hair from its long braid, which she had coiled into a simple bun. She brushed it out with brisk efficiency, then lingered for slightly longer than was her wont, looking at herself in the mirror. Weighing and assessing her face, her straight patrician nose, clear gray eyes, finely arched brows, good skin, if a bit pale compared to her very dark hair.
Her face had often been described as handsome, rather than beautiful, no doubt due to her cleft chin and strong jaw, but she felt to have anything less would have rendered her visage insipid. Her sisters had been classic beauties, but rather vacant-looking.
She brushed her hair until it gleamed, then rubbed it with a silk glove as her sister-in-law had suggested. Then she looked again, and decided it did look much better, a rich, glossy blue-black.
She rose from the low bench and looked out the window at the peaceful garden outside her window. By rights she ought to be exhausted herself after all the wedding preparations and helping all her friends pack for their journeys, but she felt curiously invigorated.
In her fine lawn nightdress, with her hair flowing down her back sensually, she felt free for the first time in her life. It was true she did have her unexpected visitor down the corridor in the guest room. But for the most part, she could do as she liked, go to bed when she wished, rise when she wanted. She had no idea what Jonathan would say about Alexander staying with them, but she was certain that he would understand. It was the right thing, the Christian thing to do.
What could be the harm in helping the poor man?
Chapter Five
Dawn arrived crisp, cool and sparkling after the cleansing storm the night before. Sarah stretched luxuriously like a cat, then sat bolt upright as she recalled her houseguest.
Struggling into her robe, she padded down the hall barefoot, and peeped through the crack in the door. Alexander appeared to be asleep, for his long limbs were spr
awled in every different direction, with the covers hurled about.
She stared for a time, admiring his bare chest, lean hips, long legs, and blushed despite herself. It seemed almost indecent to be peering in at him like that. Ogling his almost naked masculinity when he was blind and vulnerable. Well, she would have found him magnificent no matter what condition he was in, she decided. He really was most extraordinarily handsome, with a physique honed to perfection for all he had said he had been incapacitated in the hospital for nearly two years.
"Sarah?" He turned his head and looked straight at her, causing her to start.
That set the floorboards creaking, thus cutting off her opportunity to retreat without him having known for certain that she had been there.
"Just checking to see if you're ready for breakfast, Alexander," she said in an even tone, though she could barely breathe as she stared at his bare torso and legs, rippling with muscles with his every move. "Did you sleep well?"
He gave a huge stretch, completely unself-conscious in all of his male splendor. "I did. That was the best night's sleep I've had in a long time."
Alexander groped around for the blankets and sheets, and rearranged his arms and leg under the bed linens, which he pulled up over his chest, leaving only his shoulders bare.
"Is the room warm enough?" she asked, going over to the heart to poke the embers and throw on another log.
"It's fine, just perfect. I can't recall the last time I was this warm and cozy."
"Good. And I'm sure you'll feel even better when you get some hot food inside you."
"Yes, I'm hungry despite the wonderful meal last night. Is there any chance of more of that wonderful coffee to start off the day?"
"Yes of course, though there's also tea or chocolate, and of course, fresh milk."
"It all sounds wonderful. I'm so thirsty."
"It's no wonder," she said, moving over to the ewer to pour him a glass of water, which she pressed into his hands. "Did you come straight here from Oxford?"
"I did."
"It's a long journey. The roads haven't been the best with all the spring rains."
"No, indeed. But I was so eager to get here, I just couldn't wait. And of course, as I told you, I've trying to conserve funds. I set off as soon as the don gave me the directions. Apart from an hour here and there in barns and the odd tavern, I've been walking non-stop since then."
"Well, you just stay right there with your feet up. What can I tempt you with for breakfast? Eggs, bacon, sausage, black pudding, toast, crumpets, marmalade, kippers, porridge?"
"Yes, please."
"Yes, what?"
"Yes to all of them."
She laughed and stroked his tousled dark hair back from his brow. "All of them you shall have. I'll have Jenny bring it up to you when it's ready."
"No, really, I can't act like a guest, not when you're being so kind. Even if I can't earn my keep yet, I have to try to not make extra work for you."
"But--"
He was already swinging his legs over the side of the bed, with the sheet draped loosely around his loins. "I'll get dressed and come down."
"There's no need," she insisted, pressing his shoulder in an attempt to get him to lie still once more. "You should stay in bed and rest. Your back must be very sore."
He flexed his shoulders, causing Sarah to stare again at his magnificent rippling muscles under the scarred flesh. "Oddly enough, I think that hot bath must have really done the trick. That and the ointment Caleb put on me. I'm not nearly so sore as usual."
"Hmm, that's good to know. In any case, stay there anyway. That is an order from your nurse. You look a lot less strained that you did yesterday. The rest will do you good. You're really not strong enough to be wandering around all over the country."
"If you're sure?"
She could see the taut lines around his fine lush mouth, and between his elegant brows. "I'm sure. You're to rest for a least a week. A holiday, if you like. No overdoing things, and no standing upon ceremony with me, thinking that you have to either help or be sociable. I've told you, Alexander, this is your room. Your home. You're free to come and go as you please. If you want company, say so. If not, close the door. Tell me to go away, whatever."
He shook his head. "I can't imagine ever telling you that." He gave her a warm smile, and finally responded to the pressure of her hand on his bare flesh. He lay prone once more against the pillows, and she tucked him in again.
"Very well, Sarah, I shall stay in bed as you ask. But please tell Jenny to cut the food up into bite-sized portions. I wouldn't want to get bits everywhere."
"I tell you what, I shall go down and get the papers, and then come back up and help you eat."
His expression lit up. "Really? Have you not got anything else to do?"
"I've not had much time to look at the papers myself. I've been so busy with the wedding and getting my friends' houses in order before they left for the summer. And I have to eat as well. So it's no trouble at all."
"That would be very kind, Sarah. I would very much like to hear the latest news," he said, his eyes shining eagerly.
"Yes, it must be hard not to be able to read the papers yourself."
"Sometimes I used to ask the vendors what the headlines were, but more often than not they couldn't read," he said.
"That's something my brother and I are trying to remedy. Though to be fair, it was his wife Pamela who first gave us the idea to teach the children's parents."
"All of your family sound very nice," he said almost wistfully.
"Consider them your family too. After all, you've become a Deveril whether you like it or not," she said with a light laugh.
He beamed up at her, and for the first time she was sure she could see a glimmer of expression in his eyes, a small light of hope.
"I do like it, very much."
"For the moment, anyway. Until we start bossing you around unmercifully, and making you come to all our family gatherings," she teased.
"It sounds like Heaven to me," he said soberly.
Sarah resisted the fierce urge to tug him into her arms and soothe him against her bosom. "Right, I shall just go down and get breakfast started, and fetch the papers. Then I need to have a bath, and shall come back and read to you and help with food."
"Do you suppose I can share the hot water? Use it after you're done?" he clarified quickly, turning the color of beetroot. "I would very much like another bath if you don't mind."
"Not at all. Any time you want one, just ask Caleb or myself, and we'll get the boiler lit."
"Heaven," he sighed. "We had to share the bath at the hospital. By the time I ever got near it, it was practically freezing. Hot water is a real luxury where I've come from."
She stroked his over-long hair. "I'm sure a lot of the things we take for granted here in this house are real luxuries where you come from," she said quietly.
She traced the length of a lock down over his shoulders, moved beyond words by this remarkable man. "I shall see you in a moment."
"Sarah?"
"Yes, Alexander?"
"Do you suppose you could do two more things for me?"
She poked her head back in the door. "What might they be?"
"Is there a dressing gown of your brother's I can use? And can you give me a tour of the er, room?"
"You mean you need to use the chamber pot?" Sarah asked directly, with a chuckle.
"I'm afraid so."
"It's no matter. You should have just said so. Nothing to be ashamed of. Silly me for not thinking of it sooner. I suppose I just assumed Caleb gave you the tour."
Jenny had left an old dressing gown of Jonathan's on the back of the chair. Sarah fetched it for him and said, "I shall turn my back while you put it on."
"I'm just going to have to take your word for that," he said, grinning a little as he put his feet on the floor and bared himself to the waist.
Sarah was sorely tempted to peek, but she knew if she were in his position,
she would hate feeling so vulnerable. Besides, anything less than honest and straightforward dealing was not really fair to him. So turn her back she did, and said, "Ah yes, trust again. I promise to try to be worthy of it. Just tell me when you're finished."
She heard the rustling of the bedclothes behind her. At length he said, "There, done."
"All right, we'll start with the door. Step forward and hold on to me."
She took his hand and led him back to it. She put one hand on the door frame, and he stretched out his left to get a sense of its size.
"The only thing I have to warn you about is since that you're so tall, you might want to considering ducking down a bit under the beam if you're wearing boots. The ceiling is rather low too, but you'll be fine so long as you don't jump up and down."
The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2 Page 7
