“You’re not going to die, Hattie,” Lady Rose reassured her. But the young maid wasn’t listening. She appeared terrified of the storm, and she buried her face against her knees.
The rain spattered against the stone walls, and Iain was struck by their situation. He had never before been trapped in a summerhouse with a beautiful woman in his arms, and it wasn’t unwelcome. Her slender body was light, though her skirts billowed down to the ground.
“I fear this is rather awkward for you.” She sent him a chagrined smile. “I didn’t mean for you to hold me until the rain stopped.”
“I don’t mind it, a chara.”
“I must be getting heavy.” Her face was flushed, as if she hadn’t considered the consequences of the rain. But her slight weight meant nothing at all to him.
He met her gaze, and in her brown eyes, he saw that she was unsettled by his presence. Though he had done nothing at all except hold her, he was well aware of her slender curves. Her gown was damp, outlining her figure, and he found himself studying her closely.
There was no hint of red in her brown hair now, for it was soaked from the rain. Her eyelashes were tipped with droplets, and the deep brown of her eyes fascinated him. Her nose had a slight tilt, and her cheeks held the flush of embarrassment. Even her lips were a soft pink, her upper lip slightly smaller than the lower. She pressed them together for a moment and then whispered, “Why are you staring at me?”
“Because you are a beautiful woman. Why wouldn’t I stare?”
He knew he ought to smile to reassure her that he was only teasing and it meant nothing, but that wasn’t entirely true. She was lovely, and he saw no harm in telling her so.
“You are making me feel uncomfortable,” she admitted. “And I should remind you that my heart is already given to another man.”
“Don’t worry, a chara. I wouldn’t be trespassing where I’m not wanted. They’re only words.”
She still appeared uneasy. “Perhaps you should put me down on the bench again, Lord Ashton.”
“If you’re wanting me to, I will. But I should warn you that the rain will soak through your gown and make you colder. It might not be wise.”
“Nothing I do is very wise, it seems.” She lowered her gaze to avoid his. “I know how improper this is. My grandmother would be appalled if she could see you holding me right now. Even though we do have a chaperone.” She nodded toward Hattie, who was still cowering from the storm. “I-I should have brought Calvert along.”
He didn’t deny it. The scent of her skin enticed him, and he was caught up in watching a single raindrop slide down her throat.
Her breathing seemed to shift, and she was staring back at him now. Her eyes passed over his hair and his face. In her scrutiny, he wondered if she found him appealing enough. He’d never given much thought to his looks, but he hoped she was not displeased.
“Why are you looking at me?” he murmured.
Her mouth tightened, but she managed a smile. “I suppose, for the same reason you looked at me.”
“Because you find me handsome?” He continued watching her, and the longer he held her, the more it struck him that he liked having this woman in his arms.
“Well, you are that,” she admitted with a smile. “But I wondered if you might be a pirate in disguise, planning to carry me off. Despite my intentions to wed Lord Burkham.” There was teasing in her voice, meant to lighten the mood.
“I thought you were already engaged to marry him.”
“Almost,” she confessed. “He was going to ask me before I became ill.”
Iain didn’t respond to that, for an almost betrothal was no betrothal at all. “Why is he not here with you now?”
Rose shrugged. “He has his duties in Parliament. But he has written to me often. I received a letter just last week.”
“Did you, then? And I suppose he’s come to visit you as well?”
There was a shadowed look in her eyes. “No. But truthfully, I didn’t want him to visit. Not when I am like this.” Her face grew somber, as if she was embarrassed by her inability to walk.
Although he understood her reluctance, he felt compelled to point out, “If I were betrothed to a beautiful woman who fell ill, the demons of hell couldn’t keep me away from her.”
“It’s different between Lord Burkham and me. It’s more formal, as is befitting a viscount.”
It sounded to Iain as if Lord Too-Busy-Burkham wasn’t at all worthy of a woman like Rose.
“Don’t you resent him for staying away?”
“Not at all.” She behaved as if nothing was wrong. Yet, Iain sensed that he’d struck a nerve. Her expression remained serene, but in her eyes there was a hint of worry.
Iain shifted her position so that his hands were beneath her hips. It was more of an embrace now, and she raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing, Lord Ashton?”
“Adjusting your position.” He wanted to see her face when he was speaking to her.
“I knew I was getting too heavy. Just put me down on the bench. It doesn’t matter if the rain blows on me. I’m already soaked.”
“As I said before, you’re not heavy.”
“You wouldn’t tell me if I was, would you?” she mused. She rested her hands upon his shoulders, her gaze intent upon his.
“No. But it’s no trouble to hold you.”
He was even more distracted when Rose touched his cheeks. “You haven’t shaved in a few days, have you?”
“I’ve been rather busy trying to reclaim my earldom,” he reminded her. “There was no time.” But the soft touch of her hands upon the bristled line of his jaw was driving him toward madness. Never had any woman touched him in this way. Her hands seemed to burn through his skin, awakening sensations that drove out common sense. He was aware of every line of her body, the scent of her skin, and the water droplets on her cheeks.
She offered a wry smile. “Pirate.”
He growled at her. “Argh.” His voice came out rough and husky, and she laughed softly.
The longer he held Lady Rose in his arms, the more he desired her. Iain was captivated by her full lips, and for a moment, their breathing seemed to fall into a rhythm. Rose’s arms had softened against him, until they hung loosely around his neck. Her brown eyes met his with awareness and a sense that this should not be happening between them. But he couldn’t deny that he wanted to lower her body and claim her mouth. He wanted to taste the sweetness of her lips and give in to his own temptation.
“You should put me down now,” she murmured.
She was right. And yet, he had no wish to let go of her. “If you’re wanting to stand up, I could help you balance.”
Her expression turned wary. “I’ve been trying to stand up for the past month. It hasn’t worked thus far.”
“Would you like to try again?” he asked.
She shook her head, as if she’d already given up. “My legs haven’t the strength.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
She hesitated a moment but then nodded. Slowly, Iain lowered her, holding her by the waist as he brought her feet to stand upon the earthen floor.
Her knees wouldn’t bear her weight and buckled beneath her, so he held her steady, using his strength to hold her upright. “Keep your legs straight, if you can. I’ll help support you until you’ve got your balance.” With both arms around her waist, he kept her upright, being careful not to let her slip.
Once again, her legs crumpled beneath her, and he saw her emotions falter. She was afraid to trust herself. “I can’t do this.”
“Look at me, Lady Rose,” he said. He held her waist, staring into her eyes. “Try again.”
Gently, he eased his hands until she was standing on her own. For the barest second, she held her legs straight, until her knees gave out again and he caught her.
“I won’t let you fall.” He pressed his hands against her waist until she regained her stability. This time, she stood for two seconds before her legs buckled.
The look of utter joy on her face was like a fist to his gut. Never before had he seen such elation, and he continued holding her upright.
“I stood,” she managed to whisper, her smile incredulous. “After all these months, I did it. Yes, it was only for a second or two . . . but it was real, wasn’t it?”
“It was, aye.” He suspected that it had drained a great deal of her strength away. He was supporting all her weight now, and she made no attempt to stand again. “In time, you’ll get stronger.”
He lifted her back into his arms and brought her over to the bench. He eased her down into a seated position.
“Do you know how long I’ve been trying to stand?” Rose rested her hands in his, holding both of his palms for a moment. The gentle pressure of her grip was a welcome affection, and he squeezed them in return. Her face flushed, as if she suddenly realized how inappropriate it was for them to hold hands.
Her smile faded slightly, and she pulled back, folding her hands in her lap. She behaved as if nothing had happened and said, “If I can stand, I may learn to walk again.”
“You’ll need to strengthen your legs.” She would have to keep practicing until they could bear her weight again.
“Thank you for this, Lord Ashton. You cannot know how much this means to me.”
He wanted to reach for her hands again, but resisted the urge. When he glanced over at Hattie, who was supposed to be chaperoning, the maid was still huddled up, hiding her eyes. “How long has it been since you’ve walked?”
“Six months.” She tried to lift her knee, but she wasn’t able to move it more than an inch or so. “I’ve been trying to recover ever since.”
“How did it happen?”
She sent him a chagrined look. “I became sick after eating potatoes, of all things. I was violently ill, but the effects went beyond my stomach. My face went numb, I could hardly see without the room blurring, and I had trouble breathing.” Her expression grew somber, and she added, “I nearly died from it, and the doctors couldn’t say what my illness was.”
“It must have been frightening,” he said. But even as he spoke the words, the grim memories of the famine reminded him of others who had died from bad potatoes. She was not alone in her suffering. Though he tried to shut out the visions of blight, of slimy potatoes rotting in the ground, he doubted if he could ever eat a potato again. “It’s glad I am that you lived, Lady Rose.”
“So am I,” she agreed with a faint smile. “But after I recovered, I was never able to regain my strength.” Her hands moved back to rest upon his shoulders. “But I will walk again, I promise you that. No matter how long it takes.”
He met her gaze, forcing the memories away. “And then what? You’ll return to London to Lord Burkham?”
A flush came over her cheeks. “Perhaps, if my mother’s health improves.”
The idea of Lady Rose returning to a man who had so obviously abandoned her made him leery. Yet, there was a softness in her voice, a yearning look in her eyes. Damned if she wasn’t still in love with the man.
“I want to believe that if I can walk again, we might one day marry.”
Iain didn’t reveal his true thoughts. Any man who had ignored Lady Rose during her illness, only bothering to write letters, was naught but a coward. But he wasn’t about to insult her suitor. She would learn the truth for herself when she reached London. And if he was wrong about Burkham, so be it.
“You will learn to walk again,” he predicted. “But are you certain that you still want Lord Burkham?”
She let out a sigh. “I do. Very much.” There was enough of an ache in her voice, that he wished he could help her. Lady Rose had a determined nature that appealed greatly to him. She was quite lovely of face, and he admired her spirit.
He didn’t want to see her suffer from a broken heart. She deserved better than that, after all she’d endured.
He could understand her desire to return to London, fully recovered from her illness. And he found himself wanting to help. If he offered for the sake of friendship, she might refuse because of her pride. But he needed her assistance, as well. He had no inkling of how to behave in polite society or how to find a bride. Perhaps they could strike a bargain between them.
“Lady Rose, I’ve a proposition for you,” Iain began. “I wonder if we might help one another.”
Her face held curiosity, and she waited for him to speak. He stood by the open window and admitted, “As I’ve said before, I’ve come to England in search of a wife. But I have never been to London, and my knowledge is woefully lacking.”
“And what would your bride receive in return for handing over her dowry? Besides a pirate for a husband, of course.”
“Several thousand acres of land, along with the manor house.”
Lady Rose thought for a moment. “Just how particular are you, regarding her looks?”
Her caveat was not lost upon him. “It all depends. Given the choice between a shrewish beauty and a kindly troll, I suppose the troll would be easier to live with.”
“There are a few possibilities,” she said. “Though I would not call Evangeline a troll. More like painfully shy. A wallflower who hardly talks to anyone. But she is a dear friend of mine.”
“That wouldn’t bother me, if she has a good heart.” He leaned back against the summerhouse wall. “If you will help me find a suitable bride, in return, I could help you learn to walk again.”
He wasn’t expecting the burst of laughter from her. With a smirk, she added, “Are you from Nazareth, then? Can you turn water into wine as well?”
He ignored the jibe. “You did stand just now, did you not? You’ve not used your legs in half a year. If they gain strength, it could happen.”
Her teasing mood dissipated, and she turned serious. “I want to walk again, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to learn how.” She brushed droplets of water from her face and regarded him. “But it could be another year before that happens. You don’t have that much time.”
He didn’t know whether her prediction would be true or not, but he wanted to make the attempt. And there was no question that he needed her help in navigating the complications of London society. “Are you willing to let me help you, Lady Rose?”
She hesitated for nearly a minute, staring outside the stone window of the summerhouse. The rain had stopped, and they could now return to their horses. Hattie had risen from the floor and was standing a discreet distance from them, though she had undoubtedly heard every word.
“Possibly,” Lady Rose said at last. “But I am realistic about what progress I might make.” She faced him squarely, her mind made up. “I will amend our bargain. If I manage to take two steps on my own in the next few weeks, I’ll make a list of the wealthiest heiresses whom I believe would make a suitable match for you. And I will speak to them and to their parents on your behalf.”
“Fair enough.” He reached out to her hand and kissed the back of it. “I am not from Nazareth, as you said. But we are in agreement.”
It was not a contract he had made lightly. For he had a feeling that Lady Rose would indeed walk, sooner than she believed it was possible.
Chapter Seven
After they returned to the house, Rose’s thoughts were in turmoil. Now that she had seen the signet ring upon Mr. Donovan’s hand, she felt guilty about doubting his identity. They had treated him so badly—he’d slept in an attic room among the servants, for heaven’s sake.
She asked Mrs. Marlock to make up one of the guest rooms, and Rose sent some of her brother’s older belongings for Lord Ashton to wear.
But that wasn’t the only reason she was anxious. No, it was because Lord Ashton had offered to help her walk again. This afternoon, that dream had finally seeme
d within reach. It had been so long since she’d been able to bear weight upon her legs. Even though it had caused her great fatigue and had barely lasted more than a second, she was so thankful for that fragile moment.
Only days ago, she had wondered if it would ever be possible. And now, Lord Ashton had made it real. Though she was afraid to get her hopes up—for she had no idea how he could help her—she couldn’t stop the feelings of joy.
She spent the remainder of the afternoon daydreaming and thinking of possible brides for Lord Ashton. Most of the wealthy heiresses had no need of a penniless Irish lord. They could choose any man they wanted. But surely there was someone.
A knock sounded at the door, and she heard Lily’s voice. “Rose, may I come in?”
“Yes, do.”
The door opened, and her sister hurried inside. Lily’s face held excitement. “I have news. The Countess of Castledon is coming to supper this evening. Along with Grandmother.”
“I thought she was in Bath.” Rose straightened, wondering why their grandmother had not simply returned home.
“She was. But she stopped to spend the night at Castledon, and the countess thought to send word of her impending arrival.”
Rose managed a slight smile. “I imagine it was a warning that we should brace ourselves.” Though she loved her grandmother, she had a feeling that the old woman was plotting something. Why else would she stop at Castledon first?
Lily sent her a pained smile. “I suppose we had best prepare ourselves.” She sat down on the bed and said, “I hired a man to travel to India to search for James. He needs to come back, Rose.”
“I know it.” Her deeper fear was that their brother had disappeared somehow or was hurt. All of them were trying to put up a brave front, but what if he didn’t return?
“We are having difficulty with some of the tenants,” Lily said. “Many of them haven’t paid their rents. Then, too, some of our money has gone missing.”
“Missing? How?”
“When I was visiting Mother this morning, she confessed that she had given money to the poor.” Lily’s expression revealed her dismay.
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