Page 12 of The Tantalizing of a Scandalous Rake

“And it could have been many people,” she added.

“Why do you say that?”

“You bested many men at cards that night. No doubt someone held a grudge against you.”

“Maybe he wanted to steal from me.”

“Yet he left you with all your belongings?” She gestured to the chest. “I think you shall find your money and pocket watch in there.”

“So you are blaming me for being a victim of a vicious crime?”

Rosie gave into the urge to smile. “No, of course not.” His face contorted and she hastened to his side. “Is all well?”

“Well, yes aside from the hole in my body and a strong need to relieve myself.”

“Charming,” she said dryly then sighed. “Come, let me help you.”

“Any chance you have a man in the building who can help?”

She pressed her lips together. “I did not expect you to be overly modest, my lord.”

“I would like to maintain some dignity, woman.”

“Very well. I’ll set the pot up by the wall so you can lean against it, but I shall have to aid you over there.”

He gestured to the sheets covering him. “Some sort of garment to preserve my dignity might be nice too.”

“You do not want much, do you?” she teased.

“Only your full and unreserved attention, Beauty.”

“Do not call me that,” she said firmly.

“Can I call you by your name? Considering you have seen me naked it only seems fair.”

“I barely noticed,” she said breezily.

“How disappointing.”

Shaking her head, Rosie tried to ignore his roguish smile. The last thing she needed was to be distracted by this man and his innate ability to flirt and charm. She had a living to worry about.

Chapter Five

Each step downstairs had Adam feeling like a new-born foal. After over a week abed, he supposed he likely looked a little like one too. Hand to the rough wall, he eased down each uneven wooden step into the faintly lit room, aware of the tightness in his gut. The pain was long gone but he’d been left tired and unsteady.

He’d be damned if he was going to lie about any longer, though. Especially with the rumbling in his gut. The darkness he’d viewed from his room combined with the quietness of the inn suggested the hour was late, though he had not bothered checking his timepiece.

A dry thirst and aching hunger woke him, despite Rosie having brought him broth, thick, chunky bread and watered-down ale. He suspected his body was tired of broth and needed greater sustenance though what he would find in a tavern at night, he did not know.

Regardless, he did not want to disturb his nurse. She moved about with the brisk efficiency of one with too much to do and too little time to do it in. He envied her somewhat. Even in his years at Oxford, he could never claim to be particularly busy. He suspected if he’d admitted to that envy, she would laugh. Despite her harried state, she was quick to smile. He liked that about her.

He stumbled through the darkened taproom and paused at the sound of a sweet melody coming from the kitchen. It wasn’t Harriet as he’d heard that girl hum and there was nothing sweet about that sound. So it had to be Rosie, though he did not think her inclined to sing. It seemed right that a woman so beautiful also had a beautiful voice.

He moved toward the sound, drawn by the light shimmering from the open doorway and the sound of her singing, lured as though by a siren. He smirked to himself. Siren was about right. She lured men here daily and he was not certain he could claim to be immune to her charms.

Adam paused in the doorway and leaned against the battered wood frame—partly to rest a moment, partly to watch her. She chopped vegetables with practiced efficiency, using the beat of the knife against the chopping board to guide her song.

With her back to him, he had a chance to admire the way the messy knot of her apron emphasized her waist and delectable curves. He really should not be ogling the woman who had been looking after him so diligently in such a manner but, hell, he was only a mortal. And this siren had quite the hold on him at present.

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